The Last Minute First Lady by Tinia Montford

Author:Tinia Montford [Montford, Tinia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 735 Emerald Press LLC

Jolie watched Cassian lift Diana to twirl her around in a helicopter motion. A line of kids laughed and screamed, waiting for their turn.

“Again!” Diana screamed as he set her down.

“Who’s next?” Cassian sounded winded as a little blond boy held up his hands toward him.

Diana’s birthday party was in full swing. Jolie sat at an empty picnic table closest to the fence and out of the mix of the party. She hated that her body reacted before her mind. She thought Cassian was sexy and at ease at the center, but seeing him right now in a sweat-plastered T-shirt soaked to his body, showing off wide shoulders and a solid chest? The familiar coil of desire filled her belly. I hate when Helena is right.

His dark eyes found hers. They warmed immediately, and she offered a tentative smile.

Why are you more scared of him than he is of you? You have an audio recording of him that could destroy him. I plan on giving it to him on the wedding… Just in case anything happens and we don’t make it to a wedding.

Cassian broke from the horde of children. His party hat was tilted to the side. Breathing heavily, he cocked his head, getting closer, and smiled. “A butterfly?”

Evelyn insisted the moment she entered the backyard party to get her face painted. He cupped her chin gently, tilting her head side to side as he took in the neon pink, yellow, and green wings painted on her face.

“Evelyn is persistent, and I was feeling wired off punch.”

“I love it.” Cassian’s voice was gruff.

Jolie dropped her gaze. Focusing on the ground, she kicked at a stray piece of confetti trapped in the grass.

Stop being scared.

“Can I get the same thing?”

“What about your beard?”

He stood. “I’m sure she’ll make it work.”

Ten minutes later, he had a matching butterfly on his face as he sat next to her.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“You gonna stop avoiding me now?”

Here we go.

Jolie fixed her gaze on the table, tracing an indentation in the wood.

“I wasn’t avoiding—” She stopped at the way his brow rose. “I was. It’s… Cassian. I’m embarrassed.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being vulnerable.”

“I don’t like it. I can take care of myself. I’ve always done it.”

Her heart raced as Cassian observed her for several seconds. “Stop that.”

“What?”

An itchiness built under her skin. She picked at the skin around the bed of her nail, pulling at it. Cassian reached over, grabbing the hand she was fidgeting with, and heat erupted as he intertwined his fingers with hers.

“Just talk. I’m not here to judge.” Cassian met her eyes, the intensity in his making her breath catch.

Jolie dropped her gaze, a light sheen in her eyes as his thumb rubbed back and forth slowly.

“Whatever you think that has you feeling like I look down on you, stop it. I don’t… I—I know what it feels like to not be in control of a situation. You know how I told you about the attorney general and my parents’ accident? I

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