enough. Evan didn’t quite understand the magnitude of Campbell’s determination. She rested a hand against his chest. “My sweet noble Irishman, answer me this. When has a politician ever been held accountable for a sex scandal? Buzz might lose his bid for the presidency, but he’ll still be around to make life hell for us. You know he will. And you’ll become a target for him, as well. I have no doubt he could single-handedly ruin your career. We can’t permit that.”
Evan’s smile was devilish. “You underestimate the McKenna magic.”
She laughed. “I wish I had your surety.”
He kissed her forehead. “What do you want to do, Red?”
There he went and did it again. Endeared himself to her by asking her what she wanted instead of insisting he had the answer. Could this man actually be different from the other aggressive men she knew? Would he consider her an equal? She rested against the circle of his arm to think. What did she want?
She’d already decided against coming forward and accusing Campbell of rape. That meant the only alternative was to marry Evan, tell the lie and pray Campbell’s focus on the White House was enough to keep him away—for now. She didn’t think Matt would have a problem accepting Evan for a father. He already had a bad case of hero worship. If she took one step at a time to eliminate the most dangerous possibility first, perhaps they could buy some time to formulate a long-term plan. Of the two evils, Evan’s proposal seemed the least foul.
God forgive her.
Since they sat in such close proximity and doing so felt so damned right, she cupped his cheek with one hand. “I’ll marry you, Evan. The sooner the better, don’t you think?”
* * *
IF EVAN HAD FINALLY achieved her consent and the soft touch of her hand made him want to do all sorts of things to that mouth of hers, why did Kelly’s answer leave him wanting? He should be grabbing her and kissing her right now, but all he could do was stare. She’d said yes and he felt like an idiot because while his heart crashed around his chest at the possibility of a life with this woman, she was buying into his proposal as a business arrangement. She had calculated the lesser of two evils between him and Buzz Campbell and chosen him.
Should he admit this when they toasted their wedding?
He released her and sat back in his seat hoping to read some emotion in her face but she simply watched him, peaceful as a nun. Wasn’t the heat of their make-out session the other night burning a hole in her mind like it was his? “You’ll be okay living with me?”
She frowned. “Well, the marriage will just be on paper, no? We won’t have to consummate the vows or anything, will we?”
That sinking feeling anchored right in the middle of his chest. He wanted to say hell, yes, we’ll consummate, but then again he hadn’t asked her to marry him on bended knee offering undying love. He was getting what he offered: an arrangement to solve a crisis.
Swallowing his rising disappointment, he grinned. “My answer would be yes, but I’ll let you call the shots.”
She gave a small smile. “That is most proper of you.”
He reached for her hand. She let him take it. “We’ll have to get a license in person. Let’s go immediately after my show in the morning.”
“Don’t say anything on the air.”
“We’ll have to announce it at some point.”
“I know, but I need a little time to adjust to the idea.”
He wanted to say that he didn’t need time to adjust. He liked the idea just fine. “Can I at least kiss you to seal the deal?”
She hesitated but heat filled her eyes. A small triumph pounded his caveman chest. Yes! Their kisses had affected her.
Stubborn woman as she was, she bit her lower lip and shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Should he just lean in and steal one anyway? With any other woman, he would. Kelly was a different story. She’d drawn a line in the sand over their agreement and she’d hold firm. He felt like John Wayne chasing after that fiery redhead Maureen O’Hara in the classic movie, The Quiet Man. He could just hear the heroine now... We’ll not have a marriage until I have my things about me. Evan would have to make Kelly’s world right to earn her affection. And damn it