vote for him last time.’
Miranda smiled. ‘You probably don’t want to mention that in front of him. Unless you want to hear the one-on-one version of the campaign speech?’
‘Any other tips you want to pass on?’
‘If he says he’ll take it under advisement it means he’s going to ignore what you said.’
‘Good to know.’
While he cleared the table and walked to the trash can beside the buffet table she checked her appearance in the mirror of a compact and fluffed her hair into place. They met at the door, Tyler waiting silently by her side as she paused to take a breath and fortify herself for the trials ahead. It was time to put on her game face but before she did she allowed him a rare glimpse of a well-kept secret.
As the chill ran down her spine instead of hiding it she shook it off with a shudder of her shoulders. Once she realized what she’d done she glanced sideways and attempted to cover up her vulnerability with a wink. ‘Showtime.’
The low huff of amusement seemed to catch him as off guard as it did her, the immediate following need to shift his gaze to the people assembled behind the stage making Miranda’s chest expand with what felt a little too close to endearment. She knew he didn’t smile much but suddenly she ached with the need to experience it, to see how it changed his face and hear the sound of rumbling male laughter.
‘Your mother is making her way up from the audience now,’ Roger’s voice said, encouraging her to step forwards and focus.
When she got a brief glimpse of the packed auditorium as her mother appeared through the curtain at the side of the stage Miranda experienced a flutter of nerves. In need of reassurance, she glanced over her shoulder at Tyler and as their gazes met she thought she could feel it again: the silent understanding she’d been wrong about before.
The nod he gave her was almost imperceptible.
I’m right here, the unexpected warmth in his eyes said. I’ve got you.
She flashed a small smile in reply and for the first time in longer than she cared to admit she didn’t feel so alone. It was nice to think someone was there just for her.
Any concern she felt about the truth in the second part of his silent message she could examine later.
THIRTEEN
He’d been right about one thing.
Miranda was one hell of an actress.
No one on the outside saw how much effort she put into hiding her emotions. Burying them didn’t come naturally to her the way it used to for him. But when it came to the way she looked at him—as if he were some kind of tasty treat she wanted to savour—she needed to knock it off. Add their undeniable sexual chemistry to the flash of vulnerability he saw in her eyes before she faced the public and the draw he felt to her was so overpowering Tyler had to remind himself they weren’t alone.
He’d have to be careful when they were. The closer she dragged him to the edge, the more likely he was to lose what was left of his footing.
The next time she glanced his way he pointed at the curtain to let her know he would be out front. She nodded in reply before arching a brow at her mother when the woman reached out to brush her hair away from the badge she’d pinned to her chest.
‘Seriously?’
‘I’m not permitted to make motherly gestures now?’
‘Not if it takes us back to the days when you used to dress me like a Jackie Kennedy doll.’
Content she had something to distract her from any fear she felt of unseen dangers in the auditorium, Tyler moved into position. Standing where he had one-hundred-and-eighty-degrees’ coverage from the front of the stage, he checked everyone else on the combined detail was where they were supposed to be before running his gaze over the crowd.
‘...and with your help we can finish what we started...’
As the mayor’s speech whipped the crowd into a frenzy the cheers became louder, making it difficult for Tyler to hear if anything came through in his earpiece. The ever-present tension in his body coiled tighter as he raised his hand and used his forefinger to push it tighter into place.
‘We’ve come too far to give up now!’ the mayor shouted into the microphone. ‘Are you with me?’
The crowd yelled, ‘Yes!’
‘Are you with me?’
‘Yes!’
There were too many banners and placards waving wildly in