Sparks Fly with Mr. Mayor by Teresa Carpenter

problem with that, especially as Jesse announced from the other end of the table that because there were so many of them, they played in pairs. Dani had the bad feeling that as odd man and woman out she and Cole would be coupled together.
    She sighed in relief to learn they drew names to make up the pairs. It was the women’s turn to draw names and she was thrilled when she got Alex. Of all the men, she knew him best.
    Turned out they were good partners and, with much laughter, some debate and a few lucky rolls of the dice, they took an early lead.
    The group took a break about halfway through the game because the guys wanted dessert. Ford and Brock volunteered to dish up, keeping with the women’s-day-off theme, but Rachel and Jesse joined them in the kitchen to supervise.
    Seeing Samantha yawn, Dani nudged her partner. “Alex, I think you need to take your wife away for a weekend of rest and relaxation.”
    Samantha perked up. Alex looked at his wife with a gleam in his eyes and said, “There’s an idea.”
    Cole nudged Samantha a couple of times and wiggled his eyebrows. “Sami, you should take Alex away for a weekend of hot passion.”
    Samantha flushed pink and she looked at Alex with longing. “That sounds wonderful.”
    â€œI do have the conference in New Orleans in mid-November,” Alex said. “You could fly over and join me for the weekend.”
    Excitement lit Samantha up, but the glow quickly faded as resignation claimed her momentary radiance. “I can’t. The kids.”
    â€œOh, please,” Dani huffed. “That better not be your excuse. I can watch the kids.”
    Samantha shook her head. “I can’t ask you to do that. With the three boys and Faith, it would be too much.”
    â€œYou didn’t ask, I offered. I’m sure I can handle it for a few days.”
    â€œNo, they come with too much stuff, and the baby has a cold—”
    â€œSo I’ll go to your house.” Samantha did so much for Dani that she really wanted to help her friend out. “And I’m sure Jake will be feeling better by mid-November. Come on, Faith practically lives at your place. Let me do this for you.”
    Still Samantha hesitated. “You don’t know how much trouble three boys can be twenty-four/seven.”
    â€œI’ll help her,” Cole chimed in. “Between the two of us we should be fine.”
    â€œOh, but—” Dani protested, horrified by the idea. But Samantha talked right over her.
    â€œThat would be great.” Samantha jumped up and threw her arms around Cole, giving him a big kiss on the cheek.
    â€œHey, I’m the one supposed to get the passion.”Alex pulled his wife away from his brother and swung her into a steamy clinch.
    Glancing away from the embracing couple, Dani caught a look of acute envy on Cole’s face as he watched his brother and Samantha. For a moment he appeared the picture of loneliness. She turned away, giving him privacy, understanding only too well how being alone ate at the soul.
    Laughing softly, the couple broke apart, flushed and pleased with themselves. A few minutes later the others returned to the table with plates of chocolate cake, and the game resumed.
    That night doing laundry, Dani admitted she had enjoyed taking the win from Cole and Jesse. She’d had a good time today. And so had Faith. Several times Dani saw her dancing around Cole, climbing into his lap, giggling as she whispered in his ear. Her affection for him was totally on her sleeve, as was his for her.
    But Dani also saw how he gave Faith a couple of minutes of his attention, and then sent her back to play with the other kids, more than once with a slightly wistful expression.
    Dani sighed. He really was a decent guy.

CHAPTER FIVE
    S HORTLY AFTER SHE PUT Faith down to sleep, a knock sounded at Dani’s door. By the height and profile visible through the half medallion of smoky glass in