Sparks Fly with Mr. Mayor by Teresa Carpenter Page A

her door, her visitor must be a man. One tall, lean, frustrating male by her guess, a hunch confirmed when she spied Cole through the peephole.
    The man was a relentless pest, which didn’t stop her from licking her lips and fluffing her hair before opening the door a scant three inches.
    â€œCole,” she acknowledged, trying for cold and forbidding but achieving breathy. “What do you want? Here to steal another kiss?”
    Was she crazy? Why had she brought that up? Ignoring the felonious smooch would be far smarter.
    â€œSure, if you’re offering.” The door proved no barrier when he leaned down and snagged her mouth with his.
    Dani moaned under the soft ravishment of his lips. No simple peck like in church, this kiss pulled a response from her. He didn’t press but finessed, sipping, teasing, drawing her latent passion to the surface.
    Oh, yeah, this was crazy good.
    They touched only where her mouth clung to his, the door still mostly between them. And she wanted more, wanted his arms around her, his body next to hers.
    Sweet sugar cookies, she longed to get her hands on him.
    So, of course, she pushed him away. Okay, he had already started lifting his head, but she preferred to stick with her version and retain a little self-respect.
    Her breathing fogged the cool night air between them as she tried to calm her wildly beating heart.
    He made no attempt to enter the house, simply leaned against the doorjamb, far too close and far too happy with himself.
    She scowled. “So why are you here again?”
    He lifted a dark eyebrow, and the porch light caught the leap of passion in his eyes as he inched closer.
    â€œDo you want me to show you again?”
    She planted a hand in the center of his chest, holding him at a distance even as she thrilled to feel his heart thundering under her fingers.
    â€œSpeak or leave.”
    â€œSo cold. You’re not going to invite me in?”
    â€œI’m glad we’re both clear on that.”
    He blinked, refocused, and then flashed his pearly whites at her. “You could come out here with me.”
    â€œI guess you’re leaving, then. Good night.”
    â€œWait.” His warm grip settled over hers on the door, not pushing, just touching. “I came to confirm I was right. The museum group is playing some kind of game by not cooking. Tell me I’m wrong.”
    â€œYou’re the enemy. I’m not telling you anything, except the supporters of the museum and garden proposal genuinely care about the outcome of this vote. It’s not a game to them, and it would be a mistake not to take them seriously.”
    Solemn, he nodded. But of course he didn’t mean it. “I knew it. Whose wild idea was this? Seems a little desperate to me.”
    â€œUnderdogs need to be inventive.” Why was she allowing this conversation to continue? Probably because her senses were still spinning from his kiss. The thought of spending a whole weekend in his combustible company shook her to the core. She should call him on his offer, let him know she didn’t want or need his help, but she didn’t have the energy. Didn’t have the guts.
    â€œIf that’s all, I’m getting cold.”
    â€œNo, you aren’t.” He feathered the back of a finger along her cheekbone, caught a loose tendril and tucked it behind her ear. “You’re feeling the heat. Just like me.”
    â€œCole—”
    â€œYou don’t have to be afraid of me.” His voicewas soft; his eyes told her she could trust him. But even his cousin said he was full of sweet talk and hot air.
    â€œHaven’t you guessed, everything scares me these days?” Pulling her hand free of his, she slowly closed and locked the door.
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    â€œI don’t know why those women are against the sports complex, ’cause they’re not opposed to playing games,” Doc Wilcox groused. He and Palmer and the two other members of