Tommy Gabrini 3: Grace Under Fire (The Gabrini Men Series) by Mallory Monroe Page A

of
Seattle, Mr. Gabrini.”
    Tommy
thought it was ludicrous when Peter first made such a pitch a few weeks
ago.   He thought it was even more
ludicrous now.   “Yes, I’ve heard,” was
his response.
    “What
say you?” Amy asked.
    “I
say no.”
    Amy
crossed her legs.   “May I ask why?”
    “May
I ask why would DC be interested in a mayor’s race all the way out here in
Seattle?”
    Peter
answered that.   “Because this is just the
beginning, Tom,” he said.   “From here to
the US Senate, to who knows where.   This
is just to get your feet wet.”
    “And
DC wants to be there to hold your hand the entire way,” Amy said.   “We will inject all the money you will need,
we will make your tenure as mayor the most successful in Seattle history.”
    Tommy
studied the young woman.   “Why?”
    Amy
smiled.   “Because you’re handsome.   Because you’re attractive.   Because you’re gorgeous.   Because you’re beautiful.   And did I mention because you’re
handsome?   The ladies, who vote in mass
by the way, will love you.”
    Tommy
was immediately uncomfortable, and inwardly angry.   He was the successful head of an
international corporation.   He was a
powerhouse manager.   He was an
intellectual heavyweight.   Yet his looks
were all they were interested in.
    “No,”
he said.   “I’m not interested.”
    “Are
you married?” Amy asked this as if he Peter had never told her.
    Tommy
looked at her.   “I said I’m not
interested.”
    “I
heard you.   Are you married?”
    “Yes,
I’m married.”
    “Kids?”
    “No.”
    “Describe
your wife.”
    Tommy
looked at her.   “Why?”
    “Is
she pretty, I mean?”
    “Yes,
she’s pretty.   But what in the world does
that have to do with anything at all?”
    Amy
considered him.   “We need you, Mr.
Gabrini.   I know I seem crass, but your
looks will be a very big part of this.   You’re the real deal, and that’s what we need.   A man with a highly successful business.   A man with gumption and toughness.   And a man of great looks.”
    “The
total package,” Peter said.
    “Right,”
Amy echoed.   “The total package.”
    “Still
not interested.”
    “Is it
because of your family background?”
    Tommy
gave her a searing look.
    “Your
uncle, your father’s father, was a mob boss, no?”
    Tommy
didn’t respond.
    “But
your father, the man who raised you, was a police chief.   Trust me.   By the time we’re done, your great father will be the issue.   The great chief.   The mob boss side of your family will be the
joke.   So please don’t let your past
bother you.   We’ve got you covered.”
    She
didn’t know what she was talking about, Tommy thought.   The idea that she would put great next to the name of a sadistic,
hateful, abusive man like his father sickened Tommy.   He was about to stand, to get the hell out of
her sight, but Amy beat him to the punch.   “Stay,” she said, rising herself.   “Talk it over with Peter.   All we
ask at this juncture is that you at least consider our offer.   You will win, we can guarantee it, and you
will move higher in political life, we can guarantee that too.”   Then she blew a kiss at Peter.   “Call me later,” she said, and left.
    “Don’t
dismiss it out of hand,” Peter urged him as soon as the door closed.   “Just think about it.   You may change your mind.”
    “I
doubt that.”
    “If I
can make you laugh, will you at least think about it?”
    “Make
me laugh?   Come on, Pete!   We aren’t in high school anymore.”
    “But
if I can make you laugh, will you think about it?”
    “So
you’ve got jokes now?”
    “Just
say yes.”
    Tommy
shook his head.   Peter was always the
prankster.   So he knew one was
coming.   “Yeah, sure,” he said.   “What’s the joke?”
    Peter
jumped on top of Tommy and began tickling him.   Tommy was so stunned, and so tickled, that he couldn’t help but laugh.
    “I
got you!” Peter