The Best of All Page 6

  “I’ll do it right now.”

  “You did the right thing by calling me, Surry. Now, don’t even spend time thinking about this stuff tonight. Get your pretty little self some rest. I’ll check into this and find out why these reporters are trying to get in touch with you. That way we’ll know if anything new has developed.”

  “Thanks, Ian.”

  Just before they hung up, Ian said, “I meant what I just said, Surry. I don’t want you to spend another second worrying about this. I’m on the job, and I plan to get this resolved for you.”

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

  “I’m going to need to take a rain check on breakfast. I’ll take that time to try to figure out what’s going on.”

  “That’s fine, but I’ll buy the snacks at the basketball game. How’s that?”

  The sound of his voice was labored as he responded, “If that will make you happy, Surry, then buy me all the snacks you want.”

  “Okay, see you tomorrow.” As they hung up, Surry breathed a sigh of relief. Ian told her he would take care of the matter, and she believed him. But as she lay down and pulled the covers over her body, Surry realized that she was beginning to depend on Ian more and more each day. Whether that was a good or bad thing, she just didn’t know.

  She drifted off to sleep hearing her mother say, “You can’t trust a man to do nothing. If you want it done right, do it yourself.”

  Chapter 7

  “You’re doing a marvelous job, Ian. I’m just grateful that no one else had snatched you up before I called,” Governor Monroe said as they were wrapping up their work for the day.

  “I am grateful that I was able to take the job. There’s no greater opportunity than working on a presidential campaign.”

  Monroe patted Ian on the shoulder. “You say that now. But I know your type. You are much too loyal to leave a client just because something better came along.”

  Loyalty was the one thing his father had stressed to him, before their working relationship fell apart, and Ian had learned that lesson well. If he took on a client, it was because he believed in that person enough to go all the way with him or her. “You’re right about that, Governor. But since we had just finished a campaign, I was available.”

  “I watched that campaign. You handled everything just right for Noel. I don’t mind telling you that I was impressed.”

  Ian felt like asking questions...such as, why had Monroe bothered to pay attention to a congressional race when he had his eye on the presidency? But he let the thought pass as he considered the saying “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

  “Are you bringing your lady friend to the luncheon?” Monroe asked.

  “I’ll check with her tonight to make sure that she’s available.”

  “Well, if she isn’t, my niece is still available,” Monroe said with a wicked grin on his face.

  The first day he met with Monroe, the man’s niece had been in the office. Reese Monroe was a beautiful and refined woman. But she wasn’t for him, so he quickly told Monroe that he’d brought a woman with him. “I’m sure that Surry will make herself available, but thanks for thinking of me.” Ian left Monroe’s office, hoping that Surry hadn’t already made plans of her own for tomorrow.

  He was completely exhausted after his day with Governor Monroe. They had stargazed until his eyes crossed. Monroe was a very intelligent man whose heart and soul bled for this country. Ian was convinced that the man would make a great president. And after spending several days discussing Monroe’s platform, he was convinced that he wanted to manage Governor Monroe’s campaign.

  The work was just beginning. Monroe had asked him to move to Charlotte, because his campaign would be headquartered here. Ian had no problem with relocating from Houston to Charlotte for the next four years. He was single, owned his own company and had enough money in the bank to live anywhere he wanted. However, there were times, including now, that Ian wished it wasn’t so easy for him to just pick up and relocate. He sometimes wished he had a wife waiting at home, someone who was going to argue with him about his travel schedule and how much time he wasn’t spending at home.

  But life was what it was.... Ian knew he was blessed and really had no room to complain, but after watching one friend after the next jump the broom into wedded bliss, Ian was now wondering about his turn. He had hoped that Surry would give him a chance. She was the kind of woman he needed. She was just as motivated and ambitious as he was. She wouldn’t be sitting at home counting the minutes until her husband arrived. No, Surry would be out making her own way in this world, and he had a feeling that when they came home and spent their moments together...those would be the best moments of his life, causing him to want more than moments. Yeah, Surry was definitely the kind of woman who’d get a man off focus. Like now.

  Even though he was dead on his feet, he’d promised Surry a night out. So, after leaving Monroe, he mustered up the strength to pick her up and take her to the Charlotte basketball game as they had planned. As he sat in the stands with Surry, watching her cheer, boo and make catcalls, he found himself being rejuvenated.

  Surry stood up and yelled at a player who’d just had a ball stolen from him. “Hey, big boy, lay off the cookies and you might be able to get down the court faster.”

  Ian laughed so hard he just about choked on his Pepsi. He pulled Surry back down to her seat. “Some of these players are my friends. You can’t heckle them while you’re with me. They will never get me seats to the game again.”

  “You shouldn’t have fair-weather friends, Ian. Besides, I’m a fan, so I have a right to call it as I see it, right?”

  Ian shrugged.

  Surry then stood back up and cheered a player on while he dribbled down the court, “Go, go, go, go.” She lifted her arms and yelled, “Yeah, that’s the way to do it!” as the ball swished into the net.

  Ian found himself up on his feet cheering as if this was a championship game and a player had just scored the winning point. Their excitement had evidently been electrifying, because a whole group of other fans stood and cheered the player on, as well.

  They all sat back down and continued to watch the game. It was getting good. One minute the score would be tied, and the next the opposing team would be up a few points. Then the Charlotte would bring it and tie the score up again.

  “You told me that you liked basketball, but I just thought you were being polite,” Ian said.

  “Am I embarrassing you?”

  Ian shook his head. “No, no. Do your thing. But if one of the players wants to fight after the game, I’m going to expect you to knuckle up and help me out.”

  She balled her fists and positioned herself like Rocky Balboa. “I got your back.”

  “That’s good to know,” Ian said, smiling up at her.

  She sat back down and asked, “So, what’s your favorite team?”

  “Los Angeles, baby, all the way.”

  She shoved him. “You traitor. What’s wrong with Houston’s team?”

  “I like your hometown spirit. But I have to admit that I’m a transplant. My family has lived in so many places that I’m just thankful that I still pledge allegiance to the good old U.S. of A.”

  Their attention turned back to the court as the Charlotte had the ball with a chance to tie the score again. The player took his shot and missed. Surry jumped up and screamed, “My grandmother could have made that shot, even as she steadied herself by holding on to her cane.”

  The player turned toward the stands, gave Ian an evil eye and said, “You need to control your girl, man.”

  Before Ian could stop himself, he got a mischievous grin on his face as he told the player, “When you control your aim, I’ll control my girl.”

  The player shook his head and pointed at Ian. “No more tickets f
or you, my friend.”

  Ian leaned back in his seat and laughed so hard this time that he had to stop the tears from rolling down his face.

  When the game was over, Surry got an “oops” expression on her face. “Sorry about that. I guess I forgot to tell you that I’m one of those rabid fans. I get a little crazy when I watch the games.”

  “You might have said something about not having any home training,” Ian joked as he stood and held out a hand for Surry. “Ready?”

  * * *

  She took hold of his hand as he gallantly held it out for her. If he had been any other man, Surry probably would have ignored the offer and stood on her own. But this was Ian. He’d been so good to her, even when she hadn’t shown appreciation. So, she didn’t want to pretend anymore. She needed his help and was grateful to have it. Ian had spent all morning working on her issues with John Michael, and she hadn’t even thanked him for his efforts. Well, that kind of behavior would stop now.

  They walked down Trade Street, holding hands as they headed to the hotel. Surry squeezed Ian’s hand and softly said, “Thank you for helping me. Sometimes it’s hard for me to admit that I need help, but I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’re doing for me,” she told him as they walked to the hotel.

  “You don’t have to thank me. But it does make it seem like you have a little bit of home training, the way you’re being all nice right now. So, I’ll be sure to tell the fellas that you aren’t all crazy, just some crazy.”

  She nudged his shoulder. “Forget the players. I was just livening up the game.” She got serious and added, “I just want you to know that I appreciate whatever you might be able to do. When John Michael first started spewing his lies, I didn’t know what to do or whom to turn to. But my greatest fear has been that I might lose everything I’ve worked so hard to build.”

  Ian told her, “You let me worry about John Michael. When I’m done with him, I guarantee he’ll be begging for your forgiveness.”

  “I don’t want him hurt, Ian. So if you have anything like that in mind, just forget it.”

  They made a left on Third Street. With the hotel in sight, Ian had a grin on his face as he said, “Who do you think I am...the Mafia? I don’t do physical violence, but trust me when I tell you, I still have ways of making grown men cry when it’s necessary.”

  Ian had said those words with such conviction that Surry believed each one. He was a power broker, and men like that sometimes had more power than those they helped. If anyone could solve her problem, it was Ian Duncan. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him, but just as the thought occurred to her, they were standing in front of the hotel, preparing to go their separate ways.

  “I’ll walk you to your room,” Ian said, still holding her hand. As they walked, he told her, “Governor Monroe is having a luncheon tomorrow and he’s invited you. Is that okay?”

  “How did he even know anything about me?” Surry asked suspiciously.

  “He doesn’t know about you per se. Monroe just knows that someone is here with me, but he doesn’t know your name. Does it bother you to be associated with me?”

  “Not in the least. I just wondered how the governor knew that you had someone with you.”

  “If you must know, Monroe tried to introduce me to his niece, but I told him that I came with someone and that you wouldn’t appreciate me spending my time with any woman but you while we’re in town.”

  “Using me to get the women off your back, huh?” Surry teased.

  “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all, and I’d love to attend the luncheon tomorrow.”

  He pointed at her. “No heckling the governor. Okay?”

  She released his hand to cross her heart. “Promise. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  He took her hand back as they continued to walk. Surry looked down, noticing the way their hands melded together. He was bringing her warmth and shielding her from the cold within, causing her to feel things she hadn’t felt for any other man she’d dated. And for some reason she couldn’t totally fathom, she was delighted that he hadn’t wanted to entertain any other woman. “Ian?”

  “Yeah?” he asked as they got into the elevator, heading to their rooms.

  “I know that I can be a bit uptight, but I want you to know that I’m beginning to feel comfortable with you. It normally takes me much longer to get to this level of comfort with any of my friends.”

  His eyes were smiling as he said, “Woman, did you just relegate me to the friend zone?”

  The elevator door opened, and as they walked to their rooms, Surry tried to explain. “That’s not what I meant. I was just trying to tell you how—”

  They were at Surry’s door. Ian turned to her and said, “Just shut up and kiss me.”

  As he strode toward her, Surry stepped back until she found herself against the wall...nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. But the funny thing was, she no longer wanted to run or hide. She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes as their lips met in sweet, blissful passion.

  When their lips parted, Ian put his hands on the wall, close to each side of her face. He stared at Surry with heated eyes and then said, “I don’t kiss my friends like that. Do you?”

  Barely able to form a complete sentence, Surry shook her head.

  “So we might need to find a new word in the dictionary to define us, huh?”

  She nodded, knowing full well that he was dominating her mind and she was powerless to stop him. He lowered his lips to hers once again, and she shamelessly received him. She wanted the kiss to last, but when he stepped back she didn’t try to stop him.

  “I’ll pick you up at eleven in the morning,” he told her.

  Her mind was so fuzzy, she didn’t understand why he was offering to pick her up tomorrow. He must have seen something in the expression on her face that told him that she didn’t know what he was talking about, because he added, “The luncheon at Governor Monroe’s place? You said you would attend with me, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah...yeah. I’ll be ready.”

  “Thank you, Surry.” He stood in front of her for a moment, inhaling deeply. “See you in the morning.”

  “Good night, Ian.” Surry opened the door and floated into her room. She put her purse on the dresser and caught a glimpse of the goofy grin that was plastered on her face. What in the world was Ian doing to her?

  * * *

  What in the world had he allowed Surry McDaniel to do to him? He hadn’t laughed this much in the past ten years. Surry did something to him when they were together. She brought out his silly side and amused him beyond what any other woman had been able to do. Surry was just so at ease in her own skin. She didn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t.

  The basketball game tonight proved that Surry was going to beat to her own drum, no matter who was watching. He’d never dated a woman who dared to yell at a bunch of almost seven-foot-tall men without once thinking of backing down. Surry was amazing. And the way he felt when he held on to her hand was almost electrifying. He hadn’t wanted to let her go. He’d enjoyed the game, but the hand-holding had been the best part of his day. That is, until their mouths met.

  When he kissed her, it was as if their souls danced together. She was the woman for him, and Ian knew it as he’d known nothing else. The only problem was that Surry wanted friendship from him rather than the relationship that Ian so desperately needed from her. As he went to bed that night, Ian decided that it was best for him to cut his losses. He had too much work to do in the next four years to be chasing after someone who was so clearly unavailable to him.

  “Keep your hands off Surry, from this day forward,” he told himself.

  Chapter 8

  At eleven on the dot, Ian knocked on Surry’s door. As he heard her footsteps, h
e reminded himself of his declaration from last night, but then she opened the door and blew all of his willpower away.

  Her hair hung down her shoulders in curly waves. She wore a full-length, formfitting dress with black and white horizontal and vertical lines through the length of it. It was V-necked in the front and back and had a long slit up the back and angled bell sleeves. The dress took his breath away.

  “It’s a Cleopatra knit.”

  “And you look like a queen in it.”

  She twirled around, giddy as a schoolgirl. “Do you really like it?”

  “Baby, I love it. I’m just wondering how I’m going to keep my hands off you in a dress like that.”

  Putting her hands on the fabric, she said, “I designed it for the woman who wants to feel like a queen for a day.”

  Ian’s mouth was watering as he told her, “You hit the mark. I just hope that Monroe didn’t invite too many men to this luncheon. “There is such a thing as too much male attention.”

  “Let me grab my purse. I left it in the bathroom.”

  Ian took the seat in front of the desk in her room. He needed a moment to get his thoughts together. How on earth was he going to be able to concentrate with Surry standing within a twenty-mile radius of him in that dress?

  “Ready?” she asked as she floated back into the room.

  No, not at all, he wanted to confess, but he put his man pants on and stood up. “Yeah, let’s go.”

  The luncheon was being held at the ex-governor’s home on the south side of Charlotte. Ian and Surry got in his rental car and then jumped on Interstate 77. The traffic was bumper to bumper, and it took forty minutes to drive fifteen miles. Along the way, Ian passed one three-car pileup, and couple of minutes down the road there was a five-car accident.

  “What’s up with the drivers in the city? This is the South. Shouldn’t these people be more relaxed rather than running over each other?”