When Chemistry Wins (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  “So you haven’t decided who to vote for yet?”

  “You could say that.” Even though Governor Mitchell was a distant third after Payne and Hall, he wasn’t about to admit it to the state’s First Daughter. “And what about you? Thinking of going into the family business?”

  “Hmph.” Kerri turned away, facing the great windows overlooking the gardens doused in twilight. The setting sun cast a red and purple glow over the young woman, bathing her in some of Hunter’s favorite hues. That wasn’t the only warmth in the room. Was it getting hot in there? “That’s the problem with this whole charade. Calling it the family business. Politics shouldn’t be business. I may not be interested in how it works, but I know that much.”

  She’s like that, huh? Meeting a woman not drinking the political juice was refreshing. Most of the women involved in Hunter’s life thus far loved it a little too much. Hard to avoid when he was often involved with his father’s campaign. His favorite ex-girlfriend was a county campaign head. Great sex, not so great conversation. “What do you know about your father’s opponent?” This should be good.

  Kerri abandoned the sunset to give Hunter a wry smile. “You mean Terrence Hall? I know that my father is more scared of him than he lets on. The first opponent to have that high of an approval rating in thirty years? Of course, my father also thinks he‘ll win. I admit, I don’t know much more than that. The whole thing gives me a headache.”

  “So you’ve never met his son? I hear he’s about your age.”

  “No.” Kerri scoffed. “Why do you ask? You trying to set me up with him?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Well, good. I could only imagine how that would go over with my parents. And his.”

  For some reason that stung Hunter right in the gut. “A regular Romeo and Juliet story. Shakespeare would be proud.”

  “Oh, please, don’t talk to me about Shakespeare.” At least Kerri laughed at the sentiment. “I spent enough of college reading and dissecting the Bard.”

  “That so?”

  “This may shock someone as politically minded as you, but I majored in English. Double majored, actually.”

  “What was the other?”

  “French.”

  So she’s smart? And what was this about him being “politically minded?” Did Kerri forget where they were that night? Not that he blamed her for wanting to talk about anything else. Hunter knew that feeling quite well. So well that Kerri’s aversion inspired him to be bolder that night. “You want to get out of here then?”

  Though she was taken aback by the question, Kerri still remained close. “Excuse me?”

  Hunter pointed out the window, where the sun had set to the point that darkness now swamped the gardens. “I’ve always wanted to see the gardens of the Governor’s Mansion. Care to give me a tour?”

  Kerri turned her eyebrow and lips down, but it was not just her suspicion that made Hunter wonder if he was too fast, too soon. She barely knows you, idiot. He wouldn’t blame Kerri if she took that as something beyond him wanting a “tour of her bushes.” Hunter had to clap his mouth shut to keep from laughing over that one.

  When he refocused on the lovely young lady before him, the corners of Kerri’s lips were raised in mischief. Just that look – the look of a woman getting ready to strike before Hunter had the chance to make the first move – had him sweating under his tight collar.

  “You want to see the garden, huh?” Kerri snorted. “All right.” She stepped away, but looked over her shoulder to make sure Hunter followed at a respectable distance.

  As this flirtatious game went on, it was becoming harder to stay so respectable. Especially on Kerri’s part as her eyes scanned the entirety of Hunter’s frame before they left the bright lights of the ballroom.

  Chapter 2

  In the years she had lived in the Governor’s Mansion, Kerri had yet to drink in the views of the anterior gardens.

  Hunter asked her about them, but she didn’t know much – another shameful thing, granted how many times she walked by them, read or did homework in them, or hid behind one of the front bushes to get away from her mother’s nagging. The only “fun fact” she knew about the governor’s gardens was that they were planted fifty years ago, by a former governor’s wife who decided the mansion didn’t look affluent enough. She wanted the grounds to reflect the gardens of Versailles. Well, they didn’t look anything like Versailles, but they were passable, with trimmed hedges, bright flowers currently in bloom, and bushes arranged in a maze-like pattern that eventually led to a small fountain in the center.

  Hunter commented on this flower here – his mother’s favorite – and that topiary there, but Kerri admitted she was still not as enthralled as she should have been. Admirable, since she now forced herself to search her surroundings for something to mention.

  But it was hard. Damn hard. How was she supposed to admire a blasted flower when a handsome man escorted her like a princess? They entered the garden walking side-by-side but not touching; by the time they discovered topiary in the shape of Michelangelo’s Venus, Kerri had her arm wrapped around Hunter’s.

  He had told her his name, but not much else about him, besides the fact his family was originally from California. Not surprising. Everyone was a Californian transplant those days. One of Kerri’s best friends in college was from Beverly Hills. Thinking of her made Kerri sad that she had so few people to talk to around there. At least I have this man tonight. She hid a blush behind her hand. Like hell she would let Hunter see it.

  It took a bit, but eventually she managed to get her gentleman of the night to deviate from the topic of politics. What an unromantic subject. When Kerri escorted him to the gardens, romance had not been the first thing on her mind. In truth it was a driving need to know who this guy was. How often did clean-cut young men show up unattended at one of her father’s bashes? They were usually there with their fathers, learning the ropes of the club so they could take over one day. Thus far it sounded like Hunter was wholly unaffiliated. While Kerri wished she could tell him to run far, far away from politics, at least he had an open mind.

  The more she got to know him, the more attractive he became.

  Hunter liked talking about politics, of course, but he also had the same tastes in books as Kerri, who always loved a good conversation about Victorian literature, particularly the ones toted as the big romances when they weren’t romantic at all. “Like Wuthering Heights,” Hunter said, diverting their path behind another shrub. By now the moonlight shone upon the greens and pinks of the garden below, illuminating the whites of Hunter’s eyes. Every time he looked at Kerri, it was like he bore right into her soul. “Even my own mother, for as much as she reads, is convinced that it’s a romance. I told her it was a dark love story at best. But there’s nothing good or romantic about that story. Quite the opposite. But that’s why I like it.”

  “I agree with you.” Kerri halted them by the fountain, tinkling in the evening with soothing sounds. “You also mentioned Romeo and Juliet before. I can’t think of a bigger tragedy that is often misunderstood as a romance. They die in the end! How is that a satisfying romance? I sigh to hear people call it romantic every time.”

  Hunter laughed. He had a deep laugh, but not an intimidating one like some men did. It was more sonorous than anything else – as if Kerri could wrap herself in his voice and sleep peacefully. If only. Her father would riot to know she was out alone with a strange man.

  “Chalk it up to people’s unhealthy perceptions of romance,” he said, sitting on the edge of the fountain. Kerri joined him, sure to smooth her dress along her rear before lowering herself. “We have it in our heads that love is supposed to hurt and be tragic. No wonder we find ourselves living in hell after only a few weeks together.”

  “We?” Kerri tried not to laugh.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Do I? Maybe there’s something you want to share with the class.”

&nb
sp; “Not really. Just something I have observed. Even in my own relationships, I suppose.”

  Although curious, Kerri did not press for more information. After all, they had just met.

  “And you? In your relationships?”

  Scoffing, Kerri crossed her legs away from Hunter. “I don’t think so,” she said with an edge. “I barely know who you are. For all I know you’re a really good reporter wanting to write an exposé on my family by framing me as a whore. Oh, the Halls would love that.”

  Hunter chuckled, his fingers brushing against the hair on his chin. “I’m not a reporter. If I were, I would be doing a really bad job right now.”

  “And how’s that?”

  The mystery man leaned against his knees and winked at Kerri. “Because I’m flirting too much for my own good.”

  She knew it. From the moment Hunter approached her, Kerri sensed his ulterior motives. The only difference between him and other men who made the same advances was that she was not disgusted with the thought. Quite the opposite. Hunter was not only handsome, but the sort of gentleman the Kerri of old expected to meet somewhere out in the world. So far, she had been sorely disappointed. “That’s funny,” Kerri said. “Here I thought I was bumbling along with my own sad attempt at flirting.” She stood, pivoted her heels, and slowly sauntered toward the end of the garden where the moonlight shone strongest.

  Hunter did not move. At first Kerri thought her coy moves had failed her. Wouldn’t be the first time. She turned her head and found Hunter only a few inches behind her.

  “Fascinating,” he said. His voice was warmer than the air around them as he whispered into Kerri’s ear. She turned her hips away so she wouldn’t be tempted to do something stupid. Stupid is fun sometimes, though. The Mitchells tried to keep her away from stupid as much as possible. “It seems that we have more in common than we initially thought.”

  “How could we know how much we have in common?” His presence crept upon Kerri’s skin in tingling waves. Her body grew hot, her stomach tightening and her breath catching in her throat. Long time since I last felt like this. “We just met half an hour ago.” That wasn’t a negative. Kerri enjoyed casual adventures when she had the chance. And as she turned to look at Hunter in the moonlight, there in their secluded, secret garden, she saw shadows dancing on his face, pulling her lips toward his cheek.

  One peck, and her senses returned to her. Kerri stepped back. She looked around to make sure nobody had seen this innocent tryst unfurl right beneath the governor’s nose.

  Hunter put his hand on her shoulder, gentle, but firm. “Perhaps we could know each other better,” he said, urgency suppressed in his voice. “I mean that maybe we could go out sometime. If you’re not seeing someone right now.”

  “No.” Too quick to say it. Kerri faced him again, encountering those eyes piercing into her and making her feel blessedly small in his presence. “No to seeing someone, that is.” Her last boyfriend was months ago. Nothing serious. They barely had a roll in the hay before Kerri realized he was a complete bore.

  Hunter, on the other hand…

  Maybe it was hormones. They were known to make her wild at times. Now she was becoming wild in the wrong places. “I’m also afraid that I’ll be quite busy.” A half lie. Oh, she would be busy… with her father’s campaign, as much as she didn’t want to be involved. “That is, I won’t have much time for dating. Being so keen on politics, you know how election season is. My father wouldn’t like me seeing someone while the press is scrutinizing our every movement.”

  “I see.” Hunter cleared his throat. “Excuse me then, Miss Mitchell. I won’t take up much more of your time.”

  He was almost behind a hedge when Kerri took a step after him. “Wait!” she called, stopping him before he could leave as quickly as he arrived. When he turned, they shared a gaze that burst in flames between them.

  To hell with it. Kerri had done dumber things in the name of some fun.

  She snatched his hand and brought him into the shadows of the corner, where she could not see Hunter’s face, but she could feel the strength in his arms and in the rest of him as it pressed her against the wall.

  The moment Hunter understood what she was after, he kissed her, Kerri’s arms wrapping around his broad shoulders as his physical power passed into her veins.

  What a bad girl I am! Kerri would laugh if she could, but her mouth was exploring the stubble on Hunter’s chin as his wandered toward her throat. Oh, dear, if we’re caught… There was a thrill in it, knowing that the consequences were so terrible. The governor’s daughter making out with some random young stranger while her father’s fundraising dinner went on only a ways away? If they were caught, her father’s campaign may already be up in smoke. Imagine the scandal in the newspapers and on the tabloid sites!

  As much as this made the situation hotter, Kerri had to admit that she would do this even if the stakes weren’t so high.

  For Hunter was strong enough to hold her against the wall, pulling her leg and skirt up as they made hasty work of exploring each other’s skin. Not that Kerri could see anything clearly in this darkness. But she kind of liked not knowing what each part of him looked like – only felt like. I’ve never done it like this before. Nor had she ever had a partner like Hunter, who softly asked if he could fondle her while they nipped each other’s lips. “I don’t see why not,” she said, wrapping one leg around his waist. She urged her pelvis forward, wondering if she could feel his yet. Not quite. What a disappointment it would be if she never could. “I really don’t.” Of course she saw many reasons to not do this. Most of them were in the Governor’s Mansion, probably assuming that the First Daughter was still a virgin.

  This was way more fun than sitting in that dining room any longer.

  She gasped in delight as Hunter eased his hand up between their bodies and wrapped his hand around her breast. He was gentle, much to her chagrin. At this point she was hoping the gentlemanly side of Hunter would have folded to a wilder one.

  “Hold up,” Kerri said, waiting for Hunter to get the message and back away a few inches. He no longer panted against her like a wolf in heat, but Kerri could still feel the tension bubbling between them. “We should take this elsewhere.” Her mind was already racing with the possibilities of where they could go.

  “Where?” Hunter straightened his clothing. Was he still interested in her? “I mean, not that I have no interest in you,” well that answered that, “but I’m not sure where in a place like this we could be alone…” His voice as it trailed off was full of the sort of lust Kerri needed to hear to give her the confidence to change her fate that night.

  She took Hunter’s hand, looked around to make sure their path was clear, and pulled him toward the back entrance to the gardens. “There’s a back way inside where we won’t be noticed. We can go to my room.”

  “Damn.” He nearly pulled his hand out of hers. “You’re serious?”

  Kerri turned to him. Without any light to illuminate his features, Kerri had no idea how she was supposed to read him. “Of course I’m serious. You coming or not?” She hoped he got her double entendre.

  Apparently he did. “Lead the way. And God have mercy on us if we’re caught.”

  Please, I’m a grown woman. Kerri led Hunter forward, trying to remember where to go from there so they would not be disturbed on the way to her room.

  She slept in the east wing, on the side opposite her parents, although her father kept an office nearby. But that meant the private entrance to the wing was clear, only requiring a key from Kerri’s bag to open. Hunter kept watch for anyone who may catch them.

  “This way,” she said coyly, taking Hunter by the hand again as she led him down the hall. Hunter made sure to latch the door shut behind them. “We must be quiet.” Kerri said that more for herself. The closer they got to her room, the giddier she became.

  It had been years since she last snuck a boy into her room… and that boy was
n’t even there for a scandalous rendezvous. He was my science fair partner, and my parents wouldn’t let him in our house. Apparently his parents were key members of the opposing party. The one time Kerri snuck a boy into her girls-only dorm in college, she had been sorely disappointed by his performance. Looking over her shoulder at Hunter, who had a healthy glow in the low hallway lights, gave Kerri some hope that tonight’s prospects were much better.

  Her bedroom was upstairs, and the staircase and hallway were clear. It almost seemed too easy to be this nefarious. Helps that everyone is down in the ball and dining rooms. When they reached her room, she had a key for that too. Her father made the whole family lock up the important rooms whenever there was a shindig.

  But that meant Kerri and Hunter wouldn’t be disturbed.

  “Nice,” Hunter said as he entered Kerri’s room. She shut the door behind her, locked it, and turned to lean against it. “I’ve always wondered what the bedrooms in this place looked like.”

  “I don’t think they’re that fancy.” Not that Kerri knew what most normal bedrooms looked like. Even as a kid, in the days before her father’s governorship, Kerri always had a grand bedroom. This one was the queen of them all, however, boasting enough space to double as a studio apartment. The rugs were imported Persian, with intricate designs of muted colors that blended with the mahogany four-post bed dominating the center of the wall. Kerri’s damson-colored bedspread was immaculate now, but given a few minutes she could probably convince Hunter to mess it up with her. “It is fancy enough for my taste, though.”

  Hunter stood in the middle of the dark bedroom, gazing at a family photo of the Mitchells on Kerri’s vanity. She promptly walked up to it and turned it down so Raymond Mitchell could not watch this spectacle.

  “Excuse me while I go freshen up.” Kerri was sweaty and could use a touch-up to her makeup. She had an en suite bathroom for these matters.

  A firm hand took her by the wrist. “No need,” Hunter said, his other hand clasping her on the shoulder. Such a touch sent chills through Kerri’s skin – sweet chills, the kind simmering in her loins as she was reminded why she brought Hunter up here. Such a gentleman. There was nothing sinister in the way he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her throat. “I hope I haven’t misinterpreted your intentions,” he said, placing his palm on her stomach. It slowly worked its way up her torso, stopping to cup her breast from beneath. “I don’t think I have, but don’t be shy to tell me that I’m wrong.”