Mad About You

see the damage looked minimal since the contents consisted mainly of larger, less fragile pieces.
    "Looks like the table is fine," Ladden announced.
    But Jasmine was no longer listening. She was enthralled. She crawled over an old trunk, sneezed, then ran her hand over the short, nubby pile of the most beautiful carpet she had ever seen. Static electricity crackled, sending a tingle through her fingertips. Only then did she notice the butterflies. At least a dozen brilliantly colored specimens dotted the carpet, their bodies still, but their wings moving with the quiet regularity of intermittent windshield wiper blades. The entire scene was somewhat... magical.
    "Ladden," she said in wonder, "where did you get this rug?"
    He turned, eyes wide, then glanced at the bare wall behind her before answering. "I found it at an auction hall this morning." He picked up a large wooden clip from the floor, frowning at its clasp. "I hung it up to air out. The quake must have knocked it down". He scattered a few butterflies with a sweeping motion, then he turned a smile her way. "I thought you might like it."
    "Like it? I love it," she breathed. "It's Persian, isn't it?"
    Ladden nodded, running the back of his hand across the fibers. "But I can't date it—its condition is too good to be as old as I first guessed."
    Her heart pounded. "I want it."
    She looked up and saw his lips pressed together. Finally he dropped his gaze. "It might not be for sale."
    Jasmine laughed merrily. "Ladden, I've seen you take down light fixtures from this store and sell them."
    He nodded, stroking his chin. "I don't even know what it's worth. One of my experts is stopping by later this week to take a look at it. I think it's quite a find, though."
    Jasmine lovingly traced the outline of an intricately woven flowering plant. "The governor would pay handsomely for something so dear."
    "I'm sure he would," Ladden agreed in a subdued tone.
    "A perfect complement to a quilt the Turkan prince gave him," Jasmine continued, imagining how magnificent the carpet would look on the pale hardwood in his bedroom.
    "And if he isn't reelected?" Ladden asked, careful to keep his voice neither supportive nor reproachful.
    Jasmine winced, the discouraging results of this week's polls flashing in her mind. Influencing state policy was everything to Trey—his ambition was the quality she admired most about him. He hadn't been afraid to tackle unpopular issues during his first term, and he seemed likely to pay for it this election day. But she didn't like to think about how much losing would crush him—or how much it might affect their fledgling relationship. She conjured up a smile for Ladden. "The governor owns several homes."
    He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Actually," he said abruptly, "I was thinking the carpet would look nice in my private quarters."
    "Oh." She straightened, flipping her ponytail behind her shoulder. Of course Ladden would have his own place. She simply hadn't given it much thought before now. They had never broached personal subjects, although for the past few months, her own life had been chronicled on a regular basis in the local newspapers. The state held its collective breath to see if California's most eligible bachelor would marry. And she had to admit the prospect of being the governor's wife held no small amount of appeal. She forced herself to turn her attention back to Ladden and found his compelling gaze already on her. "Do you live nearby?"
    "I have a fixer-upper in Glenhayden."
    Jasmine couldn't contain her surprise. "Glenhayden? I grew up—" she stopped, then added, "spending summers near there." She didn't make a habit of sharing the extent of her meager upbringing. More often, she stuck to the loose background she had fabricated with just enough fact to keep the reporters happy.
    "It's a nice, older community," Ladden said. "Do you still visit?"
    "No," she said, nodding at the rug. "Let me know when you decide on a price."
    " If I decide on a price," Ladden corrected with a grin, shaking his finger at her.
    She laughed, suddenly struck by the revelation that she enjoyed his company, his good-natured banter. "I fully intend to wear you down," she warned.
    His smile slipped just a bit, and she saw something akin to desire flicker in his brown eyes. "I'm looking forward to it."
    And suddenly, she felt something leap between them, a feeling that stole the moisture from her mouth. How many conversations had she shared with Ladden