Mad About You

away from a group of suited constituents. "You look beautiful, as always," he whispered before lowering a kiss to her cheek. Immediately, flashbulbs exploded around them.
    Jasmine blinked and glanced over her shoulder—directly into more flashes. A knot of photographers loitered near the governor, pouncing without delay when she arrived.
    "Ms. Crowne, is it true your car was towed yesterday for a parking violation?"
    "Yes," she admitted and lifted her shoulders in a slow shrug. "I thought the parking meter had time left on it—it didn't. My mistake, and I paid for it."
    "And is it true, Ms. Crowne, that a junk dealer named Ladden Sanderson drove you to your condo last night?"
    She felt Trey stiffen, but she knew he wouldn't say anything in front of the cameras. "Yes, I had just left from making a purchase at Mr. Sanderson's antiques store when I discovered my car had been towed."
    "Ms. Crowne, I have a witness who says you were seen with Mr. Sanderson last night at a bar called"—the man referred to his notes— "Tabby's."
    A slow flush climbed her neck. "I was told I could find a phone at Tabby's, which is a family restaurant. Mr. Sanderson's family owns the establishment, and he happened to be there when I asked for a telephone."
    "Do you frequent that bar, ma'am?"
    "No, it was the first time I'd ever been there."
    "And Mr. Sanderson just happened to be there?"
    "That's correct."
    "And he offered to drive you home?"
    "Yes."
    "And you accepted?"
    She bit her tongue, fighting to control her rising anger. "Yes."
    "Did he go in?"
    A murmur traveled the crowd and Trey made a move to speak, but she silenced him with a nudge. "That, sir, is absolutely none of your business," she said evenly. "But since you'll print some half-truth if I don't respond, no, Mr. Sanderson did not come in."
    "Governor McDonald, would you and Ms. Crowne care to comment about the billboards linking her romantically to Ladden Sanderson?"
    Trey squeezed her against him and gave the reporter a cajoling smile. "Although I can clearly see why Ms. Crowne would attract her share of admirers, the signs were just a practical joke. Lighten up, folks."
    "Ms. Crowne?"
    She smiled broadly into the sea of onlookers, her heart thumping in her chest. "I think the governor summed up the situation."
    "So you and Mr. Ladden are simply friends?"
    "Business acquaintances," she corrected, distracted briefly by someone walking outside the window across the room. The man's head and shoulders were obscured by whatever he was carrying, but for some reason, the way he moved reminded her of Ladden. She glanced back to the audience and leaned closer to Trey, chiding herself. On the arm of the governor, no less, and she was thinking about another man!
    "Governor McDonald, if you win the election, will the mansion remain a bachelor pad?"
    Jasmine felt her cheeks grow even warmer as Trey chuckled and addressed the man. "Stan, if I ever decide to get married, I'm sure you'll know about it before I will."
    The crowd laughed in appreciation. As always when they were in public, she stood in awe of Trey. He handled everyone so smoothly and with such confidence. And although he had assured her she would become more comfortable in the public eye as time passed, she had to admit that right now the idea of attending functions at the side of the most influential man in the state was far more appealing than actually doing it. In fact, her head was definitely starting to hurt, and wearing new high heels was proving to be a poor decision. She needed an aspirin and a Band-Aid.
    Thankfully, another reporter asked a question that diverted attention from her to the more sobering subject of the drop in the governor's popularity in recent polls. Joseph Elam stepped in to point out that a Los Angeles paper had conducted an extensive survey that proved lobbyists supported the opponent, but the public supported Governor McDonald. "If every registered voter in California goes to the polls and votes their conscience, Governor McDonald will win by a landslide," Elam insisted. "But stay home, and you'll watch the governor's office be handed over to special interest groups."
    "I think he wants my job," Trey whispered in her ear, causing her to smile.
    "I think I'll mingle," she whispered back, and he gently released her.
    "You look a little pale," he said, his brow wrinkling. "Are you feeling all right?"
    "It's been quite a day," she said with as much cheer as possible. "I just need some air."
    "I'll