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3

The man’s stare on her was the most intense she had ever experienced. When his eyes landed on her, she noticed how his walk slowed and his gaze intensified. Nearly as if he were zooming in on her with his eyes.

Soon he reached them and addressed his father while his gaze remained firmly on Lauren.

“Dad, mom says we have a ...guest. Is this her?” he questioned.

Lauren found herself gulping and wrapping her arms around her slim waist.

“Indeed, it is, son!” Mayor Stanford said eagerly. “Miss Lauren Burns, this is my son, Marcus Stanford. Marcus, please meet Lauren, the granddaughter of our town’s late honorable Priest, Rev. Johnathan Burns.”

The mayor finished his introductions with a proud beam on his face. Lauren was wondering if he was always going to attach her grandfather’s name to hers for every introduction when a hand was suddenly thrust out at her.

She stared at Marcus’s hand for a split second before quickly putting hers in it.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Burns. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you saw our town deserving of having you back here,” he said smoothly.

Lauren was slightly taken aback by his polished charm. Damn, she was going to have to match that, wasn’t she, yet she had not the slightest idea how to start formulating such slippery smooth words of charm.

“Ehh…yes, I…Thank you. It’s nice to be back.”

Oh, God.

Marcus’ lips curved into a small smile like he knew exactly what was going on in her head.

“Lovely,” Mayor Stanford stated with a clap of his hands, making Lauren glance at him.

Sparing her one final glance, Marcus walked around her and headed out the door to bring in her bags.

Immediately Lauren’s mind went to the little bags she’d packed on the top of the bigger ones.

God, what if he dropped it and it opened and all her underwear came tumbling out? She’d die of embarrassment.

The thought sent her whipping around towards the door.

“I think I’ll help him with…” she began but Mayor Stanford stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

“Nonsense, dear. He lifts much heavier things in that gym of his, you just relax now. Come along.”

Failing to take notice of her anxious face, he strutted over to a wide minibar and stood behind it, inviting her over for a seat.

“Now, Lauren, because you’re such a prestigious guest, you will be the first person outside this family to taste Mayor Stanford’s very own special Political cocktail,” he said with a proud smile.

Lauren lifted her brows, a wary look in her eye.

“Uhm…” she smiled apprehensively, glancing back at the front door where Marcus Stanford was yet to reappear. Was he, at that moment, already picking her fallen underwear bits off the floor and snickering at her less flattering ones?

“Worry not!” the mayor declared loudly with a raised hand as he set himself to work.

Lauren watched him squeeze a couple of different fruits, pouring, mixing and shaking, thinking what a strange mix it would be for him, as Mayor, to do bartending as well.

“Mr. Mayor, the reason I’m here—”

“Oh, just hold off on that for a minute, darlin’. You’ve just arrived, let us make you comfortable.” The Mayor grinned at her and Lauren tried to force herself to relax, smiling back at him.

He seemed quite confident in himself and this increased her faith in his cocktail making abilities just a little.

“I’ve recently been lookin’ for some new hobbies and I reckoned why not make my own drinks for fun then? So I got this bar built-in. Brings back memories, it does!” He smiled nostalgically into the air. “A cocktail was how I’d captured the heart of my beloved Martha,” he added and Lauren saw a pink cover his cheeks with the last statement and she smiled with a little chuckle.

How sweet.

He spoke a little more until he finally added a few ice cubes and slid the glass over to her.

“Enjoy!”

Lauren grinned and lifted the glass.

“Cheers,” she chuckled and the mayor grinned.

With a smile, she brought the tall glass to her lips and took a sip.

Then gagged.

Dear God!

Lauren felt her throat close up on the horrid taste in her mouth and although she didn’t want to hurt the mayor’s feelings, she also didn’t think it wise to destroy her taste buds for life just to spare him.

“Oh, dear,” said a soft voice and immediately Lauren felt a hand rubbing her back and a white paper towel was put into her hands.

“Martin!” Martha scolded angrily. “You made this poor girl drink your abominable concoctions?”

Lauren wiped her mouth as she looked up at the red-faced mayor with teary eyes.

“Ugh, that was awful,” she blurted, her face twisted into a grimace.

A sudden laugh bubbled out of her throat as Martha handed her a cold glass of water.

“What did you put in there, Mayor Stanford? What…” Lauren trailed off as laughter took over and she clutched her stomach. Martha chuckled with a shake of her head and the mayor scratched his head in confusion.

Drinking down half the glass of water, Lauren gave him a questioning look.

“But I don’t understand,” the older man stated. “It wasn’t…” Suddenly, his face brightened like a light bulb had been switched on in his head.

“Of course!” he exclaimed in self irritation. “I forgot to add the sweet orange juice! Ah, darn it! My dear, forgive me, I’m still new at this whole thing.”

“You’re no good at this whole thing, is what you are, dear. Golf is a safer hobby, Martin. Please,” Martha said exasperatedly making Lauren laugh behind her hand.

Poor man. He tried.

“I must say, Mayor Stanford. You sure looked very confident about making that drink. I was expecting to have paradise on my tongue,” she said to him.

Martha scoffed, waving a graceful hand.

“He’s a politician, dear. He looks confident doin’ anything.”

Lauren saw Martin purse his lips as he searched the countertops for that orange juice.

Martha tugged on her elbow.

“Quick! Let’s leave while we can. If he finds that juice he’ll convince us to taste the new version of his drink and trust me, it’ll be none the better.”

Lauren rapidly climbed off the stool to save her few surviving taste buds.

Soon Martha led her into a beautiful and spacious bedroom.

“I’ll be right back.” Martha left.

The first thing Lauren saw was the bed. Large, round and with colors of white and royal blue, it sat in the middle of the room, drapes upon drapes of thin mosquito nets falling around it creating a sense of soft luxury. She approached the inviting bed and saw that the bedding was silk. She gently drew away the drapes and went closer, her curious hand telling her that the pillows and cushions were soft to the touch.

“This is really beautiful…”

“It is,” said a masculine voice and Lauren turned quickly around because that definitely wasn’t Martha. She automatically darted out from under the drapes, feeling like she’d been caught doing something naughty.

She found Marcus standing before her luggage, watching her.

“Oh. Uhmm… Mr. Stanford—”

“Marcus. Mr. Stanford’s my father.”

Lauren raised her brows. “Ah. Okay. I didn’t hear you come in,” she said quietly and he smiled, amused.

“You like the bed?”

“Yes, it’s lovely.”

“Mmm. You'd make it look much better, don't you think?”

Lauren’s breath hitched.

Woah.

She stared at him in surprise.

Was he…flirting with her? What the hell was she supposed to say back??

Her eyes darted around the room. The only man who had ever been brave enough to flirt with her was Jason from the hardware store and he always got a blank stare or an eye roll in return.

She’d really always ignored the attention she received from men, so her experience in that field was zero.

Where on earth had Martha suddenly disappeared to? The awkwardness in the room was becoming unbearable. She looked back at Marcus only to find him a few steps closer.

“My mom’s gone to find you something to eat,” he said quietly, reading her mind.

Lauren’s mind dwelled on his statement. He’d said it like Martha had gone hunting in the jungle with a spear, bow and arrow.

Unaware of her drifting thoughts, Marcus came even closer. She wanted to move back, but the bed was behind her and she didn’t think that would be a wise move.

Like, ‘Oh, great, you’re trying to sexually intimidate me, why don’t I just hop into bed to ward you off.’ No.

“Oh,” she responded quietly. Marcus didn’t stir any fear in her. Just an apprehension. She felt like he was just... bad.

A sudden smile curved his mouth and he looked very boyish at that moment, making Lauren’s knees quiver just a little.

“She says you should…” he slowly closed the distance between them, close enough to make her tilt her head back to look at him. “Relax.”

Lauren swallowed to moisten her throat as she stared up at him. He had green eyes, just like his mom, but unlike hers which were slightly dulled with age, his were bright and hot and focused on her like a hunter with his prey.

Lauren nearly flinched.

She saw his eyes travel down over her face, his gaze caressing the mounds of her cheekbones, flitting over her soft mouth before coming back…and stopping there. Lauren’s grey eyes widened.

He was staring at her mouth. Her mouth!

That was what people kissed with. But he wasn’t going to kiss her, was he? Lauren gulped, hoping he would.

No. She gave herself a mental slap. He had better not kiss her!

Marcus’ hot gaze rose to meet hers and her heart stopped.

A devilish smile curved his mouth…and then he stunned her.

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