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Chapter 4 Cain
The last thing I need is a scandal ten days before the election. And by my count, I have not one, but three on my hands. The reporter, Margaret, and my stepdaughter.
Muttering a curse, I look up at the ceiling. I have less than twenty-four hours to put these fires out before word starts to spread.
The reporter mess will work itself out soon enough—but if it doesn’t, I know exactly how to pacify Katrina.
Smiling to myself, I give my dick a languid stroke.
Margaret is going to be a trickier situation, but as long as she doesn’t figure out the woman in the mask was Eden—I can fix things with her before the night is over.
Sadly, it will involve surrendering myself to another boring blowjob. My fist tightens around my erection. Let’s hope her snatch can take a dick better than her mouth does—otherwise the next four years will be hell on earth for me.
A deep groan fills the room and I pick up my pace, my thoughts drifting to Eden. The solution is simple—send her off to college. Keep her far away from all of this. Let her fall in love with a boy her own age—not a man who happens to be her stepfather—and live happily ever after.
Let her forget about me and move on.
Let her go because I love her.
Unfortunately, both the organ beating inside my chest and the one my hand is wrapped around have serious issues with that.
Not only do I want her so much it physically hurts, but somewhere along the way, Eden became so much more than my stepdaughter. More than the desire I can’t indulge in.
She’s my trusted companion. My loyal pet who waits at the door for me day in and day out. And despite how many times I’ve hurt her—that gorgeous face always lights up like the sun whenever I come home.
She’s my secret superpower. My beautiful angel and my darkest craving.
She’s a saint a man like me doesn’t deserve.
But she’s also become…my greatest liability. It’s dangerous to want someone so much they can destroy you.
My head lolls back and I close my eyes, thrusting into my palm as images of taking her i
A door creaking followed by the sound of footsteps has me scrambling to tuck my dick inside my pants.
The corners of Margaret’s eyes crinkle when she sees me. “Didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
I bristle. I don’t like that she came back up here snooping, but it’s better she caught me with my hand on my dick instead of Eden’s. “Can’t blame me for trying to finish what you started.”
Margaret blushes like a school girl before her expression turns grim. “I’m surprised the blonde you asked me to leave you alone with didn’t help you out.”
Fixing things with her will be easier than I thought. “I’m not in the habit of disrespecting the woman I’m going to marry. You wanted her gone. She’s gone.”
I can tell she wants to cave, but she eyes me suspiciously. “For how long?”
I give her a small smile. I just have to charm her enough to let her believe my intentions are earnest. “How long do you plan on staying married to me?”
She opens her mouth, but whatever words she intended to say are lost when she clamps it shut.
I tip her chin. “If this is going to work between us, I think it’s best we don’t keep any secrets from one another. So, what is it you have to say to me?”
She wrings her hands. “What’s her name?”
Despite the slight roll of my stomach, I keep my expression impassive. “Would you hate me if I told you I don’t know?”
She tries to speak, but I cut her off. “I’m not trying to butter you up. Truth is, we hooked up in a bathroom at a benefit party over six months ago. She never gave me a name and I didn’t ask her for one. Shortly after our encounter, I ran into one of David Covey’s campaign managers and he introduced her as his new girlfriend.” I shrug. “Needless to say, if I was interested in her before, I certainly wasn’t after that exchange.”
Margaret fixes my bow tie. “She was awfully irate for a woman you claim to have only slept with once.”
I place my hand on top of hers, halting her movements. “You’re not stupid, Margaret. If you take your personal feelings out of the equation and think logically, I’m sure you’ll realize Covey obviously hired her to get dirt on me. As tragic as Karen’s passing was, it gave Covey’s team an advantage because up until our arrangement, I was a twenty-nine-year-old widower. And to be frank, a whore bending over a bathroom sink was ideal for a man who wasn’t interested in anything more back then, and they knew it.” My nostrils flare. “I have no doubt her outburst earlier was designed to make you suspicious and cause a rift between us before the election.” I drop my hand. “It obviously worked.”
I walk past her, but she reaches for my arm. “I had no idea.”
“That’s exactly my point. You had no idea, and yet you chose to believe the worst in me before I could explain. I’m not sure I can be with someone who doubts me and questions the truth. My wife should be my biggest supporter—not my biggest adversary.”
“I’m sorry for doubting you.” She goes back to fixing my bow tie. “You’re right. The people in this town will chew you up and spit you out at the first sign of weakness. We need to be a united front at all times.”
“Are you sure you can handle that?”
She zips up my fly. “I’m not the one who needs to worry, Cain. I’ve never been the subject of gossip and scandals.”
“Wh—”
“Word of advice? You’ve already been married once—lucky for you it ended in death, not divorce. However, if you have plans to be more than just the mayor of Black Hallows, I’m the wife you want beside you. But I won’t be made to look like a fool. Therefore, I suggest you learn to like my hand…or get used to your own for the duration of our marriage.”
Despite wanting to throttle the woman, I reach for hers. “I’m becoming rather fond of yours.”
“Good.” She smiles. “We should head back downstairs. Daddy has some important associates he wants to introduce you to.”
I steer her toward the door. “Let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”
I go to turn the knob, but she stops me. “Is there anything I should know about? Any ghosts from your past that might come back to haunt us?”
I meet her gaze head-on. “No.” With a wink, I lead her out of the room. “And for what it’s worth, I don’t believe in ghosts.”
Because all of mine are buried.