She shifted in the chair, and her smile widened and excitement shone in her eyes as she continued. "Everyone sees you as a top contender for Charlotte"s first black mayor in a few years, and who knows where that will lead? I could see you as the governor, even president one day. And I intend to be your First Lady all the way."
Like h.e.l.l you will. He cleared his throat. Evidently she had erroneously thought things through. "I appreciate your offer, Jamie, but I thought you knew." He cleared his throat. Evidently she had erroneously thought things through. "I appreciate your offer, Jamie, but I thought you knew."
"Knew what?"
"I"ve asked someone else to marry me. In fact we"ll be announcing our engagement sometime this week."
The spark in her eyes was replaced with a furious dart. "Really? Who?"
"Lena Spears."
She blinked and then he watched a smile touch her lips before she waved her well-manicured, neatly polished hand in the air like his words had held no significant meaning. "Really? Morgan, Lena is not the woman you need, I am. In fact after our little talk last week with Lena, Ca.s.sandra and I were sure we had convinced her that if she cared anything for you she would get out of the picture."
He straightened. "Excuse me?"
"I said we had a talk with Lena last week. We happened to run into her at McIntosh"s. She"s a very sensible woman who I believes loves you, but we made it quite clear that she wasn"t the woman for you. For a man of your caliber, you need a woman who possesses style, grace, pedigree, wealth and connections."
Morgan shook his head. "Let me get this straight. You actually said those things to Lena?"
She smiled. "Of course. Someone needed to be honest and up front with her. And since the two of you hadn"t announced an engagement this weekend, I a.s.sumed she took our advice."
Morgan nodded. She had. She had. No wonder she had given him that garbage that night in her office about not being the appropriate woman for him. He walked over to the chair Jamie was sitting in and leaned over, placing his hands on the arms and pinning her in. Anger, the likes he"d never known before, flowed through him. No wonder she had given him that garbage that night in her office about not being the appropriate woman for him. He walked over to the chair Jamie was sitting in and leaned over, placing his hands on the arms and pinning her in. Anger, the likes he"d never known before, flowed through him.
"Listen, Jamie, and listen well," he said through gritted teeth. "There will never be a business partnership of any kind between us. When I marry, I will marry for love, and the woman I marry will be Lena Spears. And I will be marrying her for all the right reasons, and if I ever hear of you or anyone else spouting anything to her about not being good enough for me and my political future, you will have to deal with me. Do you understand?"
"Are you threatening me, Morgan?"
"No, I"m telling it like it is, and if you ever come back I will get on television and tell everyone about why it was necessary for you to take that trip to London for six months last year."
She blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"You figure it out. But like you, I do have connections and mine talk and have all the proof we need. It would be an embarra.s.sment not only for your father but also for the Tisdale family, who think so highly of their family name."
He"d said enough. Cameron, who made it a point to keep tabs on people who could either be a menace or someone useful to him in the future, had picked up wind of the senator"s daughter"s pregnancy and how she"d gone to London to give the child up for adoption. He had found it interesting and had pa.s.sed the information on to Morgan earlier that year.
He stepped back, more than certain she was ready to leave his office and wouldn"t be coming back any time soon. Before she walked out the door he said, "And if I were you I would try and find a way to convince Ca.s.sandra to keep her mouth shut, too. There"s a lot she doesn"t want taken out of her closet as well."
He walked back to the window and didn"t even look around when he heard the door slam shut.
After lunch Morgan placed a call to a friend from college who happened to be the top anchorwoman at the city"s leading television station. When Gail Winston came on the line he said, "All right, Gail, I promised you first dibs when I decided to run for office."
He laughed and placed the phone away from his ear when he heard her scream. "Yes, I"d like to announce it on your show Friday morning, but there"s a catch."
He knew that would grab her attention. "Listen up. This is how I want you to handle things."
Gail Winston smiled into the camera. It was Friday morning and in a few seconds another segment of her local morning talk show would begin. When the producer gave her cue, she began.
"First, I want to thank our next guests who have joined forces with our local high schools to present a career fair that will be held next week. We have with us today Vanessa Steele, PR representative for the Steele Corporation. Lena Spears, a local Realtor from our area. And Jocelyn Steele, who will be the general manager of Cody Construction here in town. And it"s my understanding Cody Construction will be establishing apprenticeship training in the areas of bricklaying, air-conditioning and plumbing this fall for individuals who are interested in those occupations."
Putting an even bigger smile on her face, Gail said, "Good morning, ladies."
"Good morning," the three women said simultaneously.
And for the next ten minutes, under the direction of Gail"s intense questions, they talked to the television audience about the importance of the students in the area coming out and taking part in such a worthwhile event.
After a commercial break, Gail came back on the air with the three ladies still sitting with her onstage in guest seats. "The reason I asked these ladies to remain is that two of them are members of the Steele family. And it just so happens that we have a surprise guest for everyone today. For years it"s been speculated that sooner or later one of this city"s favorite sons would enter politics, and today history is in the making. I have as our special guest someone most of you know because of his involvement in so many community affairs. Let"s give a warm welcome to Morgan Steele, director of research and development for the Steele Corporation."
The audience applauded when Morgan walked out onstage and took the extra guest seat, which just happened to be beside Lena. Lena"s heart almost stopped when he walked out. Impeccably dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, he looked like a movie celebrity rather than a businessman and easily took the breath away of any female seeing him.
She tried to focus her gaze on the monitor and not on him, for fear of another heartbreak. She loved him, and wooing her had been nothing more than a game to him.
Morgan settled into his seat. He hoped like h.e.l.l this plan worked and had felt confident that it would, but now he wasn"t all that sure, especially with the tension he could feel radiating from Lena.
Gail took control and pulled in his attention.
"Morgan has been a guest on my show before to promote numerous community causes, but this time he"s here for another reason, right, Morgan?"
He smiled into the camera. "Right, Gail. Today I want to officially announce my candidacy for the council-at-large seat here in Charlotte. However, there is one condition."
Gail leaned forward and smiled. "And what condition is that?" she dutifully asked.
"I am a single man and there are a group of people who believe it"s important that I have a good woman by my side, and I agree. What I don"t agree with is the theory that I should choose a woman because the public thinks she and I will do well together politically as a team."
The camera angled in on him, and the intensity in his features couldn"t be missed as he continued. "The woman I will marry is a woman I trust, a woman I know will have my back no matter what, and a woman I know is capable of being everything I could ever want in a wife. She is also a woman I love. I don"t care if some people out there think she"s not what they want for me. She is the woman I want for myself."
He paused for a second, then said, "So many times when people are involved in politics, they marry for all the wrong reasons. They form a partnership instead of a real marriage, and that"s not what I want for myself. I could not understand the importance of the family and marriage dynamics if I didn"t have a real marriage of my own. I want to marry for love and nothing else."
Anyone listening to what Morgan had said, whether a romantic or not, had to have felt the deep emotions he"d just conveyed in his words. Even Gail dabbed at her eyes.
"So, have you asked this young lady to marry you yet?" Gail couldn"t help asking since she knew her audience would want to know.
"Yes, but at the time I asked her for the wrong reason. Now I want to ask her for the right one. I want her to know how much I truly do love her and that more than anything I want her to be my wife and the mother of my children. And whether I win this election bid doesn"t matter as long as I have her by my side and in my life."
Gail dabbed at her eyes again. "Do you think she"s out there watching the show and knows what you"re saying?"
"It"s even better than that," he said, smiling. "The woman I love just happens to be here onstage with us." Then before anyone could blink, Morgan got out of his chair and on his knees in front of Lena, while pulling a small white velvet box out of his pants pocket.
The cameras moved in closer, determined to capture the entire thing on film. Morgan took Lena"s hand in his and gazed up into her eyes and took a deep breath. "Lena, if there is anything such as love at first sight, then it happened to me the night of the American Cancer Society"s annual ball, when you walked into that ballroom. I can remember in full detail the dress you were wearing that night because you were such a vision of beauty in it that it took my breath away. And I knew from that night on I had to make you mine.
"And I"m here before you, on bended knee, wanting to do that. I love you and I believe you love me, too. Otherwise you would not have cared what became of my future. But what you don"t know is that I truly don"t have a future without you. You are the essence of my very being. You are the woman I want to see when I wake up in the morning, and the last face I want to see before going to sleep at night. You are the only woman I want and need in my life. You are my perfect woman. You are my everything."
His smile wavered just a little when he saw all her tears. He hoped they weren"t tears of sadness but tears of joy. He opened the ring box and held the ring in his hand. "And will you make me the happiest man on earth, sweetheart, by agreeing to marry me? Will you marry me, Lena, and have my babies, to stick beside me for better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and in health, until death do us part?"
Tears continued to stream down Lena"s face. The man she loved more than anything was proclaiming his love for her for all to hear. It was only when everything in the studio got quiet, except for the sounds of more than a few sniffles, that she realized that everyone, especially Morgan, was waiting on her answer.
She leaned forward and cupped his face in her hand. Meeting his gaze she said, loud and clear, "And I love you, too, Morgan, and yes, I will marry you and have your babies. And you will make me an extremely happy woman as well."
Morgan slid the ring on Lena"s hand, and of course the cameraman had to slide his camera over for the ultimate shot for the television audience.
"Can you believe the size of that rock?" Gail exclaimed to everyone as the monitor continued to zero in on Lena"s hand.
"Well, folks, this is certainly a first. I don"t know of any other morning show where someone can officially announce their candidacy and do a marriage proposal in the same ten-minute segment."
Everyone heard her words, but most people were staring at Morgan when he stood to his feet and pulled Lena into his arms for one whopper of a kiss.
Gail smiled brightly, knowing her ratings would soar. "Well, there you have it, folks. A man who puts love before any political career he might be seeking certainly will definitely get my vote. And remember you saw it live right here."
Lena smiled tremendously as she glanced around the room. "Are you sure this is the house you want, Morgan? Your other home was-"
"My other home. I want to start somewhere new with you and Odessa. I knew when you showed this house to me that day that it would be perfect for us and our family."
She nodded happily as she walked into his outstretched arms. "What about your other home? Does Donovan still want it?"
Morgan threw his head back and chuckled. "Honey, Donovan never wanted my house. I talked him into buying it as part of my plan to get you."
Lena shook her head. "And you were that desperate?"
"Yes, for you I was that desperate. Plan A failed badly, but I was determined to make plan B a success. I hit a few b.u.mps along the way but in the end I got you just where I want you, in my arms."
She c.o.c.ked her head back and looked at him. "And not your bed."
He grinned. "Yes, there, too."
Lena moved closer and placed her head on her fiance"s chest. Today had to be the happiest day of her life. "Thanks for making sure Mom and everyone at the adult day care center was able to see this morning"s show. She was so proud."
Morgan smiled. "And I"m glad. She"s a part of out family and I never want her to forget it."
Lena leaned back in his arms to look up at him. Tears shone in her eyes. "Thanks That means a lot to me."
"I know it, sweetheart. And because it means a lot to you it means a lot to me as well. And you know the question everyone will be asking. When is our wedding date?"
Lena sighed. "I always wanted a June wedding, but so did Kylie and Jocelyn and they never got one."
Morgan smiled. "Only because my impatient brothers couldn"t wait. Luckily for you, June is only three months away. It might kill me but I"ll wait."
She leaned back and kissed his chin. "Thanks. Morgan. You are a wonderful man."
He chuckled. "Yeah, and don"t you ever forget it. And I have a wonderful idea."
"What?"
"Let"s christen our new home right now."
Lena grinned. She had an idea just how he wanted that particular ceremony done. "But it doesn"t have any furniture."
"You think not? Then come with me."
Morgan took Lena"s hand and led her up the stairs and toward the master suite that connected to the main house by a gla.s.s breezeway and elevator access. "Now close your eyes," he said.
Lena did as he demanded and felt him tug her along. Moments later he said, "You can open them now."
She gasped after opening her eyes. The master suite was completely furnished. She glanced around, not believing the beauty and the workmanship of the furniture. "But how? Who?"
Morgan grinned as he drew her to him again. "I left the decorating up to Sienna. We"ve always considered her the Steeles" personal interior decorator. And Reese Singleton, Jocelyn"s brother-in-law, built the furniture by hand. I commissioned him to start building it last summer when I went to Newton Grove, and he, Bas, Donovan and I went on a fishing trip together one weekend. I"d seen his work and knew I wanted him to design our bedroom furniture. I didn"t know at the time just how I was going to get you to become a permanent part of my life, but I intended to do whatever I had to do to succeed."
Lena laughed as she glanced around at the beautiful furniture and decorating. He even had decorative blinds up to the windows. Everything was simply elegant. "But who gave you permission to put furniture in here? You haven"t purchased this place yet."
Morgan shook his head, grinning. "Technically I have. When my Realtor quit on me last weekend," he said with a teasing glint in his eyes, "I decided I had to do what I needed to do. I used the company"s attorney to close the deal, but with the understanding that my Realtor would still get the commission."
Lena shook her head. Morgan had basically thought of everything. "And I guess it was your idea for Mom to be invited over to Chance and Kylie"s place for the night, right?"
He laughed. "Right."
Lena looked up at the ceiling. "What am I going to do with you, Morgan Steele?"
"Love me. Marry me and have my babies?" He leaned forward and captured her lips with his. The moment his tongue touched hers she felt fire light up inside her. And then the seduction began.
Lena had discovered that Morgan was skilled at whatever he did. And when it came to mult.i.tasking, he was at the top of the list. He began stroking her back, grinding the lower part of his body against her spread thighs, rubbing his chest against the taut tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, while kissing her senseless. She closed her eyes and moaned like a woman in dire need of her man.
All she could think about and all she wanted to focus on were being in that bed with him, him making love to her, and having him inside her. He pulled back and whispered in her ear, "Undress for me, baby."
She smiled, liking the idea of stripping for him. She took a step back to slide the blouse over her head and skimmed the skirt she was wearing down her hips, leaving her clad only in a royal-blue thong. She placed her hands on her hips and smiled at him. "So, what do you think?"
He returned her smile. "I"d rather show you than tell you."
Quickly, he begin removing all of his clothes with a wicked grin plastered to his face. In no time at all he was standing in front of her, completely naked, but he saw she had one remaining piece left on. Her thong.
His smile widened as he got down on his knees in front of her. "I see you save the best for last."
She balanced her hands on his shoulders while he slowly slid the thin wispy material down her legs. And just like she"d known he would do, once it was removed he leaned forward and attached his mouth to her womanly core, giving her one h.e.l.l of a tongue-lashing kiss there. She had to grip his shoulders to keep her balance, and when an o.r.g.a.s.m hit her she screamed his name.
Moments later he stood, smiled and took her hand in his. "That was just an appetizer. Come on, sweetheart, let"s christen our bed."
Morgan"s groin tightened as he watched Lena ease her naked body into the huge bed. Perfect, Perfect, he thought, easing onto the bed behind her, like a lion stalking his prey. And then he had her in his arms, kissing her deeply, with all the love in his heart. he thought, easing onto the bed behind her, like a lion stalking his prey. And then he had her in his arms, kissing her deeply, with all the love in his heart.
Lena gazed up at him when he positioned his body over hers, and she knew this would be a moment she would remember for the rest of her life. Today on television he had asked her to marry him, and now in the beautiful home he had purchased for her he was about to make her his in the most elemental way.