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sting her eyes. A politician so rare. Could he be believed?
    At the podium, Adam finished as quietly as he’d begun. “I want to thank each and every one of you for your support. And I
     ask you tonight to join with me. I believe that together, we can make our little corner of the world a better place.” He nodded
     his head in thanks and took a sip of water. As always when he gave a speech, his mouth was dry and his hands were damp.
    He looked out on the crowd, rising to their feet and conveying their approval enthusiastically. He smiled in the direction
     of his mother, then scanned the faces, looking for someone in particular. When his eyes met Liz’s, he felt a shifting inside.
    It seemed odd to watch her applauding him. He hadn’t seen her dressed up before. The slim black dress made herappear older, while the cool, cautious look on her face made her seem distant. Next to the blowsy blonde in the tight pink
     dress, Liz was stunning by contrast. She wasn’t smiling, though all the others at her table were. He badly wanted to know
     what she was thinking.
    Adam was vaguely aware of flash bulbs popping and still he kept his eyes on Liz Townsend, trying to read her. She was beautiful,
     but he knew many beautiful women. Most of them he steered clear of, except on a superficial level. He couldn’t help but remember
     that his father’s obsession with a beautiful woman had changed all their lives. Adam wasn’t about to let that happen to him.
    Yet there was something about Liz Townsend. He should probably turn from her, forget her. A few hours alone in her company
     and he’d known she wasn’t a woman to be taken lightly. And that’s the only way he wanted to play the game—for now.
    A tall, slim older man with a mustache approached Liz, and Adam watched her tear her eyes from his, then turn to hug Joseph
     Townsend. Her mother, an attractive blond woman, elegant in navy blue, followed, and Liz embraced her as well. He should go
     down and greet her parents, he decided. After all, the Townsends were large contributors to his campaign.
    “Adam, Sean Nichols would like a word with you,” Fitz said, coming alongside. He edged the rotund newspaper reporter closer.
    Putting on a smile, Adam turned to shake Sean’s hand and exchange a few words. Others who’d been on the dais stepped over
     to congratulate him on a fine speech, so that it took Adam another ten minutes to extricate himself. Finally he clapped his
     brother on the shoulder. “Would you handle things for me here, Fitz? I have something I have to take care of.”
    As usual, Fitz nodded, and Adam headed to where theTownsends were still chatting. When he was almost there, the blonde in the pink dress intercepted him.
    “Mr. McKenzie,” Diane Cramer cooed, “I just loved your speech. You surely had us all mesmerized.”
    Distracted, he glanced at her. “Thank you.” Up close, he realized he’d met her at his campaign office, but her name escaped
     him. He recognized a heavy dose of Shalimar and stepped back. He’d always disliked that scent.
    “You look worn out, sugar,” she went on, her polished nails skimming along the sleeve of his dinner jacket. “Maybe you’d like
     to slip away from all this noise. I know a nice quiet place nearby where—”
    “Some other time, maybe.” Politicians were always polite to their aides and constituents, Fitz told him over and over. He
     didn’t mean to be rude, but the people he wanted to meet were preparing to leave. He gave her a quick smile. “Thanks for the
     invitation. Excuse me, please,” he told the blonde, then hurried toward Liz.
    Joseph Townsend saw him approach, and his tan face broke into a smile. “Adam,” he greeted, reaching out a hand. “You had them
     in the palm of your hand tonight.”
    “Thank you, sir.” Adam liked and admired Joseph and knew him to be a damn fine attorney. After shaking hands, he turned toward
     Liz, who was on his right.
    Taking her cue, she introduced him