Susan Mallery - Tempting

Mark met her gaze and grinned. "Breathe, Dani. You don't want to pass out in your egg salad sandwich."

"What?” She sucked in a breath. Her head cleared.

Mark turned to suit-guy. "Let's hold off on interviews for now."

"But-"

Mark shook his head. "No interviews. Leave Dani out of things."

"Fine." Suit-guy scribbled on a pad.

The meeting continued. Dani risked nibbling on her sandwich. She couldn't seem to get a handle on Mark. One minute he seemed distant and totally political, the next he was saying she didn't have to do a national interview. So who was the real Mark Canfield?

A few minutes later, the meeting wrapped up. Mark motioned for her to stay after everyone left.

"How are you handling this?" he asked. "Katherine mentioned it had to be difficult for you."

The door opened and Alex stepped into the room. "Am I interrupting?" he asked.

Dani stared at him. Something was wrong- she could feel it.

"No," Mark said. "What is it?"

"It's official. I'm going to be charged with assault. The particulars haven't been worked out by the D.A.'s office."

Dani stood. "That's just wrong. How can someone do what that man did and it's okay, but when you defend your sister, you're the bad guy?"

"I appreciate the support," Alex said. "But I hit him. Not a good thing."

Mark held up a hand. "Don't worry. Either of you. This isn't about what happened with Alex. It's about the campaign. It's a distraction. We'll get it fixed."

Dani might not be a political expert, but she wasn't sure the charges had anything to do with the campaign. And she didn't think Alex would appreciate something that could end his career being called a distraction.

"I'll fix it," Alex said.

"We'll talk," Mark told him. "Fortunately we both have access to excellent legal counsel." He glanced at his watch. "I have another meeting." He smiled at Dani. "That's how I spend my days. Going from meeting to meeting. Thanks for coming by. I'm glad we were able to spend some time together."

"Right," Dani said, thinking that thirty-seven seconds alone with her father wasn't exactly bond-building.

"Alex, walk Dani out, will you?"

"Sure."

Dani waited until Mark left before standing and turning to Alex. "I can find my own way to my car. It's daylight, so I should be safe."

"I don't mind."

"Ooh, now I'm going to fall for you, for sure. How smooth and seductive. ‘I don't mind.' Words every woman lives to hear."

He smiled. "Have I mentioned you're not easy?"

"Yes, and thank you for the compliment."

He put his hand on the small of her back. "Come on. Let's fight those snipers and get you to your car."

His touch was warm and made her want to step closer. They'd nearly made it out of the building when Heidi called Alex.

"The senator needs you to sit in on the meeting," she said.

Alex looked at Dani. "Think you can make it on your own?"

"I'm wearing body armor."

"Good."

He took her hand in his and squeezed lightly. There was something in his eyes, something that made her think about sex and being naked. Two good things. Dangerous, but good. Then he was gone.

Dani sighed heavily. At least her life was never boring. That had to be worth something, didn't it?

The not-boring continued as she stepped into the parking lot and nearly ran into Fiona, the beautiful. The tall, perfectly dressed stunner paused, a tiny frown drawing her fabulous eyebrows a little closer together.

"Dani?" she asked. "It is Dani, isn't it?"

"Yes. Hi. I was having lunch with the senator."

"Good. I think it's great the two of you are getting to know each other. Family is everything and I'm thrilled to have you part of mine."

Dani stared. Part of hers? As in, the Canfields were Fiona's family, too? But she and Alex were divorced.

"I didn't think you were married to Alex anymore," she said carefully.

Fiona shook her head. "I know. We went through a bad patch. Have you been married? You know how that happens, right? We were young and reckless, but so in love. Desperately in love. We've started talking and spending time together again. I'm hopeful." She held up her right hand, showing her fingers crossed. "Alex is, too."

"That's great," Dani said, feeling sick to her stomach. Fiona had to be playing her. Alex wouldn't be kissing Dani and making time with his ex-wife, would he?

She wanted to think the best of him, but honestly, how well did she know the man?

"It's not just Alex," Fiona continued. "It's the whole family. Katherine and I are like sisters. I love working with her. We're making a real difference. Plus, I've never brought trouble to the family. Trust me. The Canfields don't like that sort of notoriety. In case you were wondering."

"I wasn't," Dani said as she shifted her purse to her shoulder.

"Don't hate me," Fiona told her. "I'm simply the messenger. It's just everyone would be really upset if you were the reason Mark didn't get the nomination."

With that, she smiled and walked into the warehouse.

Dani was left standing in the parking lot, feeling grateful she hadn't eaten too much at lunch. It meant there was less for her to throw up later.

When Dani's cell phone rang, she considered ignoring it. She didn't need any more hits in one day. But when she glanced at the number, she didn't recognize it and curiosity won over apprehension.

"Hello?"

"Dani? It's Katherine. How are you?"

Katherine should be the one person Dani was avoiding these days, yet she actually felt pleased to hear her voice.

"I'm good. How are the kids?"

"Great, and they're why I'm calling. They know about you. Obviously. Poor Bailey is sick about what happened. When I think about that reporter, I want to jam him in my microwave and hit full power. It makes me furious. Which is not the point of my call. It would be so nice if you could get to know the children."

Dani didn't know what to say. "I-I'd love that."

"Perfect. How about dinner one evening? I'll check my calendar and get back to you. I believe Mark mentioned you work?"

"I'm an assistant manager at a restaurant. Bella Roma. I mostly handle the lunch shift, but I do work a couple of evenings a week."

"All right. Let me get some dates and we'll find a time for you to come over."

"Thank you, Katherine. For everything. You're being so gracious and kind. I appreciate that."

"You're family, Dani. What else would I be? Bye."

Dani hung up, then stepped out of her car. So much was happening so quickly. She felt as if she were living inside an emotional tornado.

Taking a second to relax, she stared at the restaurant in front of her.

Buchanan's was the steak house in the family restaurant empire. It had been around longer than she'd been alive and it had always been her secret dream to run the place. She loved everything about Buchanan's, including the glass and wood doors that welcomed guests to a unique steak house experience.

She glanced at her watch and saw she was right on time for her meeting with her brothers.

The interior was cool and cozy. There were booths rather than tables, plenty of wood and fresh white linens. The smell-a combination of leather, steak and great wine-was a heady perfume. Afternoon light sparkled through the windows, but at night candles flickered at every table.

Back home, buried in the back of her closet, was a notebook filled with ideas. Ways to improve the service, the menu, the wine list. She'd even played with a few recipes and had asked Penny to work them up for her.

Foolish dreams, she told herself. She wasn' t truly a Buchanan anymore and this restaurant would never be hers. Her words-not theirs. As far as her brothers were concerned, nothing had changed.

She saw her brothers seated at a booth in the back. As she approached, they slid out and each hugged her in greeting. Cal held on a little longer before kissing the top of her head.

"How's it going?" he asked.

"I'm hanging in there."

He stared into her eyes. "You need anything?"

If she did, he would be there in a heartbeat. They all would. As they'd told her over and over, she might have a different father, but she was stuck with them for life. Thank God.

"I'm fine," she said. "I believe we're here to talk about Walker's wedding in the land of twinkle lights."

Walker passed her the open bottle of wine and a glass. "I'm not talking about twinkle lights. That's Elissa's thing."

Dani poured herself some wine, then glanced at Reid. "Rumor has it you're eloping. Is that true?"

Reid nearly choked. "Who said that?"

"Lori."

Cal and Walker leaned forward. "When were you going to tell us?"

"There's nothing to tell. We've talked about it. There aren't any plans yet."

Dani sighed happily. "I love knowing something first. It never happens. This is a good moment."

"Brat," Reid grumbled good-naturedly.

"That's me. Just don't elope before Walker's wedding. That would distract everyone and not be fair to Elissa."

"I already know that," Reid told her. "We're waiting."

They discussed wedding details until Walker said he couldn't take it anymore. Cal turned to Dani.

"What about you?" he asked. "You've been in the paper. How's that working for you?"

"Ugh. I hate it. I'm normal. Normal people do not make the front page of a newspaper. Do you know the campaign people have been running polls on what my appearance means to the American people? Because they now get a vote in my personal life."

"But it's worth it?" Cal asked. "With Mark?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea; I'm happy to know who my real father is. Sure. But it's not what I thought. Mark isn't… He's just different."

"Different how?" Walker asked.

"I thought we'd bond or feel a connection. I like him, but I don't know him. I'm not sure I ever will. I had unrealistic expectations, I guess. I blame television. Too many family sitcoms. Maybe if we had a soundtrack when we were together."

"It takes time," Reid said. "It's only been a few weeks."

She eyed him. "I'm not comfortable with you being the emotionally sensitive one."

"It's just how I am. A real special guy."

Cal nearly choked and Walker made a gagging noise. Dani smiled at her brothers. At least she had them. This part of her life was totally secure.

"Somebody said something to me earlier," she said. "About the campaign. That I could lose it for Mark."

"Not possible," Cal told her. "His ability to govern has nothing to do with having a kid he didn't know about."

"But will anyone else agree with that? More than one presidential hopeful has been derailed by a scandal."

"You're not a scandal."

"Not yet. But if I became one…" Dani hated that Fiona had planted that particular seed in her head, but she couldn't seem to get rid of it.

"Let it go," Walker told her. "Worry about what you can control."

"Where Mark's concerned, that's exactly nothing." She drew in a deep breath. "His wife, Katherine, called. She's invited me over to get to know the family better. I want to go. I like the kids and she's great. She could have joined the ladies who lunch crowd. Instead she's taken in all these special needs children and made them her own. That takes a kind of courage not many people have."

Reid put his arm around her. "You have good qualities, too. I can't think of any, but I'm sure you have them."

She punched his arm. "Gee, thanks. I feel so special."

"You are," Cal said.

Walker nodded and raised his glass to her. Reid did the same.

Dani felt a tightness in her chest, but it was a good sort of ache. It was as if her heart was so full of love, it couldn't possibly hold any more.

The dining room table at the Canfield house looked about a hundred years old. It was solid wood, with elegantly carved legs and space for twenty. But instead of a sophisticated dinner party, schoolbooks filled the surface.

Ian sat at one end, his wheelchair replacing a regular chair. He worked slowly, carefully recording his answers on a pad of paper. Bailey had a sheet of math problems in front of her. Trisha read a history book. Quinn practiced his writing, Oliver looked at a picture book while five-year-old Sasha colored.

"Controlled chaos," Katherine said over the din of six children working and talking. "It's like this all through the school year."

"I'm impressed," Dani said and meant it. "That they are all so willing to do their homework and that they do it together."