The Last Honest Man

The Last Honest Man
Lynnette Kent

Phoebe Moss is engaged to be marriedAnd what a catch! Adam DeVries is a hardworking, intelligent man who's running for mayor of New Skye. After years of avoiding the trappings of a relationship, Phoebe finds herself pulled toward Adam–despite his strange aversion to dogs. And he certainly seems to be attracted to her.But the engagement isn't realPhoebe Moss is a speech therapist who has been secretly helping Adam with his stutter–an impediment that could cost him the election–and they've had to hide the real reason for their constant companionship. Now they're both wondering how and when to tell the truth–the engagement is fake, they're not really in a relationship. But neither one of them seems to want to break the news….

Engaged to be married?

Phoebe squeezed her eyes shut, wishing, hoping, praying to disappear. Somebody was going to look very foolish in the next minute or two. Most likely, that somebody would be her.

“Phoebe,” Tommy said, “why don’t you come on up and let us introduce you to the good people of New Skye?”

She opened her eyes and looked for Adam, who had left the speaker’s stand and moved nearer to where she stood. Holding out his hand, he waited for her to join him. He had decided to go along with Tommy’s lie.

If she protested, denied the engagement, Adam’s campaign would end today, this minute, his credibility with the voters destroyed.

“Phoebe?” Adam’s voice came to her…a question, a plea.

She couldn’t resist.

Turning to the crowd, he held her close to him with one arm and waved with the other, grinning wildly.

Tommy announced, “The future Mrs. Adam DeVries.”

To Phoebe, the words sounded like the clang of a heavy iron door…the door to her new prison cell.

Dear Reader,

Often, writers will say that their characters “talk” to them. I’ve been known to sit my characters in a comfortable (if imaginary) chair and treat them as a psychotherapist might, asking leading questions and saying, over and over again, “How did you feel about that?”

With this particular book, I had more trouble than usual interviewing the hero. Adam DeVries doesn’t talk much. When he does, he says as little as possible…because Adam stutters. No amount of coaxing can get him to ramble on about his childhood, his background, his family. He doesn’t want to discuss his failures or his successes—he simply wants to get things done. Adam is a decent, honorable man who puts himself on the line for his beliefs. Though he’s the last person you would expect to enter politics, with its endless campaigning and public speaking, that’s what his ideals lead him to do. Sometimes the only way to conquer your weakness is to face it head-on.

And sometimes you need a little help with that task. Phoebe Moss loves to help, which is why she became a speech therapist in the first place. Adam’s goal, and his gallantry, involve her deeply in his campaign, in his life. These two ride into battle very much like knights-errant in the old, old days, only to discover that the fight ahead may require more sacrifice than either of them can bear.

The Last Honest Man is the third book in my AT THE CAROLINA DINER series for Harlequin Superromance. I hope you enjoy Adam and Phoebe’s story, and that you’ll let me know what you think.

Happy reading!

Lynnette Kent

PMB 304

Westwood Shopping Center

Fayetteville, NC 28314

or lynnettekent.com

The Last Honest Man

Lynnette Kent

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To Laura,

with admiration

and gratitude

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Adam DeVries: Mayoral candidate and owner of DeVries Construction

Phoebe Moss: A speech therapist

Cynthia DeVries: Adam’s mother

Preston DeVries: Adam’s father

L. T. LaRue: A corrupt businessman

Curtis Tate: The mayor of New Skye

Kellie Tate: The mayor’s wife

Tommy Crawford: Adam’s campaign manager

Samantha Pettit: Reporter for the New Skye News

Dixon Bell: A songwriter and friend of Adam’s

Kate Bowdrey: Dixon’s fiancée

Charlie Brannon: Owner of Charlie’s Carolina Diner

Abby Brannon: Charlie’s daughter, who keeps the diner running

Jacquie Archer: A farrier, Phoebe’s neighbor

Erin Archer: Jacquie’s daughter

Teresa DeVries: Adam’s sister

Tim DeVries: Adam’s brother

Jenna Franklin: Phoebe’s business partner

Pete Mitchell: A state trooper and Adam’s friend

Mary Rose Mitchell: Pete Mitchell’s wife