Her Perfect Candidate

She smiled up at him before stepping over to the passenger door. He opened it for her and she slid in, crossing her legs and turning her body to face him.

“Bye, Megan,” he said hesitantly before shutting the door. He gave her one last smile before strolling back to his car, whistling.

* * *

Steven watched as the loveliest vision he’d ever laid his eyes on drove away. When he first saw her in the trunk bending over the backseat of her Acura MDX reaching for something, he couldn’t help but wonder if her toned caramel-coated legs and thighs matched the rest of her. The way her little black dress hugged her bottom and hips as it rose up, stirred his manhood. He had decided to take a chance. Plus, he couldn’t possibly leave a female on the side of the highway with a flat tire.

Her long, curly brown hair with subtle blond highlights flowed down her provocative bare back in an utterly sexy manner. He would’ve given anything to run his fingers through her soft curls, or better yet, spread them out on his pillow as he looked down at her.

He’d been pleasantly surprised when she turned around to acknowledge him. Strikingly stunning, she had a pleasant smile, high cheekbones and wore very little makeup. Her almond-shaped eyes were cinnamon in hue and when he stared into them, he felt a sense of overwhelming peace.

Steven admired all women, but Megan stirred feelings and emotions he’d never felt before in the thirty-three years of his life. Her pleasant personality and warm demeanor were a breath of fresh air.

While changing the flat tire, he couldn’t get the image of Megan’s short black dress and shapely legs in black heels out of his head. He had let his eyes roam all over her breathtaking body while he tried to make polite conversation. It was hard to do, considering she had the perfect hourglass figure. Her perky, rounded breasts and small waist were followed by hips that settled snuggly but tastefully in the dress she wore.

He had tried to move his eyes back up to hers so she wouldn’t realize he was checking her out, but instead they’d rested on her inviting lips. Sexy, luscious lips painted in a reddish shade that he enjoyed watching move. He didn’t care what she was saying, he just wanted to devour them. He felt a rise in his briefs again as he thought about the possibility of being kissed by the sexy interior decorator.

He didn’t mean to step into her personal space, but he’d needed to see her supple lips up close once more. It took everything he had in him not to drag her body close to his and kiss her senseless right there against her SUV. The way he noticed her checking him out as well, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she had responded. However, he was shocked at his thought. Kissing was something he didn’t do. Sex, yes. Kissing, no. It was too emotional, and he wasn’t looking for an emotional relationship with anyone. Yet, kissing the beautiful Megan was all he could think about.

As he drove toward his penthouse in Midtown, it dawned on him that she didn’t recognize him as the Georgia state senator Steven Monroe, son of Robert Monroe, United States senator. Coming from three generations of politicians and Harvard Law School graduates, the Monroe family were considered to be the black Kennedys because of their millions, power and influence in the political world. Because of who he was, most women usually flirted with him and did any and everything possible to garner his attention.

Steven leaned his head back on his seat and inhaled the sweet scent of the intoxicating perfume lingering in his SUV. Damn, why on earth didn’t I ask for her phone number?

* * *

Megan searched through her console between the seats for her Sade CD with her right hand as she kept her left hand steady on the wheel. She needed to hear “Smooth Operator” one more time as thoughts of Steven filled her head. She was surprised at her thoughts but couldn’t help but smile. She then glanced at herself in the rearview mirror to see how she looked when he met her. Upon finding the CD, she slid it into the CD player and waited anxiously while it loaded. She skipped the first few songs until she heard the beat of “Smooth Operator” and turned the volume up.

As she was singing the song for the second time, she saw Syd’s cell number flash on the dash. She had the Bluetooth hands-free function connected to her car, which made it safer for her to talk to clients while driving. She turned off the music and pushed the cell button on her steering wheel.

“I’m almost there, Syd,” Megan said as she exited the interstate. She then turned toward Atlantic Station, an outdoor mall in Midtown Atlanta that housed the swanky hotel Twelve, where the fund-raiser gala was being held.

“I’m just making sure the stranger who changed your tire didn’t kidnap you.”

“Whatever.”

“So tell me about this kind stranger.”

She blushed at the thought of him, and then giggled like a high school girl. “His name is Steven and that’s all I know. Oh, and he looks simply amazing in a suit.”

“Did you get a last name? I can do a background check.”

“No, I didn’t, we didn’t exchange information. But I’m fine with that.”

“Well...you seemed as if you were beaming so I just thought you may go out with him.”

“Syd, for the last time, I’m happy being single. My main concern is expanding my business. I’m focusing on my career right now.”

Megan turned her car into the valet parking area and grabbed her purse from the backseat as the valet guy opened the door, greeted her and handed her a ticket. “I’m here, Syd. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Thirty minutes later, Megan sat at her reserved table after she gave her donation and chatted briefly with her client and mentor, Chelsea Benton, who had invited her to the gala. Megan loved to dress up and hang with her girlfriends in intimate or casual settings but big bashes weren’t exactly her cup of tea. However, it was for charity, plus Chelsea had promised to introduce her to some potential clients.

She glanced over at her twin sitting beside her, who seemed to be having a great time people watching.

“Let me guess. You’re watching everyone and figuring out what they’re thinking just by their body language.”

Sydney nodded. Her bob hair cut swished forward in the process. Their hairstyles were the only way people knew who was who. Plus their personalities were like night and day. Megan was the more whimsical, bubbly twin whereas Sydney was the serious-minded and logical one.

“Yes, but not on purpose. It’s just a habit. Like right now I can tell by your pursed lips and the way your hand is resting under your chin, that you’re ready to leave.”

“I am, but I’ll stay for a little longer. Chelsea wanted Jade and I to meet some potential clients.”

“And where is your best friend?” Sydney glanced around the room.

“Right here, Tia and Tamera,” a sassy voice behind them said. “Thank you for saving me a seat.”

Jade Whitmore was Megan’s best friend from college. Together they owned Chase and Whitmore Designs, an up-and-coming boutique decorating firm for the past six years.

Jade slid into the empty seat on the other side of Megan and placed a glass of champagne on the table. “Sorry I’m late. I had to meet with the Cannadys to pick up their last payment. Glad we’re done with that project.”

“Me, too,” Megan agreed but her attention was diverted by the commotion at the entrance of the event. The ladies and other guests all placed their eyes on a man flanked with bodyguards and an entourage of people strolling into the gala. The man in the middle turned his back to the crowd as he stopped to shake hands and chat with a few people who approached him.

“Must be someone important,” Megan shrugged and sipped her champagne as she stared at the back of the tall man clad in a black tuxedo. He turned to the side to greet a lady with a too-short dress on who in return gazed up at him as if he were the most handsome man in the world.

Megan cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow as a smile inched across her face and her heart and stomach began to flutter uncontrollably.

“Oh, my goodness!”

Sydney and Jade placed their attention on her, and Sydney waved her hand in front of her twin’s face. “I’ve never seen you smile like that before. I know he’s gorgeous, but stop drooling.”

Megan shook her head as she tried to calm her smile and excitement down, but it was no use especially when he turned his head as if he sensed her staring at him. Their eyes locked, and a charming smile crept across his breathtaking, chiseled face. He nodded knowingly as he took a step in her direction but a couple stepped in his path for conversation. Even though he conversed with them, his eyes on hers never faltered.

Jade tapped her on the shoulder. “Megan, do you know who you’re making goo-goo eyes with?”

She nodded. “Yes, that’s him. The man who changed my flat tire.”

“That’s who changed your tire?” Sydney questioned in a surprised tone.

“Yes and apparently he is someone important since everyone seems to know who he is except me.”

“Um...yes...” Jade started. “That’s Georgia state senator Steven Monroe, self-proclaimed lifelong bachelor and one of Atlanta’s most notorious playboys.”

Chapter 2

“I’ll call you next week about that,” Steven promised, shaking his associate’s hand as he tried to move away from the crowd of people that were beginning to form around him. His eyes couldn’t tear away from Megan’s lovely face. He was quite surprised to see her when he entered the ballroom for just some moments ago he’d taken a cold shower as he thought of her. Of course he told himself the cold shower was to cool down his temperature after changing her tire in the blazing evening sun, but he knew that was a lie.

He hadn’t been in the mood to attend the fund-raiser, but considering it was in the same building he lived in, all he had to do was ride the elevator down to the first floor. Plus, his best friend and campaign manager, Shawn Bennett suggested Steven at least should show his face, shake hands and give a considerable donation. But most importantly stay away from the ladies. His reputation couldn’t handle any more bad press considering he had been on local blogs and news channels with a different woman nearly every week. And considering Steven’s father wanted him to eventually run for the U.S. Senate seat he was retiring from at the end of the year, Steven needed to first clean up his image. While he would be a shoo-in to win the nomination because of his intellect, clean political slate and charismatic nature, the Monroe campaign team was more concerned that Steven’s playboy image would cost him the opportunity to win.

So he’d made a promise to stay low-key and out of the limelight with the ladies and therefore opted not to have a date that evening. However, there was something about Megan that was drawing him to her like a magnetic force. When he entered the room earlier, he sensed the same calming peace he had when he’d initially met her. Was it her perfume in the atmosphere or her cute giggle that made him turn her way, only to find her inquisitive eyes on him? She bestowed her beautiful smile as she had when he’d changed her tire, but this one was accompanied with a look of promise that he couldn’t explain. He had a feeling his smile matched hers.