Free Rumor Has It by Cheris Hodges

as she gathered her things and headed for the register. Slipping her earbuds in her ears and listening to the latest podcast from Demetria Lucas, she wasn’t paying attention when Jackson walked back into the bakery and right into her path. Crashing into his hard chest, Liza thought she was going to fall, but his big, hot hands broke her fall. He pressed her against him. And she wanted nothing more than to feel his lips against hers.
    â€œWhere’s the fire?” he asked.
    â€œYou can let me go,” she said, though her body just wanted his touch a little longer, and when he let her go, she shivered.
    â€œAre you all right?”
    â€œYes, I’m good.” Liza smiled. “Thanks for being a gentleman.”
    â€œThat’s who I am,” he replied, returning her smile. Jackson and Liza walked to the long line and stood there in an uncomfortable silence. “Want a salted caramel brownie?” he asked, breaking the tension.
    â€œSure,” she replied. “But, I would’ve taken you for an éclair guy.”
    He smiled again and Liza’s heart started beating overtime. How had she not noticed that cleft in his chin? And those eyes. Hypnotic.
    â€œI have to avoid this place. I don’t have the metabolism of a twenty-year-old anymore.” He rubbed his flat stomach, which Liza was sure hid a six pack of abs. “But after the day I had, I need some sweetness.”
    Why did he lick his lips when he said that? Why did her body tingle at the thought of him sampling her wetness and telling her how sweet it was? Stop it.
    â€œCampaigning is hard,” Liza said, and then her eyes traveled down Jackson’s body. She squeezed her eyes shut and sighed. “And it only gets harder. Maybe you should quit.”
    â€œHa. That was funny,” Jackson said. “I see why you’re such a strong member of Montgomery’s team.”
    â€œAnd how would you know that?”
    He raised his right eyebrow as if to say, You’re not the only one who’s researching the competition . “Anyway,” Jackson said as the line inched forward, “why don’t we talk about something other than politics and campaigns?”
    â€œI have work to do,” she said. “No time to talk.”
    â€œIf you say so, but isn’t it kind of late to be working?”
    She shrugged as she eyed the sweets in the glass so that she wouldn’t look at Jackson. “Social media never sleeps. I’m more than a part of Robert’s team. I run my own business as well.” She met his gaze. “But, you knew that already, didn’t you?”
    â€œI know what’s on paper, but I’ll admit it, one day—after the election—I’d like to get to know you.”

Chapter 8
    Jackson appreciated Liza’s lips. The fullness of them, the curve of them, the way they spread when she smiled. But it was that tongue that he wanted to get further acquainted with. It must have been her nervous habit to lick her top lip. She did it more times than he could count. And every time she did it, he got a jolt in his groin. If she did it again, he was going to have to walk away to hide his burgeoning erection.
    â€œAnyway,” she said, taking the focus off his desire, “we could get to know each other a lot sooner if you’d just drop out of the race.”
    â€œThat’s not going to happen,” he said. “And we’re not going to talk about this.”
    â€œYou know I had to try it.” She winked and licked her lip again.
    â€œNo one can accuse you of not being persistent.” She smiled at him and he just prayed his erection didn’t press against his zipper so that she could see his state of arousal.
    Finally, they made it to the counter and Jackson ordered two brownies and two cups of coffee. He’d expected Liza to say something, since she’d claimed to be a tea drinker. She didn’t. Instead she took her