Free Caught in the Act (The Davenports) by Kim Law Page A

for sixteen years before he’d run for president. If he hadn’t lost his battle with cancer before the election, Cat was certain he would have won. He was that good. So was her mother.
    The fact was, the country needed the wisdom and experience that her family brought.
    So she’d stand before the crowd, today, and she’d donate the park. And she’d be gracious as she did it. Even if she did feel a little dishonest in her motives.
    She understood the need, but for the first time in her many years of representing her family, her actions weren’t sitting quite right with her. Maybe it was simply because she knew she’d prefer to be on her deck at that very moment, enjoying the blue skies and the afternoon sun. And thinking about that almost kiss from the night before.
    Actually, that almost kiss would have probably turned into a real kiss.
    And then they might have—
    A low rumble cut off her thoughts, and she looked away from the crowd to watch a two-door, dark red car roll up behind the row of vehicles parked along the side of the road. The car had wide white stripes down the hood and a white convertible top, and it growled, low and dangerous, like a savage animal ready to pounce.
    She knew little about cars, but if she were to guess, she’d say it was a sixties or seventies model. Maybe a Chevy? A Ford? Heck, she didn’t know. But it was drop-dead sexy. And it made her think devilish thoughts about what she’d wanted to do with Brody last night.
    When Brody himself uncoiled from behind the wheel, dark sunglasses in place, her heart rate took off as if it planned to meet him at the car and dance him into the backseat.
    Brody drove a hot, sexy machine like that? She almost purred at the thought.
    But what was he doing here?
    “Ah,” the mayor hummed at her side. “Clyde must have sent Dr. Hollister in his place.”
    “Clyde?” she asked, not taking her eyes off Brody. “The owner of the playhouse?” Clyde Reynolds had been invited to the press conference to ensure that all members of the community who would have a stake in the new park were included.
    Part of their plan was to build a community amphitheater for open-air plays. That’s why they had only twenty-two days to get the park ready. The last run of the play would be held on day twenty-three. Right here.
    Cat eyed Brody as he shrugged a blazer on over dark jeans and a light blue oxford shirt, and set off across the lawn in a lazy stroll.
    “Does Dr. Hollister have something to do with the theater?” she asked absentmindedly.
    Brody hadn’t looked anywhere but toward the small group of people she was standing with since he’d stepped from the car, and though she couldn’t see behind his glasses, she was almost positive that he had his gaze set on her.
    Was he thinking about almost kissing her the night before?
    About their friendly “date” coming up the next night?
    Or maybe he was replaying their walk along the ocean.
    All three of those things—as well as knowing he would be outside running on the beach—had been the impetus for getting Cat out of bed that morning with a happy attitude, no matter the mess her parents had made of all their lives.
    Or the fact that she was in charge of cleaning it up.
    In charge or not, she wouldn’t be doing all the work. She’d already hired a project manager for the job. The woman would be arriving later that day to get started.
    “He sure does,” the mayor said, reminding Cat that she’d asked a question. She dragged her gaze away from Brody and glanced at the mayor, forcing a polite expression back to her face as he stretched out his hand to greet Brody. “He writes the best plays that Dyersport has ever seen.”
    Cat’s smile faltered as her brain stuttered over the mayor’s words. She looked back at Brody.
    He what?

    Brody watched Cat as shock passed across her face. There was one secret out of the bag.
    Not that he’d been planning to keep it from her—or that he would have been able to. His