introduce you all to another dream of mine.” He held out his hand to her. “Ryla, baby, come up her so I can introduce you to everyone.”
He called me baby . She stood and walked over to him as if she was in a Miss America pageant and knew she was about to win the thing. He squeezed her left hand as he told the crowd, “I’ve been in love with Ryla since we were in college. I let her get away from me back then.” He held up her hand so others could see the three carats she wore. He pointed at her finger. “But this time I put a ring on it.”
The crowd went wild with applause. Cameramen and reporters ran to the front of the room. So many flashbulbs went off that it blinded Ryla as she leaned into Noel.
“You okay?” he whispered into her ear.
“Too many cameras.”
Noel held up a hand. “Okay, fellows, give my bride-to-be a little space. We will take an engagement picture and send it to all of the media outlets.” He put his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
“When’s the big day, Noel?” one of the reporters yelled from the floor.
“September twenty-second.”
“I bet your little girl is thrilled about this news, aye, Ryla?” another reporter asked.
“She’s even more thrilled about being the flower girl,” Ryla said.
“Are you sure you can plan a wedding in just eight weeks, Ryla?” a reporter yelled at them.
“Event planning is what I do for a living. So, eight weeks is plenty of time. Hey, I might even move the date up a few weeks,” she joked, and the room broke out in laughter.
Noel leaned down and whispered, “You’re a natural at this.”
She glanced up at him, and at that moment her heart caught in her throat as their eyes locked. Earlier, in his office, Ryla could have sworn that Noel was angry with her, but right now he was looking at her the way he used to back in the day...when she was his and he was hers.
A snarky reporter broke their trance as he asked, “Does the rush have anything to do with the fact that Noel’s poll numbers have tanked since he brought you and your daughter on the campaign trail with him?”
Noel’s head jolted. “Who asked that?” he demanded.
But before he could get an answer, another reporter said, “Tell us the truth, Ryla, is this some kind of publicity stunt...like a marriage of convenience or something?”
Ryla lightly brushed her hand over Noel’s two-day stubble and then turned to the reporter and spoke the truth that was in her heart. “I have loved Noel Carter since the moment I laid eyes on him. I would marry him if he wasn’t running for public office, so I can honestly say that our marriage will be one filled with love, honor and respect.”
The audience applauded again. Ryla started to walk back to her seat, but Noel surprised her by leaning over and laying a soft, moist kiss on her lips.
“Thank you, baby,” Noel said, and then turned back to his constituents to deliver his speech.
Ryla prayed that her wobbly legs would carry her back to her chair. It didn’t make sense how out of sorts she was over a quick, soft, wet kiss. She sat down and closed her eyes as she wondered if she was strong enough for the game she was playing. Because if Noel didn’t fall in love with her as she hoped, Ryla knew without a doubt that her world would fall apart.
Chapter 13
N oel was so pleased with Ryla’s performance that he would have taken her out that night even if she hadn’t already made dates a condition of their engagement. He was dressed in his best tux as he drove to Ryla’s aunt’s place. He knew a friend who had a friend who worked for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. So, Noel spent the afternoon tracking his friend down in order to get tickets to tonight’s sold-out performance.
When he called Ryla and informed her that they were going to Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and afterward to a quaint little place in Oak Cliff for dinner, she practically squealed her delight.
When Ryla had first insisted that he
He called me baby . She stood and walked over to him as if she was in a Miss America pageant and knew she was about to win the thing. He squeezed her left hand as he told the crowd, “I’ve been in love with Ryla since we were in college. I let her get away from me back then.” He held up her hand so others could see the three carats she wore. He pointed at her finger. “But this time I put a ring on it.”
The crowd went wild with applause. Cameramen and reporters ran to the front of the room. So many flashbulbs went off that it blinded Ryla as she leaned into Noel.
“You okay?” he whispered into her ear.
“Too many cameras.”
Noel held up a hand. “Okay, fellows, give my bride-to-be a little space. We will take an engagement picture and send it to all of the media outlets.” He put his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
“When’s the big day, Noel?” one of the reporters yelled from the floor.
“September twenty-second.”
“I bet your little girl is thrilled about this news, aye, Ryla?” another reporter asked.
“She’s even more thrilled about being the flower girl,” Ryla said.
“Are you sure you can plan a wedding in just eight weeks, Ryla?” a reporter yelled at them.
“Event planning is what I do for a living. So, eight weeks is plenty of time. Hey, I might even move the date up a few weeks,” she joked, and the room broke out in laughter.
Noel leaned down and whispered, “You’re a natural at this.”
She glanced up at him, and at that moment her heart caught in her throat as their eyes locked. Earlier, in his office, Ryla could have sworn that Noel was angry with her, but right now he was looking at her the way he used to back in the day...when she was his and he was hers.
A snarky reporter broke their trance as he asked, “Does the rush have anything to do with the fact that Noel’s poll numbers have tanked since he brought you and your daughter on the campaign trail with him?”
Noel’s head jolted. “Who asked that?” he demanded.
But before he could get an answer, another reporter said, “Tell us the truth, Ryla, is this some kind of publicity stunt...like a marriage of convenience or something?”
Ryla lightly brushed her hand over Noel’s two-day stubble and then turned to the reporter and spoke the truth that was in her heart. “I have loved Noel Carter since the moment I laid eyes on him. I would marry him if he wasn’t running for public office, so I can honestly say that our marriage will be one filled with love, honor and respect.”
The audience applauded again. Ryla started to walk back to her seat, but Noel surprised her by leaning over and laying a soft, moist kiss on her lips.
“Thank you, baby,” Noel said, and then turned back to his constituents to deliver his speech.
Ryla prayed that her wobbly legs would carry her back to her chair. It didn’t make sense how out of sorts she was over a quick, soft, wet kiss. She sat down and closed her eyes as she wondered if she was strong enough for the game she was playing. Because if Noel didn’t fall in love with her as she hoped, Ryla knew without a doubt that her world would fall apart.
Chapter 13
N oel was so pleased with Ryla’s performance that he would have taken her out that night even if she hadn’t already made dates a condition of their engagement. He was dressed in his best tux as he drove to Ryla’s aunt’s place. He knew a friend who had a friend who worked for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. So, Noel spent the afternoon tracking his friend down in order to get tickets to tonight’s sold-out performance.
When he called Ryla and informed her that they were going to Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and afterward to a quaint little place in Oak Cliff for dinner, she practically squealed her delight.
When Ryla had first insisted that he
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