Running Mate (Under Kansas Skies, #1)

by Leah Brunner

My stomach flutters with butterflies. I am a sucker for a man who appreciates a wonderful library.

grin at each other. I’m pretty sure this woman fell straight from heaven and into this dining room.

“You’re a good man, Madden,”

I only did this to save my campaign, but the thought of Odette never speaking to me again leaves an ache in my chest.

Something my Dad taught me years ago is that sometimes in life, there are no words to say and no fixing to be done. In those moments, it’s okay to just be there for someone in silence. So that’s what I do. I simply hold her until she calms down.

I’m expecting you to be the Elizabeth Bennett to my Fitzwilliam Darcy.” I lean in close to her and whisper seriously, “So if you’re not very accomplished at the pianoforte, you had better start practicing.”

Why is he so suave? Does good breeding guarantee good looks and parallel parking skills from the moment that you’re born?

When he lets go, I can’t help but glance at his hand to see if he does Mr. Darcy’s infamous hand stretch after helping Elizabeth Bennet into her carriage. He doesn’t

Odette is doing yoga. In tiny yoga shorts and a tank top. Jesus, take the wheel. I can’t do this. I turn and silently bang my head against the wall.

Behind every splendid marriage is an exhausting amount of communication.

My ovaries are about to jump out of my body, drag Madden into a janitor’s closet, and demand a baby from him.

you were the one who begged me to marry you.”

I love her

“Alright, Madden! Kiss your bride.”

I hear someone say, “Wow, you look incredibly handsome.” Heat rushes to my cheeks when I realize I’m the one that said it.

That little son of a biscuit. Part of me wanted to punch him when I saw his hands on my wife’s waist and his head leaning in to whisper in her ear. A larger part of me just felt stupid that I wasn’t the one holding her in the first place.

I… I’ve developed feelings for you.”

“Fine. Two can play that game.” Without hesitation, she unties her robe and lets it drop to the floor, leaving her in nothing but tiny silk shorts and a matching camisole. My jaw drops.

“I’ve tried to keep my distance. I have. But I’m not sure that I can anymore.”

“It’s killing me, Odette.”

Madden’s arm tightens around my waist, and his lips find my bare shoulder.

“Good morning, Red. No need to blush. We are married, after all.”

I’m already in love with him,

“Shouldn’t you have done that before getting married??”

You two are seriously starting to annoy me

There’s nothing like being married to your best friend. I realize with a start that Odette really has become my best friend. She’s the first person I think about when I wake up and the first person I want to share good news with. She has been a balm to my closed-off heart and a breath of fresh air in a lifetime of busyness. Something in my heart has changed since she walked into my life, like the molecules of my body have shifted, causing my heart to double in size. I miss her when she’s only been away for a few hours; I find myself daydreaming about her smile, and I have to touch her every time she’s nearby. She makes me want to be a better man, a man who deserves her and cares about her more than anything else in the world.

Oh, dear. I think I’ve gone and fallen in love with my wife.

The truth is, if I could go back in time, I’d marry Odette Hastings all over again.”

I’d marry her because I’m deeply, madly in love with her.

“I love you too, Madden. And I trust you with my heart.”