The Perfect Candidate Read Online Free

thing on the menu, although she was sorely tempted.  What was the point of going out to dinner with the man who might be the next President if you didn ’ t at least eat well?
     
    “So,” said Michael, leaning back in his chair after they had ordered and were once again left alone.  He took a sip of the wine that had just been brought over before continuing.  “How did we meet?”
     
    Ashley frowned.  She was a little puzzled at the question.  “ Well, I started working for you when I was hired by- ”
     
    “No I mean, how did we meet? ” he laughed.  “ When was our first date? ”
     
    “Why can’ t this be our first date? ” Ashley asked, not trying to be awkward.  She was genuinely confused.
     
    “Norm thinks it would be best if you and I have been seeing each other for a little longer than-” he glanced at his watched “-forty minutes,” he joked.  Ashley gave her head a resigned nod.  “So… we met at a fundraiser?  For… underprivileged kids?”
     
    “Oh, because no one’ s going to see through that! ” Ashley snorted.
     
    Michael continued as if he hadn ’ t heard her.  “ Your date stood you up- ”
     
    “Wait!  My date stood me up? ” Ashley laughed in outrage.
     
    “Right, that’ s what I said, ” Michael grinned.  “ Your date stood you up, so I very dashingly stepped in to partner you in one of the waltzes- ”
     
    “Why can’ t we just say it happened gradually as we were working together? ” Ashley argued.  “ That really would be the most plausible story. ”
     
    “Pfft!  You have no sense of romance!”
     
    Ashley rolled her eyes and shook her head.  “ Oh because your staff meeting are so romantic, Mr. Reese, ” she said, leaning forwards slightly and speaking in a husky, breathy drawl.
     
    “I’ ll have you know that I can be very romantic when I choose to be! ” Michael argued, grinning broadly.  “ Just ask my ex wives. ”
     
    “Well, the very fact that they are your ex wives- ”
     
    “Only goes to prove that I wasn’ t choosing to be romantic enough at the time I was married to them, ” Michael chuckled.
     
    Ashley shook her head again, but she didn ’ t feel that she knew him nearly well enough to comment or joke about something so personal.  Fortunately, the waiter brought over their starters and interrupted them, and so they had to find a more neutral topic of conversation.
     
    Ashley took a bite of her food, her eyelids fluttered shut and she made a soft appreciative sound as the deliciously flavors burst to life on her tongue. 
     
    “That good, eh?” Michael chuckled, causing Ashley’ s eye to snap open and an embarrassed blush to creep over her cheeks, when she saw that, instead of attending his own plate of food, he was watching her closely.
     
    “Why don’ t you try yours, and see? ” Ashley managed to say, although Michael wasn ’ t sure what she would have made of his answer … because watching you eat is infinitely more fun.  He took a bit of his own meal to appease her, but he couldn ’ t help wondering if Ashley was as responsive and sensual in all areas of her life …
     
    However, to Michael ’ s disappointment, Ashley was more guarded about the enticing little sounds she made as they finished off their starters.  She did poke the tip of her tongue out to lick away a dribble of sauce that had missed her mouth and was sitting in the center of the plump curve of her bottom lip.  Michael felt a quickening in his gut. It was definitely far too long since he ’ d had a woman.
     
    There hadn ’ t been anyone for months.  The campaign had taken up every minute of every day, and most of his nights too!  He didn ’ t have the time to invest in a new relationship- hell he hadn ’ t even had the time to save his last marriage!  One night stands weren ’ t something he was categorically against … he had indulged in one too many to take a pious stance there, but they were risky for a man in his