The Perfect Candidate Read Online Free Page A

position, and often not memorable enough to warrant that risk.
     
    Besides, he was supposed to be with Ashley now, and Norm had made it very clear that other women were strictly off limits, which left Michael in something of a fix.  He had just discovered an itch that he wasn ’ t allowed to scratch.
     
    “Mmm, that was delicious,” Ashley sighed with satisfaction.  She pushed away her plate a little bit, and patted her mouth with her serviette.  Michael suddenly reached across the table and brushed his thumb across her bottom lip, causing Ashley to start in surprise.
     
    “You missed a spot,” he said innocently.  Just as anticipated, the silky softness of her skin had sent sparks sizzling through Michael’ s blood.  He watched as she lifted a distracted finger to touch her mouth …   Very interesting.  “ There ’ s something different about you tonight, Ashley, ” he mused, trying to reconcile the sexy, sultry woman sitting opposite him with the no-nonsense, hard-working woman he knew from work.
     
    “Oh really?” she smiled, raising a curious eyebrow.  “It’ s probably the clothes, and the contacts, ” she added, fluttering her eyelashes playfully.
     
    “You really shouldn’ t hide such beautiful eyes behind those glasses you wear at work, ” Michael murmured, and then he kicked himself for sounding like he had just stepped out of some cheesy romantic-comedy.  He was so out of practice.
     
    “My glasses are part of who I am at work,” Ashley sniffed, in exactly the no-nonsense tone of voice that Michael was more used to hearing from her, and so he couldn’ t help but smile.  “ What? ” Ashley frowned, but Michael was saved from thinking up an answer when the waiter returned to take away their plates and bring over their main course.
     
    “Did we decide if we met at work, or at a charity fundraiser?” he asked, cutting into his steak.
     
    “Michael!” Ashley said dryly.
     
    “Okay, okay.  How long have you fancied me then?”
     
    Ashley started to choke on what she was eating.  “ Pardon? ” she managed to gasp, once she had washed down the bit of food with a gulp of wine.
     
    “When did you first realize that you were attracted to me?” he asked playfully.  “What is it about me that you love?”
     
    “Your modesty?” Ashley said sweetly.
     
    “I was thinking more along the lines of the impressive size of my-”
     
    “Ego!”
     
    “You’ re no fun, ” Michael pretended to complain.  He took a bite of his food and considered Ashley while he chewed and swallowed.  “ I think I must have fallen for you when I realized that you ’ re as sexy as you are smart. ”
     
    Ashley could feel her cheeks begin to burn.  He was only messing around , she told herself firmly, but it was still disconcerting!  She had never seen this side of Mr. Reese- Michael before.  She hadn ’ t imagined that it might exist!  But then again, why would she?  He was known among the voters for his charm and charisma, but whenever Ashley had been in staff meetings, or if she was prepping him before a speech, he was always so serious and focused.
     
    “Well?” Michael said, prompting Ashley to give up her musings. “Aren’ t you going to return the compliment? ” he chuckled.
     
    “ What is it about you I love? ” she said thoughtfully, tilting her head to one side as she pretending to give the question some grave consideration. 
     
    Michael nodded.  “ I ’ m told I have whole list of lovable attributes, ” he said innocently.  “ Surely you can pick one . ”
     
    “Your money,” Ashley quipped back dryly.
     
    “I’ m wounded, Miss Kendall! ” Michael laughed.
     
    “Oh come on, you were asking for that, ” Ashley giggled, taking another bite of her meal.
     
    “Fair enough,” Michael conceded good-naturedly.  (Something else Ashley was discovering that she liked about him was how could laugh at himself, and not take himself too seriously.)  “We