Sparks Fly with Mr. Mayor by Teresa Carpenter

back a place to play. Both were evidence of Dani’s total devotion to her daughter. She mourned the loss of her husband, Faith’s father, worried she wasn’t doing enough, but she shouldn’t fear. Love lived in this house, in this yard. And she was stronger than she thought.
    â€œPush me, Cole,” Faith demanded.
    â€œFaith,” Dani admonished.
    â€œPlease, Cole, will you push me?”
    â€œBetter.” Dani bypassed the table on the patio to spread a blanket on the grass. She glanced at him. “Do you mind pushing her? I want to throw together a couple of more sandwiches. Do you prefer turkey or tuna?”
    â€œTurkey.” He shrugged out of his leather jacket and slung it over a patio chair. “And I was already on my way.”
    â€œThanks.” Her gray gaze caressed her daughter before returning to him. “I’ll save you in a few minutes.”
    â€œHey, Faith’s my girl. Take your time.”
    Already turning to head into the kitchen, she stopped and shook a finger at him. “Not funny.”
    He laughed and winked, and then went to push the princess.
    Dani was such a good mother that watching her and Faith together sometimes made his throat tighten and his heart constrict. Dani made him rememberhow it felt to be loved, which threw him, because he was a man with a lot of love in his life.
    He knew from Samantha that two years had passed since Dani lost her husband. But from the way she had closed the door on him the other night clearly she wasn’t ready for a new relationship. Plus he saw how it hurt her to see Faith seeking a daddy figure.
    Then again, Dani didn’t kiss like a woman clinging to the ghost of her husband.
    Maybe the two weren’t related. More than once Dani had mentioned difficulties in making decisions. If she was overanalyzing every thought and deed, then he could see the problem.
    It was one thing to accept the natural process of moving on with your life, and another to consciously decide to put the man you loved, the father of your child, behind you so you could find happiness with someone new. Especially when your daughter had already made the leap and you were trying to hold on to his memory for her.
    Stepping behind Faith, he gave her a big push, smiling when she shrieked with joy.
    â€œHigher,” she called, lifting her face to the wind she created with each pass of the swing.
    No complications or communication problems here. The daughter knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to ask for it.
    Maybe he and Dani should take a lesson from Faith, and go after what they wanted.
    What they wanted?
    Was he crazy? Was he suddenly thinking of picket fences and ready-made families? Exactly when had he gone off his rocker?
    And why wasn’t he headed for the nearest exit?
    All he knew was being here felt right. The constriction around his heart filled him with a warmth he wasn’t ready to let go of.
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    Her gaze on the view out the kitchen window, Dani slathered mayo on bread and then layered on turkey, lettuce and tomatoes.
    She found it hard to believe Cole Sullivan was in her backyard. They were worlds apart, yet there he stood, patiently pushing her daughter on the swing. Not once had he looked up to see if she’d finished and would soon rescue him.
    Her and her bright ideas. What was she supposed to talk to him about now that she’d forbidden discussion of the election and all things political?
    She laughed to herself. Who was she kidding? Through the window she heard Faith chattering away. Dani and Cole would be lucky to get a word in edgewise.
    Watching man and child, she experienced the oddest feeling of tranquility. He appeared to genuinely enjoy Faith’s company and Faith thrived under his attention.
    Even as Dani worried about his presence building up unrealistic expectations in Faith, Cole kept slipping past Dani’s guard.
    His potential to hurt Faith was huge. If Dani stopped and