The Last Honest Man
Phoebe Moss is engaged to be marriedAnd what a catch! Adam DeVries is a hardworking, intelligent man who's running for mayor of New Skye. After years of avoiding the trappings of a relationship, Phoebe finds herself pulled toward Adam–despite his strange aversion to dogs. And he certainly seems to be attracted to her.But the engagement isn't realPhoebe Moss is a speech therapist who has been secretly helping Adam with his stutter–an impediment that could cost him the election–and they've had to hide the real reason for their constant companionship. Now they're both wondering how and when to tell the truth–the engagement is fake, they're not really in a relationship. But neither one of them seems to want to break the news….
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Engaged to be married?
Phoebe squeezed her eyes shut, wishing, hoping, praying to disappear. Somebody was going to look very foolish in the next minute or two. Most likely, that somebody would be her.
âPhoebe,â Tommy said, âwhy donât you come on up and let us introduce you to the good people of New Skye?â
She opened her eyes and looked for Adam, who had left the speakerâs stand and moved nearer to where she stood. Holding out his hand, he waited for her to join him. He had decided to go along with Tommyâs lie.
If she protested, denied the engagement, Adamâs campaign would end today, this minute, his credibility with the voters destroyed.
âPhoebe?â Adamâs voice came to herâ¦a question, a plea.
She couldnât resist.
Turning to the crowd, he held her close to him with one arm and waved with the other, grinning wildly.
Tommy announced, âThe future Mrs. Adam DeVries.â
To Phoebe, the words sounded like the clang of a heavy iron doorâ¦the door to her new prison cell.
Dear Reader,
Often, writers will say that their characters âtalkâ to them. Iâve been known to sit my characters in a comfortable (if imaginary) chair and treat them as a psychotherapist might, asking leading questions and saying, over and over again, âHow did you feel about that?â
With this particular book, I had more trouble than usual interviewing the hero. Adam DeVries doesnât talk much. When he does, he says as little as possibleâ¦because Adam stutters. No amount of coaxing can get him to ramble on about his childhood, his background, his family. He doesnât want to discuss his failures or his successesâhe simply wants to get things done. Adam is a decent, honorable man who puts himself on the line for his beliefs. Though heâs the last person you would expect to enter politics, with its endless campaigning and public speaking, thatâs what his ideals lead him to do. Sometimes the only way to conquer your weakness is to face it head-on.
And sometimes you need a little help with that task. Phoebe Moss loves to help, which is why she became a speech therapist in the first place. Adamâs goal, and his gallantry, involve her deeply in his campaign, in his life. These two ride into battle very much like knights-errant in the old, old days, only to discover that the fight ahead may require more sacrifice than either of them can bear.
The Last Honest Man is the third book in my AT THE CAROLINA DINER series for Harlequin Superromance. I hope you enjoy Adam and Phoebeâs story, and that youâll let me know what you think.
Happy reading!
Lynnette Kent
PMB 304
Westwood Shopping Center
Fayetteville, NC 28314
or lynnettekent.com
To Laura,
with admiration and gratitude
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Adam DeVries: Mayoral candidate and owner of DeVries Construction
Phoebe Moss: A speech therapist
Cynthia DeVries: Adamâs mother
Preston DeVries: Adamâs father
L. T. LaRue: A corrupt businessman
Curtis Tate: The mayor of New Skye
Kellie Tate: The mayorâs wife
Tommy Crawford: Adamâs campaign manager
Samantha Pettit: Reporter for the New Skye News
Dixon Bell: A songwriter and friend of Adamâs
Kate Bowdrey: Dixonâs fiancée
Charlie Brannon: Owner of Charlieâs Carolina Diner
Abby Brannon: Charlieâs daughter, who keeps the diner running
Jacquie Archer: A farrier, Phoebeâs neighbor
Erin Archer: Jacquieâs daughter
Teresa DeVries: Adamâs sister
Tim DeVries: Adamâs brother
Jenna Franklin: Phoebeâs business partner
Pete Mitchell: A state trooper and Adamâs friend
Mary Rose Mitchell: Pete Mitchellâs wife
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
PROLOGUE
HEADED DOWNTOWN ON A SWEET May morning, Adam DeVries whistled as he waited through the stoplight at the top of the hill, enjoying the warm breeze that reached inside the open window to ruffle his hair.
One secondâone classic double takeâlater, his world started spinning in the opposite direction.
He let his jaw drop as he stared at the ravaged parcel of land to his left across the street. All the newly leafed trees he expected to see there had vanished, not to mention every last blade of spring-green grass. And the old stone chimney, a landmark of sorts, was gone.
The traffic signal above his truck turned green, red again, then green, and a honk from behind prompted him to get out of the way. Adam swung left at the next corner, wheeled into the first driveway he came to and backed out just as fast. He paid lip service to a stop sign, pulled out onto Main Street and headed up the hill. Approaching the traffic light from the other direction, he turned right on red and screeched to a stop beside the razed lot. Once out of his truck, he strode around the front end but then pulled up short, his stomach constricting and his knees suddenly weak. The sight before him was even worse than heâd imagined.
