Winning Her Love

Secrets and passions are about to ignite!

Leaving LA was the best decision Vanessa Hamilton ever made. Becoming embroiled in a political scandal in her seaside hometown could be the worst. Bay Point mayor Gregory Langston wants the beautiful floral designer who is so committed to their community to help run his reelection campaign. It’s bad enough he’s planning to tear down the town’s legendary carousel—now Vanessa’s attraction to the charismatic homegrown politician is threatening to spiral out of control.

Women rarely say no to Gregory, and he’s intrigued by his spirited campaign manager. Falling for Vanessa is a potential powder keg, especially when he and the impassioned activist are on opposite sides of a controversial issue. But a vicious smear campaign and a long-hidden secret could destroy more than Gregory’s shot at a second term. Will it cost him forever with Vanessa?

“You must be joking.”

Her words came out clipped, but it felt like they were spoken through mud.

Gregory placed both palms on the counter. “I assure you, I’m not.”

Vanessa’s throat tightened almost painfully, and she could have drowned in the confident intensity of his hazel eyes.

“And I can assure you that I’m not interested.”

Gregory took a step back. “Really? I’m surprised. Your father told me that flowers aren’t your only talent. He said you also have a knack for public relations, and that you’ve been especially successful helping politicians in a crisis.”

Vanessa’s stomach burned with resentment. Her father had no business talking to the mayor about her, but she’d deal with him later.

In Gregory’s voice, she heard no trace of disdain, and that was good. There were only two people who knew the sordid details of her stint in political public relations, and that was the way it would remain. She was a pro at hiding the secrets of powerful and successful men, and even better at hiding her own.

Vanessa tilted her head. “Oh, so you’re admitting your reelection campaign is in trouble?”

“Not trouble,” he insisted, lifting one finger. “Just a bit of a rough spot.”

She broached a wry smile. “I’d say you’re at the top of a raging waterfall about to crash to the rocks below.”

Gregory leaned in closer. “I like to live dangerously,” he murmured in a low voice.

Dear Reader,

Winning Her Love is the first book of my Bay Point Confessions series, set in a fictional small California town.

Meet Mayor Gregory Langston. He must win another term in order to see his redevelopment plan for the city come to life.

And Vanessa Hamilton. She’s got a passion for flowers and the century-old Bay Point carousel. She agrees to help Gregory gain support from the locals when he promises not to demolish the carousel—if she can find a way to save it.

There’s something about a carousel that is magical. Unexplainable. Puts a smile on your face. Sometimes it’s so hard to choose the perfect horse to ride. They’re all so beautiful and so tempting. The same can be said of falling in love, right?

I hope you enjoy reading this book and that you’ll stay tuned for others in the series.

Be blessed,

Harmony

Harmony Evans

www.millsandboon.co.uk

HARMONY EVANS received the 2013 Romance Slam Jam Emma Award for Debut Author of the Year. Her first book, Lesson in Romance, garnered two RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominations in 2012. Winning Her Love is her fifth book for Mills & Boon Kimani Romance. She currently resides in New York City. Connect with Harmony on Facebook, Twitter or at harmonyevans.com.

To my daughter, Angelina. Meow! I miss you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Copyright

Chapter 1

Gregory Langston jutted his fists knuckles-down against the windowsill and stared outside. The sun was at the halfway point in the sky, hanging around the corner of dusk. It would be dark soon. If he was going to see Vanessa, he’d better go quickly, before she closed the shop for the evening.

He squinted involuntarily at the orange-red orb blazing away in the distance. The California sun was gloriously dangerous yet absolutely necessary to his survival, just like the risk he was about to take.

“I have to win,” he muttered fiercely under his breath.

Although he was only thirty years old, Gregory had achieved more than many men had in a lifetime. At age twenty-six, he became the youngest and the first African-American mayor in Bay Point, California. He’d won the esteemed position in a landslide victory four years earlier, an accomplishment of which he was extremely proud.

Now he was up for reelection. But this time victory would not come easily. His only rival in the mayoral race was making his campaign a living hell.

Jacob Billingsly “the Third and only,” as the man liked to put it, had lived in Bay Point for only a few years, yet acted as if he’d resided there his entire life. When Jacob had announced his plan to run for mayor, no one had been more shocked than Gregory, who had taken the young upstart under his wing and given him a paid internship as a mayoral clerk for two summers. When Jacob had graduated with an MBA from Stanford University, Gregory had given him a glowing reference for a potential employer in New York City. He’d even driven Jacob to the airport on what was supposed to be his last day in Bay Point.