Coveted Justice (Cowboy Justice Association Book 15)

  COVETED JUSTICE

  COWBOY JUSTICE ASSOCIATION: BOOK 15

  OLIVIA JAYMES

  CONTENTS

  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

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  About the Author

  1

  Tanner Marks read through his notes one more time before shoving the cards into his tuxedo jacket pocket. He had to make a speech tonight, and he didn’t want to mess it up. This was an important evening for him.

  The elegant restaurant had been rented out for a political campaign fundraiser. Somehow he’d allowed the leaders of his party to convince him to run for governor of the state.

  Governor.

  He still hadn’t quite wrapped his mind around it. Not long ago, he’d been fired from his sheriff’s job in Springwood and now he was running for the highest office in the entire state. It didn’t make much sense to him, but here he was. He wanted to help people, and he wanted to make a difference. He’d always wanted that, to be honest, and that’s why he’d stayed in law enforcement for so long. But he’d found out that there were other ways to contribute to the betterment of society. As governor, he’d be leading his party’s policies in Montana.

  He wasn’t, however, going to win.

  He’d made his peace with that early, frankly, ambivalent about the whole damn venture. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to become the governor because it sounded like a major pain in the ass. Plus, running for office put his family into the spotlight. He was proud as hell of them, but they weren’t all that thrilled about the attention. Maddie and Amanda had been troopers about it all, but this governor’s race might be a bridge too far. They kept saying it was all fine, but he wasn’t convinced.

  The party had put immense amounts of pressure on him. Right now, Tanner was popular with the citizens, his approval ratings higher than any other lawmaker. They wanted to capitalize on that before he did something that pissed everyone off.

  Of course, not everyone liked him. He’d made a few enemies since entering politics. Tanner’s no nonsense, get-it-done approach had become popular in his home state. However, there were certainly more than a few people who thought he should burn in hell. To say the least, they weren’t fans. They thought he was dumb as a rock and dangerous to their own agenda.

  That was something he’d learned early on. Everyone had their own agenda, and they didn’t much give a shit about anyone else’s unless their interests aligned or they thought some sort of deal could be made. It was survival of the fittest and the faint of heart need not apply. They’d get chewed up and spit out in a hurry. More than once, Tanner had questioned whether he truly wanted to do this. There were days when retirement looked damn good.

  Tonight was the first fundraiser for the campaign. If it didn’t turn out well, it would be the bellwether for the future. If no one wanted to give him money, then he might as well pack his bags and go.

  I think I’d be relieved.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder and caught a whiff of familiar perfume. His wife. Maddie. The woman he loved and adored. He still couldn’t believe that she’d married him. He was one lucky bastard.

  Turning, he leaned down to drop a quick kiss on her forehead, not wanting to mess up her lipstick. She and Amanda had both fussed with their clothes, hair, and makeup for over an hour before arriving tonight. Not that they needed to. They were both drop-dead gorgeous, easily the most stunning women in the room.

  “Are you ready for your speech?” Maddie asked, her gaze darting to the empty podium several feet away and then back to him. “Do you have your note cards?”

  His sweet Maddie was a worrier, at least when it came to things like this. She hated being the center of attention and the thought of speaking in public made her break out in nervous hives. She wasn’t the one making the speech tonight, but she was anxious for him.

  Not that she wouldn’t be in the spotlight as well. She would be. Scrutinized by everyone here - donors and press. They commented on her hair, her clothes, her shoes. Anything they could come up with.

  He hated that he’d put her in this position, although she kept telling him over and over that it was fine. She said it was all worth it because he could help people. She was fine with having her picture taken and answering the same stupid questions dozens of times.

  He kept assuring her that he wasn’t going to win. He was five points down in the early polls, and his opponent was a total asshole who had millions in corporate money behind him.

  He’d argued with his campaign manager Brian that he didn’t want a bunch of wealthy donors who would expect favors later. So far, he’d run his campaign with small grassroots donations, but Brian had been pressing him that they needed more money if they wanted to compete with radio and television ads.

  While Tanner assumed he was going to lose, Brian was absolutely convinced that they would win. They only needed a bit more effort. And money. He kept saying that Tanner was riding a wave of popularity that could end up in the governor’s mansion.

  “I have them,” he said, patting his pocket. “Although I’m not sure about the speech. I might change a few parts of it.”

  He’d been surprised to find out that candidates for governor didn’t usually write their own speeches. They had staff for that. Tanner had always written his own with his family’s help until now. Tonight, the words on the cards simply didn’t feel like his own.

  “Trust your gut,” Maddie said, giving him an encouraging smile. “Your instincts are right most of the time.”

  His gaze ran over the crowded room, everyone dressed to the nines. There was some serious money represented here, and for some crazy reason they wanted to give it to him. Total strangers wanted to write him huge checks because they hated his opponent. Probably more than they liked Tanner. That thought always made him chuckle a bit. In politics, hate was always stronger than love.

  “We can turn around and run out of here,” he offered. “If you’re having second thoughts, I’ll pull the plug. Just say the word. It’s still early in the campaign. No one would say anything.”

  Maddie tilted her head, regarding him closely. “Are you having second thoughts?”

  “Yes. Second, third, fourth. I think we’d be absolutely nuts not to be having them. This entire idea is batshit crazy. Me for governor? It’s too far-fetched to be real.”

  She placed her hand on his arm, the warmth of her touch seeping through the material of his jacket.

  “It is real, though. I, personally, think that you’d make a wonderful governor. You really care about the people of this state, and that’s hard to find these days. You truly want to make their lives better.”

  “That’s great and all but I don’t want to make your life a nightmare while I do it. Not yours, or Amanda’s, or anyone else. I don’t want to be that selfish.”

  “I’d hardly call our lives hellish. Mostly the press leaves us alone.”

  “They’re going to be more nosy
during this campaign.”

  “There’s not much for them to find,” Maddie replied with a careless shrug. “We’re boring people, Tanner.”

  Although my friends aren’t boring at all. Especially Logan and Ava.

  “I like being boring with you.”

  She squeezed his arm before stepping back. “I like it, too. Now it’s time to go out there and dazzle them.”

  Tanner held up his notes. “I doubt they’re going to be dazzled or excited about employment numbers and statistics regarding high school graduation rates.”

  “I’m literally hanging on your every word. I can’t wait to hear more. Who needs Netflix? Go get ‘em, cowboy.”

  He grabbed Maddie’s hand for a moment and then moved to the side as Brian stepped up to the podium for the introduction. It was time. No more rehearsing and going over the speech line by line. It was happening now.

  He was running for fucking governor.

  Maddie was incredibly nervous and she wasn’t even the one giving the speech. Tanner, on the other hand, didn’t seem anxious at all. He was smiling, his body language in control and relaxed. She knew from experience that he’d have the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand before long. He had an easy charm and a magnetism that drew people to him, seemingly wanting to be in his vicinity.

  It’s true for me, too.

  Despite all the years they’d been together, she still loved spending time with her handsome husband. She didn’t care about the lines that fanned out from the corners of his eyes or the hair that was now shot with gray. To her, he was still the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on.

  And they still had it going on in the bedroom.

  Now that Amanda was off to college, she and Tanner had much more time to be alone. They’d taken advantage of it, too.

  But she missed her baby girl a great deal. She and Amanda had always been close, so it had been hard to see her daughter pack her belongings and move into a dorm several hours away. Not that she wasn’t excited for Amanda, she was. Very much so. Sometimes, she simply wanted to pick up the phone and hear her daughter’s voice but she wouldn’t do it. Amanda needed time on her own to spread her wings. Maddie didn’t want to be that helicopter parent that wouldn’t let her child grow up.

  So it was wonderful that Amanda was here tonight along with all of their family and friends. Jason Anderson had bought out five full tables for all of them, happy to support Tanner’s candidacy. Along with Jason and his wife Brinley were Logan and Ava, Seth and Presley, Reed and Kaylee, Jared and Misty, plus all of the kids. Not everyone had been able to make it, but they promised to make the next party for sure which was Amanda’s nineteenth birthday barbecue in about a week.

  Tanner’s two children Chris and Emily were also in attendance with their spouses. Maddie could clearly remember when Chris had been a hellion and they were all worried about how his life would turn out. Now he was married to a wonderful woman and they had three kids. Emily was also married but she and her husband had decided to have dogs instead of children. Currently, they had two corgis and a Labrador who loved to give Maddie wet, sloppy kisses. All three were absolutely adorable.

  There was one more person at the fundraiser tonight that Maddie wasn’t as happy to see.

  Tanner’s ex-wife Abby.

  Abby was now on her third husband, Martin Parnham, a rich man who dabbled in oil, real estate, and other investments. Maddie wasn’t entirely clear on how he’d made his fortune. Tanner said it was family money. The couple seemed quite happy, and they were both here tonight to support the campaign.

  It was wonderful that Marty and Abby wanted to give money to Tanner’s candidacy. That part was great. It was just…she and Abby had never gotten past the awkward phase in their relationship. They never knew what to say to one another.

  Over the years, Maddie had spent a bit of time with Abby. They’d never become anything close to friends, not even in the ballpark. They’d been cordial and civil to one another though because while they didn’t have anything against the other, they simply didn’t have much in common. Except for Tanner.

  Abby wasn’t in love with her ex-husband or anything weird like that, and Maddie wasn’t jealous. For the most part, Abby kept her distance and only interacted when it came to the two kids. Now that they were grown with their own families, she and Tanner saw Abby even less.

  “Dad’s doing great,” Amanda said, sidling up to her mother’s side. She looked beautiful tonight in a champagne-colored cocktail dress that showed off the tan she’d acquired during spring break in Florida. “It looks like tonight is a huge success.”

  “It is. I hope this convinces him that he has the support to run.”

  “He definitely has the Anderson family behind him.” Amanda nodded toward the table where Jason was sitting with their friends. “They hold a lot of sway around here.”

  Maddie’s own gaze swept over the dining room, stopping to rest on Abby and her husband Marty sitting next to Chris and his wife Ella. There were also a few of Marty’s business associates in attendance tonight.

  Amanda’s gaze followed her mother’s, certainly knowing exactly what Maddie was thinking. She’d never make a decent poker player.

  “I was surprised Abby and her husband came tonight.”

  “It’s nice that they want to support your father,” Maddie replied, keeping her tone low. Tanner was wrapping up his speech and would soon be finished. “All campaigns run on donor money.”

  “Let me finish that statement for you,” Amanda whispered, leaning close to Maddie. “But it’s weird and awkward when they’re around. How was that?”

  Maddie wasn’t in the habit of lying to her daughter. She wasn’t going to start now.

  “It is awkward, but it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be here. Tanner and Abby had a lot of history, and she wants to support him. It’s all fine.”

  “But weird. In a way.”

  “It’s not weird. Why do you think it’s weird?”

  Amanda rolled her eyes like the teenager she still was.

  “C’mon, Mom. You know why. Abby has never pretended to like you. Or me. Or any of Dad’s friends and family.”

  That was true. It wasn’t an excuse, however, for Maddie to be nasty to Abby. The other woman was doing the best she could. She was…different. If anything, Abby was more awkward around people than Maddie was.

  “I don’t think it’s a case of her not liking us,” Maddie finally replied. “I think it’s that Abby isn’t really comfortable around people in general. She doesn’t single us out or anything. She treats everyone pretty much the same.”

  “I heard Abby and her husband arguing outside the restaurant earlier,” Amanda said. “They were having one hell of a blowout. He was yelling and throwing up his hands in the air, and she was pointing her finger at his chest and giving him the business.”

  Maddie opened her mouth to ask what they were fighting about but then quickly snapped it shut again. It wasn’t any of her business and she didn’t want to be involved.

  “All couples fight. I hope you didn’t hang around listening in. I’m sure they didn’t want anyone to hear them.”

  “Of course, I didn’t,” Amanda scoffed. “I hurried back into the building, but if they didn’t want other people to hear then they should have kept their voices down. You could hear them across the parking lot. They weren’t holding back.”

  Maddie had never heard Abby yell. If anything, the woman always seemed rather cold and stoic.

  “They must have been quite angry then. I hope they’ve made up.”

  “Mom, they don’t even act as if they like each other very much. I saw her husband try and take her hand once and she just shook him off.”

  “Not everyone shows affection the way your father and I do. Why don’t we forget about Abby and Marty, okay? It’s fine that they’re here. Your father deserves all the support in the world.”

  The audience was clapping now as Tanner had finished his speech. There were ev
en a few people standing, and almost everyone was smiling.

  Marty and Abby? They weren’t even looking at one another. Whatever argument they’d had earlier must have been a doozy.

  “Dad doesn’t think he’s going to win the election, Mom, but I think he will.”

  Tanner had said over and over that he didn’t think he was going to win. He was running to talk about the issues and press his opponent into talking about and defending his positions.

  “The campaign is just starting. It’s far too early to think about winning or losing at this point.”

  Amanda side-eyed her mother. “Your life is going to change if he wins.”

  Maddie was trying not to think about that too much.

  “Yours will, too.”

  “Not like yours. You’ll live in the governor’s mansion and have tea parties.”

  That made Maddie laugh, picturing herself in a floaty dress, wearing white gloves, and pouring from a silver tea set.

  “I don’t think I’ll be having tea parties. Unless you want to, of course. The girls are in town this weekend so we could schedule one.”

  “I’d rather have a spa day. We could get a mani-pedi. I like my toes to sparkle.”

  “That sounds like a wonderful plan. I’ll talk to the girls about it.”

  “Aunt Sherry, too?”

  Maddie’s best friend Sherry couldn’t attend the fundraiser because one of her kids had a piano recital.

  “Of course, I’ll invite her. It’s not a party without her.”

  Sherry was quite possibly the most fun person on planet Earth. The nicest, too.

  “I’m going to tell Lizzie that we’re doing a spa day,” Amanda said, clasping her hands together in glee. “This is going to be awesome.”