Book Intro: Rumor Has It

BOOK INTRO       Click To Download Today Liza Palmer couldn't be happier when her best friend and sorority sister, Chante Britt, and her closest guy friend, Robert Montgomery, hit it off. And she's beyond thrilled when they announce their engagement. Robert is an up-and-comer running for the North Carolina senate. Chante is a partner at a prestigious law firm. They're a power couple made in heaven--until Liza discovers Robert in a compromising position--with another woman. . . Liza can't possibly continue to support Robert's campaign, much less let him marry Chante. But when she tries to reveal the truth, Robert pulls out every corrupt trick in the book--including turning Chante against her. Her only choice is to seek out his opponent, Jackson Franklin, and help him take Robert down. But to Liza's great surprise, Jackson won't play dirty--and Liza finds him irresistible. As sparks fly, personally and politically, Liza and Jackson may become a winning team in more ways than one. . .   ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY Cheris Hodges was bitten by the writing bug at an early age and always knew she wanted to be a writer. She is a 1999 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and a freelance journalist in Charlotte, North Carolina. A native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Cheris loves hearing from her readers.                                           Visit Cheris Online                                        www.cherishodges.net EXCERPT  The next morning, as Jackson waited at the restaurant where the meeting was to take place, he wasn't surprised to see Robert arriving with three people in tow. It was the woman who caught his eye. He'd seen her somewhere before. Yes, at Amelie's. Liza Palmer. Glancing at her curvaceous figure stirred something inside him.  Damn, he's lucky if that's his wife, he thought as he watched the shapely sister cross over to the table where Jackson was already seated. I guess this explains why I couldn't win her vote with a handshake. She sparkled in a polished, supermodel way, and a part of him wondered what she'd look like stripped bare. Hair down, face scrubbed free of makeup, and barefoot. Stop lusting after this man's wife, Jackson admonished as he rose to his feet. "Good morning," he said. "I'm Jackson Franklin." He extended his hand to Robert, who turned his nose up at him.             "I know who you are," Robert said. Liza stepped between them and took Jackson's hand.             "Liza Palmer," she said, flashing Jackson a smile that sent chills down his spine.             "Nice to meet you, again."             "I have to say," she began, "thank you for your service, but why do you think you're ready to serve in office?"             Bold question. "I think fighting in Iraq has prepared me for everything. What makes your husband ready?"             Liza's laughter filled the air. "My husband? I guess you think that a woman's place is behind a man?"             "Liza," Nic said, shaking his head. "This isn't the time." Robert shot her a look that quieted her right away.             "We're just here to meet with donors and maybe even sway Mr. Jackson to our side," Nic said with a plastic smile. "Sergeant Franklin," Jackson corrected. You pompous jackass.             "Sorry about that," Nic said hollowly. Their chatter stopped when U.S. Senator Thomas Watson walked in.