“If we get married, you’ll be eligible for my insurance and get out of your parents’ house. There’s really no downside for you. I just expect you to handle all the domestic crap I don’t have time for or care about. Can you cook?”

“I can, actually.” A flicker of something darkened his hazel eyes. “I mean, I’m not Ina Garten, but I can follow a recipe.”

Leanne regarded him, surprise welling up within her. “I’m impressed you know who the Barefoot Contessa is.”

“My mom loves her books.”

“Makes sense.”

Trev said, “You’ve laid out the benefits for me, but I don’t see what you get out of this. Other than fooling your mom, but this seems excessive.”

She bit her lip, wondering if she dared confess what she was really after. Getting Junie off her back was an excellent bonus but… “Very astute. There’s another reason I need to get married. But this is important, I can’t leave it to chance and random emotions.”

He folded his arms, sitting back in his chair while eyeing her with an expectant air. “I’m listening. Convince me.”

Briefly, she pressed her lips together, unable to believe Trevor Montgomery—a mundane she’d just met—would be the first person to hear her innermost ambition, one she’d nurtured for a long time in secret without having the courage to go for broke. “You know I work for the city, right?”

“Yeah. To be honest, I’m not clear on what you do exactly, but I got that much.”

“I’m the director of communications for the mayor’s office. I got into it because I wanted to make a difference, but mostly I watch while they take credit for my work. Dan Rutherford on the city council is the worst. He was talking to my boobs earlier in the week while putting the moves on me.

“And if that’s not enough fun, he’s buddied up with my boss. Their cronyism is costing the city. In fact, I suspect they’re skimming. So…I’ve thought about this long and hard, and my best option is to run for office myself in the next election.”

“Holy shit,” Trev said.

“I’ll run for city council to get my foot in the door. The election’s coming up in November, and I should really have started this earlier. That’s why I can’t wait around for a normal relationship to give me the right…look for the voters.”

“Wait, if I understand where you’re headed with this, you think getting married will help your image. And you picked me for that?” He laughed, throwing his head back in a move that resulted in an adorable hair toss.