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eBook Category: Romance
eBook Description: There's a saying here in Texas that goes something like this; politics in Texas makes for very strange bedfellows. Nothing could be more true as far as Alec Standing is concerned. For as long as Alec can remember, his cousin, Drake Everette has wanted to be governor of Texas. Drake will stop at nothing to accomplish this goal, even using Grace Richmond's 'puppy love' crush against her. But if his cousin is counting on winning the election, simply by the political strength of Grace Richmond's family name, then he is going to be disappointed.

eBook Publisher: By Grace Publishing/Roses/Pink Roses, Published: 2006
Fictionwise Release Date: September 2006

6 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [766 KB], eReader (PDB) [174 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [159 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [140 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [141 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [185 KB], hiebook (KML) [361 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [184 KB], iSilo (PDB) [131 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [162 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [192 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [203 KB]
Words: 52966
Reading time: 151-211 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"The Texas Solution is an interesting read. Ms. Eason combined politics and romance into this story and it worked out very well."--Julie Kornhausl, Romance Reader at Heart

Alec Standing stared speechless at his cousin for a moment. Had Drake actually said what Alec imagined him saying? Alec was all set to dismiss it as preposterous until he spotted the serious expression on Drake Everette's face.

"You're doing what? Drake, please tell me you're not seriously considering this." But as he looked at Drake's defiant expression Alec knew that he was.

"Of all the crazy, lame brain, off-the-wall schemes you've come up with in your lifetime, this one has got to top them all. What about Jackie? Have you even thought about how she's going to feel about this? You and Jackie have been crazy in love with each other for about as long as I can remember--since you were teenagers. Are you going to stand here and try to tell me she's going to be okay with you marrying another woman? Have you finally lost your mind Drake? Just how important is being governor of Texas to you, anyway? Surely not so important that you'd actually be willing to sell out the only woman you have ever claimed to have loved just to win?"

Drake Everette, one of the brightest and youngest superstars of the Texas political arena right now, read the condemnation in every single word that his best friend and the man who was closer to him than just a mere cousin. Alec Standing was like a brother to Drake and even though Drake couldn't admit it--ever, he had looked up to Alec as something of a hero for most of his life.

"Look Alec, Jackie understands how important this is to me. I've worked all of my life to get where I am today. Jackie knows how I feel about her, but she also accepts that right now she's like a political death sentence to me because of her family history. Besides, I don't plan on actually marrying anyone--well except for Jackie someday. I just want to pretend to be engaged to this girl long enough to win the election and then I'll find some nice discreet way to break it off with her. You know, end the whole thing gracefully. Something hopefully, that will help me get reelected."

At his cousin's less than flattering answer to that, Drake continued on a little more carefully this time. Alec just didn't understand the game of politics. Especially politics in Texas. It was do or die at the very least most of the time.

"Look, I don't expect you to understand or agree with me on this Alec--after all you've never had any political ambitions yourself. Which is a shame considering who you are, but we won't go there. Besides, you don't need run for governor. You own most of the state of Texas already. My side of the family, on the other hand, well, we're just the poor relations compared to the mighty Standings. I mean you have a whole town named after you for crying out loud."

Drake watched his cousin closely for the usual reaction to that statement but it wasn't there. But the disapproval was. Drake decided for the moment to ignore it. He was hoping to try to convince his cousin that he had everything under control. This plan had to work, after all. His advisors had assured him it was foolproof and guaranteed to win him the election. He'd made sure to hire the best in the business. They should know. So why was he suddenly so uncertain? Just Alec's usual smug expression had him thrown.

"Alec, you know that I have the name to get me into the right playing field. I mean Dad was almost elected to the same office himself twenty years earlier. I just need that little extra punch that she can give me. I'm doing this for my father as well as myself, Alec. I want to make his dream a reality. I can't do it, my consultants tell me, with a wife or a fiancée who has a convicted murderer for a father. Jackie will understand this is necessary. Just part of the game. She knows how important it is to me after all. She always understands."

At that remark, Alec let out a loud, unpleasant snort, his cousin's best attempt at laughter, forcing Drake to wonder just what part of that statement he was finding so damn amusing. The reference of Drake's family being nothing but the poor relations or the idea of Jackie being understanding about anything.

Jackie, the dark-haired beauty that had captured his heart when he was still just a boy, made it clear to him throughout their relationship that she had quite a temper when things didn't go her way. Not to mention she was equally impatient when it came to some of the things Drake considered important in life, namely politics.

The Everette's may not have possessed the power or influence the wealthier Standing family branch had, but Drake's father had managed to keep from spending most of the family's small fortune on his political aspirations and to leave his son pretty much financially set and able to pursue his own political dreams. It was the legacy his father always wanted for himself that Drake stumbled into and found, much to his surprise, he excelled at the game.

Drake ran an anxious hand through his recently highlighted to perfection chestnut locks.

The team of stylists he'd employed at the request of his advisors did a random polling of female voters between the ages of twenty-three and forty-five and came up with the need for said highlights along with some minor fashion changes. Instead of his normal somber business suits, which was perfectly fitting for a CFO of one of the largest Austin banks around, the women polled wanted to see their candidate in something more fitting to his ranching background. Namely cowboy boots, jeans and western shirts, something like what Alec was used to wearing. Only Alec preferred the basic white T-shirt like the one he wore today compared to western shirts. Alec would make the perfect gubernatorial candidate should he ever choose to run for the office, which was highly unlikely because Alec hated politics. Not that Drake minded much, this was his dream after all. So yes, Jackie would understand because she loved him and he had a way of getting her to do whatever he wanted. All he had to do was promise her the inevitable diamond ring.