Husking for Nebraska: Modern Mail Order Brides, #16

By Olivia Gaines

Jeremy Husking of Nebraska City, Nebraska, wants to be governor of the state. Mateo knows his foster brother is going to need some mighty powerful magic and places a call to his former teacher at Julliard, Bethany Greene.

Mateo called in a favor with Bethany, setting in motion a story, very few would believe, but those who know the power of love, really don't question it much, especially once they meet the woman named Rhapsody Willis, who runs the campaign to elect Jeremy Husking for the great state of Nebraska.

Jeremy begins the whirlwind courtship by asking one simple question, "Best soundtrack of all time?"
We are headed to Nebraska next for the next romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Davonshire House Publishing
• Release date: Nov 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223461289

Olivia Gaines

Olivia is a USA Today Best Selling and multiple award-winning author who loves a good laugh coupled with some steam, mixed in with a man and woman finding their way past the words of “I love you.” An author of contemporary romances, she writes heartwarming stories of blossoming relationships about couples not only falling in love but building a life after the sensual love scene. 2015 Swirl Award Winner, Best Erotic Romance, Thursdays in Savannah. 2017 IRAE Award Winner, Best Contemporary Romance, Wyoming Nights 2019 IRAE Award Winner, Favorite Series, The Men of Endurance 2019 IRAE Award Winner, Reader's Choice Award 2019 Nominee, Top Female Authors, The AuthorShow.com When Olivia is not writing, she enjoys quilting, playing Scrabble online against other word lovers and spending time with her family. She is an avid world traveler who writes many of the locations into her stories. Most of the time she can be found sitting quietly with pen and paper plotting more adventures in love. Olivia lives in Hephzibah, Georgia with her husband, son, grandson and snotty evil cat, Katness Evermean. Learn more about her books, upcoming releases and join her bibliophile nation at www.ogaines.com Subscribe to her email list at http://eepurl.com/OulYf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivia.gaines.31 Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviagaines Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaines.olivia/

Book preview

Husking for Nebraska

A Modern Mail Order Bride – Book 16

Olivia Gaines

Davonshire House Publishing

PO Box 5027

Augusta, GA 30916

THIS BOOK IS A WORK of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s vivid imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely a coincidence.

© 2023 Olivia Gaines, Cheryl Aaron Corbin

Copy Editor: Teri Thompson Blackwell

Cover: Corbin Media

Olivia Gaines Make Up and Photograph by Latasla Gardner Photography

ASIN:   B0C1TJFXHG

ISBN:  9798852317766

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever.  For information address, Davonshire House Publishing, PO Box 5027, Augusta, GA 30916.

Printed in the United States of America

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  10  9  8

First Davonshire House Publishing August 2023

Also by Olivia Gaines

DEDICATION

For the Jeremy’s of the world, who have to prove everything, to everyone, just to be taken seriously.

Easy reading is damn hard writing.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To all the fans, friends , and supporters of the dream, as well as the Facebook community of writers who keep me focused, inspired, and moving forward.

Write On!

Contents

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Corny News

Chapter 1 – Account

Chapter 2- Advice

Chapter 3- Announcement

Chapter 4- Broadcast

Chapter 5- Disclosure

Chapter 6 - Data

Chapter 7 - Message

Chapter 8- Headlines

Chapter 9- Disclosure

Chapter 10 - Message

Chapter 11- Statement

Chapter 12- Story

Chapter 13- Communication

Chapter 14- Word

Chapter 15 - Tidings

Jeremy’s Funky Playlist

You can also download and listen to all the songs and music referenced in the story here, on Spotify. get the playlist here - bit.ly/44xoaxj

Book Club Questions

Nebraska Facts

About the Author

Meet Olivia Gaines

Follow the Series

Show Me, A Modern Mail Order Bride Husband™, Book 17

Chapter 1 – Companionship

Head Above Troubled Waters

Chapter 1 – Wrong

Corny News

Chapter 1 – Account

High heels, pointed at the toe and lacquered shiny red on the soles, barely made a sound as they carried one of the most prominent political campaign managers in the country toward the office of the mayor of Nebraska City, Nebraska. The mayor of a town populated by a mere seven thousand people had decided he wanted to run for governor of the state. He had about an equal chance as a black man becoming head of the Sons of the Confederacy, but she liked the odds. She agreed to the initial meeting as a favor to her Aunt Bethany, who was the potential candidates step brother or something familial along those lines, to Auntie Bethany’s favorite student. It was never going to work in the potential candidate’s favor because he was simply too blue to turn red into purple in a state centered in the heartland of the country. Yet, she’d come out of curiosity more than anything, and walked with an assuredness which often turned heads, and opened a few noses.

The sound of her steps changed as she entered City Hall, a building which closely resembled a former post office. The red brick on the outside with the dark tinted windows nearly made her turn around and leave to catch the next flight to New York, but a promise was a promise. She would honor her word to Aunt Bethany by traveling to Nebraska and have a conversation with the man, who had no chance in hell of a winning a gubernatorial election in a conservative state famous for a sandwich that looked like a hot pocket stuffed with beef and cabbage. City Hall smelled the same way.

Inside the doors was nothing fancy. To her right was the City Council’s office, which boasted seven vacant chairs. One of the seats belonged to the mayor, which left six council members to govern the town of Nebraska City. She sighed, feeling defeated before she even began a conversation with a man who more than likely had never seen a black woman up close. She arrived at the reception desk to be greeted by a young woman who apparently had also never seen a black woman up close.

Rhapsody Willis to see Jeremy Husking, she said the receptionist. I believe he is expecting me.

The young woman behind the desk, a wide eyed ingenue with baby blues so pretty they made Rhapsody smile, briefly. Well, the smile was cut short by the young woman. She popped to her feet, suddenly apprehensive.

Mayor Husking doesn’t say why you’re here, the girl said. His calendar also doesn’t say you’re black or you have an accent. Where are you from anyways?

Rhapsody immediately didn’t trust the young woman. She was a bit too eager for Rhapsody’s liking. In her estimation, if the girl’s boss hadn’t divulged the information, neither would she. The meeting, by all accounts, was a formality, nothing concrete, especially since Rhapsody had decided there was no way in hell she planned to spend a year in Nebraska working on a corny campaign that was doomed to fail. When Rhapsody didn’t answer the young woman, she pressed the intercom button to let the candidate know she’d arrived. Music came from the other side of the device on her desk.

He must be thinking really hard in there, the girl said. When he’s thinking really hard, he plays all this old music from back in the day.

Good to know, Rhapsody replied, waiting for the girl to make the announcement that she had arrived for the appointment. The girl was still staring at her as she listened to the song playing, prompting Rhapsody to point at the intercom.

Oh yeah. I was so distracted by your skin. It is so pretty, and so is your hair. Now, I’ve seen actual rows of corn, since this is Nebraska, but I ain’t ever seen actual corn rows in hair, like for real, for real, she said, hearing a buzzing. Oh, sorry. Mayor Husking, your appointment is here.

Send her in, a deep, heavy voice came back.

Rhapsody had done a perfunctory background check on the mayor, ensuring there were no immediate red flags on the man. He looked good enough to plaster on posters and signs with a bit of grooming and tamping down the fire red hair. No one wanted to elect Opie Taylor for mayor even if they enjoyed watching The Andy Griffith Show or Ron Howard movies.

I’m Kasie, the young woman said, his assistant. Can I get you anything, coffee, tea, a cinnamon roll, and a cup of chili?

Why? That doesn’t even go together, Rhapsody said, trying not to scowl at the young lady.

It’s what we eat around here from September through April. It’s real good eatin’ too, she said, staring at Rhapsody again as she walked past. You smell so pretty. I like your dress too. You look so fancy and smart.

Thank you, I think, Rhapsody mumbled, stepping into the office to find Jeremy Husking.

She wasn’t sure what he was doing. She wasn’t sure why she was in Nebraska City with a man attempting to dance to the Brothers Johnson, which blasted through an Akai 8-track cassette player. The music was entering the bridge portion of the song that had made it famous in 1977. He turned to look at Rhapsody, his eyebrows arched at her appearance, offering a slow, lazy smile of acknowledgement.

We’re coming up on the bridge, in comes the snares in three, two, and one...hit the notes, Miss Willis, he said, singing loudly and completely off key.

Rhapsody Willis stood still, almost amused, watching the six-foot tall ginger attempt to sing and dance to 70s funk music. This was the man who wanted to be the next governor of Nebraska. As he paraded around the floor, strutting like the cock of the walk, she took out her phone to see if she would be able to take a tax deduction for the air fare to and from Nebraska, since technically, this was a visit for Aunt Bethany, and not a client she planned to take on. She stood for the remaining two minutes of the song while he got whatever demonic entity had possessed his body out of his system, and he stopped the cassette player.

Sorry about that, he said, walking over to shake her hand. I appreciate the patience. I needed to walk through a few ideas in my head before we met to talk.

His assistant was still in the doorway, and he politely pushed her aside, and then thinking better of it, opted to not meet in his office after all. He looked down at Rhapsody’s feet in the heels. Jeremy pointed at the shoes.

I’m going to take you to lunch, so we can talk away from listening ears, he said. Besides, I don’t really want to have a conversation about my next job while being on the clock for my current one. You okay to walk in those shoes?

I walked in here in these shoes, and these shoes will carry me to the airport for my flight home this evening, she told him.

You’re not staying overnight? I booked you a room over at the bed and breakfast, he told her.

Our conversation will be short, Mr. Husking. I see no need to stay overnight in Nebraska, she told him, holding firm where she stood.

Well, this is going to be awkward when you hear my initial pitch. When you listen to what I have to say, I think you’re going to change your mind, and will want to have dinner to talk more, then over breakfast and the best coffee you’ll ever drink, show me the layout for the plans you have to make me a winner, he told her.

You seem confident.

I’m very good at what I do, and I’m also a rarity. Jeremy Husking is an honest politician who actually gets things done, he stated firmly.

He left his office, looking back, waiting for her to join him in the lobby of City Hall. People gawked at them as they arrived to take care of official business. The rumor mill will grind the grits to dust tonight as it worked overtime speculating why the mayor was leaving his office in the middle of the day with a black woman.  A rude person or three pointed at them when Jeremy placed his hand under her elbow, escorting her to the door.

Kasie asked, Are you throwing her out, Mayor Husking?

No Kasie, we are going to lunch at the diner, he said. I’ll be back in an hour for my afternoon meetings.

If anybody calls, I’ll tell them you’re at lunch at the diner, Kasie yelled.

No, Kasie, if anyone calls, please tell them I am at lunch, he gently corrected. No one needs to know I’m going to the diner.

Okay, Boss, she said, giving him a salute.

Rhapsody arched her eyebrows. There’s a story there that I don’t care to hear about. Also, I’m not hungry per se.

Good, we’re not going to the diner anyway, he said, leading her around the sidewalk to a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado with gangster white walls and a TV antenna in the back and a ridiculous chrome package. He opened the passenger door, and the interior of the vehicle was in pristine condition, to include the shag carpet interior.

There were more questions in Rhapsody’s head, but the primary was, And where are we going?

I have lunch prepared at my place where we can speak in private, he told her. Don’t worry. I live close by, and there are neighbors’ home, but you have nothing to worry about. I am a gentleman. Plus, I have to convince you to head up my campaign.

The last part he said as he closed the car door, cranked up the gas guzzler, and pulled away from the curb. He was correct. Jeremy Husking lived less than a mile away in what could be a charming country home, complete with a wagon wheel out front and an elongated front porch with white high-back rockers. He parked the vehicle in the garage and walked around the car to open the door for her once the garage door was down. Jeremy led her into the home, going through the mudroom to a very clean laundry room. The kitchen dining room combination wasn’t very large, but he’d set the table.

Welcome to my home, he told her, stopping at the fridge to remove two salad bowls.

The sound of an air fryer starting made her look around as he disappeared. For some reason, she didn’t feel a need to panic as the sound of water running told her he was washing his hands. When he returned, he set a bowl of quinoa in front of her that held slivers of grilled chicken breast with bright yellow corn kernels.

Before we get started, I must ask a very important question of you, Ms. Willis, and this is going to determine if your trip to the Midwest was worthwhile, he said, sliding over a container of balsamic dressing. I made the dressing this morning, so it is all fresh and clean food.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness and now my curiosity is piqued. By all means, Sir, ask your question, she said, noticing the slices of avocado. To get such a fruit in the Midwest in October must have been expensive, and she wouldn’t want to waste any of it or his efforts.

In your opinion, what is the best movie soundtrack of all time?

She watched the brown eyes, realizing he was serious. The gaze wasn’t intense or predatory, but open. He was actually waiting for her opinion. Giving it a minute of thought, Rhapsody responded, "The Wiz."

He seemed impressed. "Commercially, it wasn’t as successful as let’s say Car Wash, which, in my humble opinion is the best soundtrack of all time, with classics by the Pointer Sisters and Rolls Royce, but I hear you on The Wiz."

"Well, if we are looking at commercially successful soundtracks, then my answer would be Purple Rain, followed by Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1."

Jeremy had just taken a seat and bounded to his feet, pointing at the door, Get out of my house right now. I will have none of this hobgoblin nonsense of guardians of anything, considering that soundtrack was just a bunch of songs which had no underlying theme, other than a playlist of a woman pretending to be on her death bed, so she could give it to her knot headed kid!

Rhapsody’s mouth dropped open in horror. Peter, our little Star Lord, coveted that cassette tape, which was the backdrop of the movie, highlighting goodies by Blue Suede and unifying different species to music! The underlying theme is that music is a universal language, even enjoyed by aliens. Therefore, if there is anyone at this table that is a music hobgoblin, it is you, good Sir!

She forked a sliver of the avocado as he rose, glaring at her first, then marched into another room. It confused her somewhat, at the same time she was eager to see what he was marching off to secure, as if to prove a point to her on a matter in which he was securing irrefutable proof. She planned to shoot him down like a B52 Bomber over a hot zone. Jeremy strutted in to the kitchen shortly thereafter, seemingly proud of himself with the albums of both The Wiz and Carwash. He showcased the albums with verve, as if he’d found the map to the lost treasure of the Incas.

I want to get next to you, he announced, providing a sly grin.

I know the song, she replied.

That’s not what I meant, Jeremy said, looking her squarely into the eye. In order for me to run for governor of this great state, I need a wife. A woman of childbearing age who looks good standing next to me that I feel comfortable to dance in front of, sing off key, and argue with about music. I value a woman who can hold her own with me and knows enough about musical bands and groups to come back at me with a sound argument. I want you.

You want me as your campaign manager?

Yeah, that too, he said smiling at her while pushing the album for Car Wash closer to her end of the table. My campaign slogan is going to be simple, ‘Husking for Nebraska.’ Nice. Clean, no rigamarole, and no malarky. Did you see what I did there?

Mr. Husking, I am seldom left speechless, and I may need a moment to unpack half of what you just said, she told him. Single men are elected to Congress, but rarely to the Senate or governor’s seats. But I agree, you will need a wife.

What about you? It would be cool for my campaign manager to also be my wife, and when we hit the road to travel the great state of Nebraska, I won’t have to worry about leaving the little lady and new bride at home while spend long days and worrisome nights on a tour bus with all the wonderful that is you, he said. I like the vibe of the wonderful that is you.

I think you are getting way ahead of yourself, Sir, she said with a smile. "One, I’m not on the options list, and two, that is no way to ask a woman to marry you, especially a woman you just met who is from a different culture than yourself. Also, you live in one of the whitest states in the country. How in the world do you plan to make this very red area slightly magenta, let alone purple with someone who looks