Count On Me by Leigh Carron

Count On Me is a secret lovers romance set during a fictional mayoral campaign. It isn’t affiliated with or intended to represent any real political party or ideology. The campaign is the backdrop. The romance is the heart.

Rayne Webber never expected that the man she shared one unforgettable night with would show up in her town—on the other side of her mayoral race.

Enter Dakarai Ramos.

Her Plan A is solid:
Ignore the fine campaign strategist and his crisp pocket squares.
Ignore the inconvenient kitty flutters.
Win the election.

But it’s not foolproof.

A debate meeting turns into a steamy battleground and chance encounters keep blurring the lines… until they finally break down and agree to a secret relationship. They’re one misstep away from a “Sleeping With The Opposition” headline blowing up their careers. But unable to resist each other, they risk it anyway—stealing moments in discreet locations around town, escaping to a secluded lake house, and sharing late-night phone calls that deepen their connection.

Then a scandal hits.

The fallout tests Dakarai’s loyalty to his candidate and threatens to tank Rayne’s campaign.

In a high-stakes world where the final race is decided by a ballot count, the real win might not be a political title at all…

It might just be finding that someone you can always count on.

The vibes:

Dual POV, first person.
A grown, standalone romance about public life, private feelings, and healing from the past.
Secret lovers.
She’s running for mayor. He’s running her opponent’s campaign.
A boss babe who doesn’t shrink herself + a man who would never want her to.
Body & Skin Positive: Soft bellies, curves, vitiligo and all the fine that comes with it.
Slow Burn / High Heat
A culturally diverse cast.