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Chapter21

“You may call me Jackie.”Colt’s mother carefully sipped her coffee, eyeing me the entire time.“You are a cool one,aren’tyou?”

I wasn’tcool.I was stunned.She was basically accusing me of espionage.“Why are you here,Jackie?”

She set down her coffee on the delicate saucer and folded her hands in her lap.“As I said, I’d like to get to know you before I send you on your way.I’ve already spoken with your director so I know today is your last day ofshooting.”

I planned on staying on as long as I could before my next film—which meant for the foreseeable future since I still hadn’tlandedone.

“You’ve made up a very elaborate story.”I flipped back to the first page.“But it’s just astory.”

“Tell me, how have you enjoyed livingmylife?”

“I haven’t been living your life.I’ve been acting a rolebasedon your life.I’m not a methodactress.”

“Aren’t you?You’re sleeping in my old room.You’ve made yourself at home inmyhome.”

“It’s Colt’s home and he’s welcomed meintoit.”

“But this isn’t where you met.”She leaned closer.“Rather coincidental isn’t it?You happen to meet him on vacation and then just so happen to be working on his ranch for an entiresummer?”

Coincidental?She was making it sound like I intentionally hunted Colt down.“I like to think it was serendipity that brought us together twice.As I’m sure you know, the film wasn’t originally planned to shoot here.And when we were on vacation I wasn’t signed on to the movie.It may becoincidental, as you say, that we’ve had our lives intersect twice in a year, but there was nointentionbehindit.”

“Are you absolutelycertain?”

I wanted to screamYes!You’re nuts if you think I was set up with Colt!But I didn’t.Instead I calmly tried to address heraccusations.

“I had no idea Colt had any political ties until Christina and I had dinner a couple of months ago.It was only then when she explained what she did for a living that I had any idea she was a Hunter or that the Hunter family was so entrenched inpolitics.”

I still didn’t reallyunderstand.

“You can see why it’s alarming to me though?A woman with a volatile family history suddenly gets cozy with my son while my daughter is in the middle of a tough campaign?One that will determine herfuture?”

“I have nothing to do with my brother-in-law’s family.This connection you’ve drawn isludicrous.”

Adam’s grandfather was kind of a big deal in politics.When they started dating I only paid attention because the McKinley’s were American royalty and as the handsome grandson to the Senator, Adam had been semi-famous for a fewyears.

I had no idea Senator McKinley would become president.And I certainly didn’t spend enough time with the man for there to be some nefarious plot against a family I’d never met until myvacation.

“The McKinley’s and the Hunters have been bitter political rivals for decades.It’s no secret both parties have done underhanded things in the name ofpolitics.”

“It may be no secret to people who care about politics...I don’t.I have bigger fishtofry.”

She sipped her coffee, as cool and serene as ever.“Yes.Your lovely parents.How convenient it would be to have the President of the United States step in on their behalf.Perhaps in exchange for a small favor?”Her eyes narrowed.“I’m very aware of your family loyalty, Lily.I admire it.In fact, if I weren’t so worried about my own family I might like you quite a lot.But as it is, I can’t take thatchance.”

“I’m not going to stop seeing Colt.”Even as I said it, I knew if she pressed I’d have nochoice.

“You will.”She flipped the folder to the second set of pages.The ones that showed she knew exactly what had happened to Ted all thoseyearsago.

I loved Colt, but I couldn’t throw Ted under the bus.Jackie had me and I really didn’t have a lot ofwiggleroom.

But I didhavesome.

I closed the folder so I didn’t have to look at the pictures of the night I sent Ted torehab.

“Okay.Let’s talk.Woman to woman.I respect your fears.I can see where they’re coming from, even if they’reunfounded.”

“Do you love my son or are you just playinghouse?”