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“He's not your match. Hot is hot, but compatibility beyond the attraction? I don't see it. I don't see you… happy.”

“That could be a side effect of almost dying several weeks ago.”

“I still can't believe you didn't let me come visit after that. When Trouble called to tell me what was going on, I flipped. I still don’t know how he talked me out of flying to DC.” I smile knowing Trey has that way about him, able to talk his way into or out of anything. “I still have no idea how you kept the real cause out of the media. Whoever believes you were just sick on that jogging trail is an idiot for trusting something just because it's on the news.”

“Yeah, my media team is fantastic. I have no idea how they do it, but they've kept all the close calls out of the news. Thank goodness. And yes, I understand you were scared, kind of like me being scared shitless when I first saw you today. You don't belong here, Tae. These men are ruthless. I want you as far off their radar as possible. They're dangerous, and as much as I'd like to think I can protect you from everything, I can't from these men. They're power personified, and it messes with their morals, if they had any to start with. You're not safe.”

“Come on, Mom,” she grumbles into the pillow. ”Chad is here, and the other guys on my security detail. You're here. You're whole first and second team of agents are here. What could happen?”

Faster than a west Texas rattlesnake, I snap my palm over her lips. “Don't say that,” I cry. “That's exactly how every horror movie or thriller starts, with someone thinking they can't be touched. Thenbam, they're dead.” I widen my eyes and scan the room. “What if they're listening?”

“You're a freak of nature sometimes, Mom,” she mumbles as she pulls her face away from my palm. “Stop avoiding my question. What's with this Sam guy?”

The wafting cool air from the overhead fan brushes over the skin of my exposed arm, causing goose bumps. I slide it back under the covers, tucking cold fingers between my flannel-covered thighs to warm them up.

“He's more than a friend.”Shit, how do I explain this without letting all my secrets out of the bag?“It started as a work thing, and then we just hit it off, I guess.”

“Which is why you begged him to switch sleeping spots with me.” The sheets inch toward Taeler as she rolls onto her back, stealing most of the covers. “I don't buy it. Something else is going on that you’re not telling me.”

“He's a good guy,” I say a bit defensively. Not sure why. “He was at Harvard around the same time as me, did I mention that?”

“Is he one of the assholes who made your life miserable?”

“Nope,” I grumble. “That was just Kyle and his merry little entourage of dickheads.”

A quiet giggle bubbles from her chest, making the bed tremble.

“Does he make you happy?” Her tone is thoughtful as she rotates her face to search my own. “It doesn't seem like it. You look stressed, Mom. And sick. I'm not sure what's going on, but are you sure all this is worth it?”

“All what exactly?”

“This role. Look at what it's doing to you. Doing to us. I haven't seen you more than a couple times since the campaign started. You’re sick, you’re exhausted, and now you're hooking up with a guy just because he can somehow help your political career.”

“I never said that,” I chastise.

“You didn't have to,” she says just as disapprovingly. “I see it, Mom, and if I do, then you better believeeveryoneelse does too. There's no passion between you, no chemistry. No one can fake the real deal. It’s 100 percent obvious that you two aren't a real couple. Hell, it’s clear you two haven’t even had sex.”

“Taeler Lynn!” I whisper-shout while laughing. “How would you know?”

“How would you not?” Taeler asks, shaking her head. “Your touches are stiff, planned almost. There’s no comfort or ease between you two. And you’re lacking that fire that’s palpable to everyone around you when you’re together.Thatis unmistakably missing with you and hottie Sam.”

“It's foolish, that’s what it is.” Thumbnail between my teeth, I think over her words. “That's just the honeymoon phase anyway. Everyone grows out of that eventually.”

“Maybe? I don't know, not a whole lot of experience. Let me ask you this, Mom, without you getting mad at me.”

“Not off to a great start, but go ahead.”

“Are you subconsciously pushing Trouble away because you don’t want him to get too close?”

Her words smack me like a palm to the cheek. Stunned into silence, all I can do is lie here, my mouth opening and closing like a gulping fish. The thin chain of the ceiling fan tinks against the glass fixture, offering the only noise in the uncomfortable silence.

“I'm only saying that because you two seemed to have it. And the way you talked about him those nights when we could actually catch up… it was more than your words. It was in the lightness of your voice, the happiness that seeped from you all the way to me in Austin.”

“Why would I push him away?” I ask the ceiling.

“Because anyone you've ever depended on let you down.”

Huh.