Page 9 of Accepted Precedent (Love & Politics #3)

Mickey

T he moment Andrew’s out of his seat, I call Finn. Bouncing my knee under the table, I mutter, “Pick up, arsehole.”

It rings three times, and he finally answers. “Hey, Mick. It’s a little early for?—”

“I fucked up.”

“Good mornin’ to you too,” he chuckles. “Let me guess, you slept with Evelyn.”

“How? How the fuck do you know that?”

“Because you wouldn’t shut up about how she tasted last night while we helped Ned move the bodies. How you could be thinking about cunt while there was blood on your hands is beyond me. Does Andrew know?”

I crack my neck and sigh. “Aye, he’s the one who suggested it. I never should’ve touched her.”

“Why the fuck not? You’ve wanted her for years, and if Andrew was fine with it, why not indulge yourself a little? There’s no harm in having a little fun.”

“It wasn’t a little fun ,” I grit out, stifling a groan. “I… Never mind.”

“Love her. That’s what you were going to say, isn’t it?

You love her. You gave me shit for falling in love with Ileah, and here you are, doing the same fucking thing after one night.

What about Andrew? Fuckin’ hell, Mick! They’re supposed to get married.

We need him to win Maryland. We already lost a shot at influencing the Supreme Court because of Tim Fucking McKinnon, and you turned down the President’s offer to marry his daughter. We can’t lose the Senate too.”

“What if we find someone else?”

“Someone else? Are you mad? We have to keep everything within our circle or this isn’t going to work.

You and I aren’t afforded the same luxuries other men in Washington have.

We don’t get to ride off into the sunset with the loves of our lives like some sort of romance novel.

We have a responsibility to ensure this country runs smoothly, and you’re twisted up about her? Get your shit together, Mick.”

“You’re right,” I sigh, my heart breaking at my admission. “There has to be another way.”

“Mick, no. If you love them, you’ll let them go—at least for now. Don’t you have a meeting scheduled with the lawyers to draft everything up for Andrew? What time are they coming by the house?”

“In an hour.”

“Grand. I’m on my way.” Finn hangs up without saying goodbye.

For years, I’ve been the strong one. The sensible one.

Less than a month ago, I told Finn to table his feelings for Ileah, to focus on the bigger picture.

After a single night with Evelyn, I’ve thrown my own advice and all logic out the window.

I need to stuff down my feelings for the next few years—for the good of the country.

Aisling’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Mr. Gallagher? Will your brother be joining you for breakfast?”

“Aye, it seems so.”

“And Mr. Adams and Ms. Proctor?”

“I… I don’t know.” Two sets of footsteps approach from behind, and my heart leaps into my throat. I can’t bring myself to turn around.

“Hey, Aisling,” Andrew greets as he takes a seat next to me. Evelyn sits next to him and holds his hand, interlacing their fingers. All I’m offered is a small smile, then her gaze falls to her lap.

“I’ll prepare breakfast once Mr. Gallagher arrives.” Aisling leaves us, and part of me wishes she stayed—if only to delay the inevitable conversation I’m dreading.

“We need to talk.” The four worst words in the English language. “Evie and I are going to elope this weekend,” Andrew offers and my stomach drops. “And I’m going to have Finn handle my campaign.”

My jaw tight, I nod. “Finn is busy with Texas. Who do you want to run day-to-day?”

“We were thinking maybe my sister, Kristin,” Evie suggests, and I hate that her voice is small. “She worked on President Taylor’s campaign. She’s more conservative than Andrew, but that could work to our advantage.”

“And you trust her?”

“Emphatically,” he replies for her, placing his hand over mine.

It does nothing to calm my nerves, a war still raging inside me.

The man I’ve loved for years is cold, distant.

As much as I love his strong exterior, this isn’t a town hall or a fucking debate.

I need my Andrew—the man who if I asked him to, would crawl to me.

This man? I don’t know him.

“Evelyn should do it,” I huff, less than thrilled about bringing in another person I don’t know to work for me.

“I’m a lobbyist. I don’t know the first thing about running a campaign.”

“You’re more than capable, angel.”

At calling her angel , Evelyn’s pupils dilate and she shifts in her seat, pressing her thighs together under the table.

She’s fucking aching for me, just as I am for her.

I can still taste her—both of them. How the hell am I going to give them up?

I could lose them for good over this staged relationship.

A hand roughly clamps on my shoulder. “Mornin’. It’s a beautiful day for a quick walk before breakfast. Isn’t it, brother?”

“Fucking hell, Finn,” I growl, tamping down my obsession over two people I can’t have—at least not right now. There are more important things at stake. “Have a seat. I was talking with Andrew about?—”

“My new project. Fantastic. Why don’t you and Ms. Proctor go for a walk while I get up to speed with Mr. Adams’ plans to beat his opponent?”

“How does he know who I am?” Evie whispers to Andrew, not taking her eyes off my brother.

“You’ve done important work lobbying candidates and organizations my brother and I have supported over the years.

It’s my understanding you’ll be leaving your job in order to help Mr. Adams with his political aspirations.

” She nods and Finn adjusts his cufflinks, then unbuttons his suit jacket as he sits beside me.

“We’ll need you back to work as soon as possible.

This needs to be a temporary arrangement.

Mick, why don’t you see to it that Ms. Proctor is prepared for her new role? ”

Andrew narrows his eyes on Finn, and I can’t help doing the same. “If there’s anything you need to discuss with me, you can say it in front of Evie. She’s my best friend and will be my wife in a few days. We’re going to City Hall to elope.”

“Not by yourselves, you’re not,” Finn huffs.

“You can elope with a small ceremony, but you need it to be publicly announced with photographic evidence that the two of you are in love, or this isn’t going to work.

Invite close friends and family. For now, I need to be brought up to speed.

You can debrief your fiancée once we’re done.

Ms. Proctor’s world is about to be turned upside down and we don’t have much time to arrange everything. ”

“It’s okay.” Evie squeezes Andrew’s hand before releasing it.

“Finn is right. You need to meet with lawyers and media specialists, and I need to prepare for being arm candy. My wardrobe is not exactly befitting of a senator’s wife, so I have a bit of shopping to do.

” She stands and leaves without giving any of us a second glance.

“Evie, wait,” Andrew calls to her, but she doesn’t turn around.

“Go after her,” Finn sighs with a dismissive wave to me. I’m out of my seat in an instant and kiss Andrew goodbye, ready to chase after my girl.

My girl? Fucking hell, what has gotten into me? She may have been mine this morning, but she’s not anymore. I’m not entitled to that privilege.

With a short jog, I’ve caught up to her. “Slow down, angel.”

Evie turns to face me, eyes glassy but still full of fire. “I need to get my purse.”

“I’ll wait here.”

“No.” She shakes her head and chews on her lip. “You don’t need to babysit me.”

A smirk threatens to escape the corner of my mouth. “Of course not. I’m going to take you to breakfast, then we’re going shopping. Maybe even pick up a wedding dress.”

My stomach drops at my last suggestion—what I wouldn’t give to be the man at the end of the aisle, marrying either Evie or Andrew.

He’s always made his intentions clear that he never wants to get married, no matter how hard I’ve tried to convince him otherwise.

I shake away the fantasy of a life that will never be mine.

“I don’t need your money either, Mick,” she snaps, and I’m grateful her fire is back.

I lean in, making her breath catch. “I know, love. But you’re going to be my good girl and let me take care of you anyway.”