Page 111 of Dignity

“Doesn’t matter. I’m a Republican.”

“But you’re fucking her husband,” she drawls. “That’s a different level of…intimacy.”

“It’smyhiring decision, and I wantyou. Half her cabinet willbe non-Democrats.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

She lets out a sigh. “Don’t you dare tell anyone, but I might have voted for her,” she mumbles, making me laugh out loud. “Doesn’t mean I don’t hate her. Just means I couldn’t make myself vote for asshole Fullmer.”

I cradle her body against mine, missing this with her, but I know Lauren isn’t lonely like I was after our divorce. She’s had relationships.

I miss myfriend.

Does that make me greedy? I got Christopher back, I gained Shae, and I want more. Not sexually with Lauren, but I missthis.

“Well,shit.” She tips her head back to look at me. “I guess this means I won’t get to air an exclusive interview, huh?”

I nuzzle her nose with mine. “You’ll be able tograntone,” I remind her.

“Hmm.”

She still hasn’t said yes, though. Because sheknows as well as I do that once she agrees to it, she’ll go through with it.

“When do I need to let you know?” she quietly asks, all playfulness fleeing her tone.

I glance at the clock on her stove. “It’s 1:19, so an hour and nineteen minutes ago.”

She grumbles, sighs, and swears a little.

Then she tips her head back. “Kiss me.”

Unlike how I kiss Christopher, or Shae, this kiss is closed-mouth,gentle.

Chaste.

The way all our kisses have been since we divorced.

One more sad sigh from her. “I ain’t calling you ‘chief.’”

“Just don’t call me ‘asshole’ in front of staff, please.” I smile, waiting her out.

She finally throws her head back and laughs, long and hard. She hugs me, rising up on her toes and with our cheeks pressed together as I hold her. “Guess you’d better get your newpress secretary some business cards.”

I pat her on the ass. “That’s my girl. Thank you.”

“Yeah, well…” She snugs up my tie and plays with it. “I’m not a yes-man. If I think she’s fucking up, I’ll tell her. In those very words.”

“She’s fine with that. Prefers that, actually. She doesn’t have a fragile ego.”

“I do admit I admire how she handled our last interview.”

“Fiscally conservative,”I tell her. “She shares a lot of our views. Where she differs is how to get there. She wants a shift back to center, a bipartisan administration. Not trying to weasel around to win over the far-left base, but genuinely working together across the aisle. She had three terms in the Senate and a fantastic record.”

She huffs. “I know, I know.” More grumbling. “So what do I do next?”

“I’d like toofficially announce you Monday morning, along with several other key staffers. That gives you enough time to quit and clean out your office, right?”