Page 38 of The Senator's Secret

“We were about to talk about the events that need to be added to the schedule,” someone says from behind Jake, making us both go solid.

I peer over his shoulder and see a man I knew I was going to have to engage at some point in time, and yet I was foolishly hoping that day would never come. Standing in the doorway to the kitchen is none other than Rick Donovan, Jake’s Campaign Manager and all-around political mercenary.

Jake lets out a heavy sigh and hangs his head, because he knows that whatever brought Rick here tonight can’t be great and also stopped the mutual orgasms we were hoping for in their tracks. While I find Rick to be completely distasteful and would never associate with him regularly, I can’t help but be thankful for the distraction. Maybe I’ll be able to clear the fog of lust and longing for things I can’t have. Then I can go to bed with my panties still on my person and my heart still belonging to me.

Wishful thinking, right?

“I’ll just leave you two to it,” I say softly as I nod in the direction of the stairs.

“This involves you too,” Rick inserts before turning on his heels and stalking back into the kitchen. I can’t help but prickle at the way he orders me around without outright doing so. I’m not his political lackey. I stomp into the kitchen behind him with Jake’s chuckle floating behind me as he follows.

“Excuse you,” I snap. “I am not yours to order around.”

“Are you dating Jake?” he asks me.

I want to deny it, but I also don’t know who Jake has told and who he hasn’t about the nature of our situation. Not to mention he had me so turned on in the car with barely a kiss and a touch that I would be lying if I said otherwise.

“Yes,” I bite out.

“And are you living in his home?” This is really annoying.

“Rick—” Jake starts, but I don’t let him wiggle me off of Rick’s hook. Jake should see the kind of man he keeps company with.

“Yes.”

“Then his obligations become your obligations,” Rick says before pressing on and telling me something I already know and should have remembered, making guilt flood my system. “His obligations could mean the win or the loss of a presidential election.”

“You’re right,” I reply quietly. And he is. I won’t let my petty childishness cost Jake his election. Jake is somehow friends with this henchman, so I guess I should hear him out. “What do you need?”

“A charity gala,” he says, and Jake groans, making Rick shoot him a glare. “You need to go out with Grace as a couple. It will go a long way to show you are more stable—a family man. That you can handle the running of the most powerful nation.”

“I can handle it,” Jake growls.

“I know that,” Rick says, rolling his eyes. “But we have to get to the Oval first before you can show everyone else. Not to mention it will be a great opportunity for Grace to rub elbows for her Open Arms project. Thanks for including us on that, by the way,” he adds sarcastically.

“Umm… I’m sorry?” I wince. I feel bad now that we all know that I left them out of it on purpose and the fact that Rick just tossed that less than stellar action of mine on the table like a dead fish.

“Consider us included,” Rick answers, and Jake smiles broadly. Those two must have planned this all along. How sneaky of them! And still, I smile right along with them. Jake’s joy over his boon is hard to ignore.

“Don’t think we won’t talk about that later,” he whispers in my ear.

“Pay attention, kids.” Rick claps his hands like and angry school marm.

“Yes, Mom.” Jake laughs. “What else?”

“In two weeks, everyone will need to be in Ohio to campaign.”

I never really thought I would be part of Jake’s campaign. How will parading me around as his serious girlfriend look when, after he’s elected, I go back to my old life. Things are still too new for me to believe that Jake will want me to tag along all the way to D.C. with him.

“Grace as well,” Jake says.

“Obviously,” Rick responds.

“Is that really a good idea?” I ask, and both men turn to look at me. “I just mean that it’s really soon. What if we don’t work out? How will that look then?”

“Ahh, young love,” Rick says sarcastically. “I don’t care if it truly ends in a month, a year, or two. I care what looks good. So to the public eye, be the happy bride, figure out your FLOTUS platform, pop out some pretty political babies, and in eight years, do whatever the fuck you want. Until then, you’re mine.”

I take back every nice-ish thing I just thought about Rick. He’s a douche. I see that clearly now. Unfortunately, he’s also right. I need them more than they need me. Whether he knows it or not. I’m in this up to my eyeballs, and there is no turning back now.