Page 55 of The Senator's Secret
“He is.”
“Now this, I can’t wait to see.” And with that, she ends the call.
“Should I be worried?” Jake asks. “I didn’t realize you were besties with the shark of Eagle News.”
“Jules?” When he nods, I explain, “Oh yeah, I’ve known Jules since freshman year at NYU. She’s a shark all right, but she’s loyal to a fault. She’d take a bullet for me and vice versa.”
“Good to know,” he says before turning back to hug his new dog for the remainder of the ride home.
When we pull up out front, cameras snap and click. Jake climbs out of the SUV and holds his hands up until everyone stops moving.
“Hey, all,” he begins. “I’m going to ask you not to take pictures right now. And I know it’s your job and how you put food on the table for your families, but it’s for an important reason. Today, Grace and I met and fell in love with a retired NYPD K-9 officer at the shelter where she volunteers. His name is Sarge and his partner was Juan Garcia, the officer who gave the ultimate sacrifice last month here on our own streets.
“Sarge was not doing good, friends. He was going to be euthanized, because he no longer wanted to be in this world without Juan. But somehow, he decided it would be okay to go on with me.
“Now, I don’t know how he will react to the media yet, so let’s play it by ear. Please. For Sarge?”
When Jake is done speaking, I notice a few are wiping their eyes, but everyone is quiet and all cameras have been put away. Jake escorts Sarge and me up the steps and into the house. He drops a quick kiss to my lips before changing direction again.
“Order some pizzas, please?”
“Sure.”
And then he turns on his heels and walks back out the open door, where Sarge and I stand watching him as he slips his phone from his jeans pocket. Jake starts asking for the names and contact info of every paparazzi who honored his wishes for Sarge with the promise of an interview opportunity when Sarge is ready. Everyone leaves with a smile on their face. And I now know why he is going to be the best president. Jake managed to take a tense situation and turn it into something everyone could live with.
Jules arrives in jeans, a T-shirt with a leather jacket over it, and heels just before the pizza delivery kid, who looks a little starstruck at her. She is always dressed to the nines, but that’s just her. She never judges me for my love of casual Saturdays.
Jake takes the pizza into the den and sets it on the coffee table while Jules and I follow behind him.
“I’ll give you two a minute to talk about how awesome I am in the sack while I go grab some wine from the cellar,” he says on a wink with a smile, flashing his dimples.
“Shit,” she says when he leaves the room. “That smile is lethal in person.”
“Tell me about it,” I droll.
“No, you tell me all about it,” she says. What the hell happened?”
“I’m in love with him.”
“I can see that,” she hisses. “It’s plain as the nose on your face. Is he really good in bed or was it just talk?”
“He’s the best.” I sigh.
“Then what the hell are you complaining about then?”
“Did you not hear the part where I said I was in love with him?”
“And he’s clearly in love with you,” she says gently.
“Ugh. No, he’s not, and it’s terrible,” I admit, burying my face in my hands.
“What’s going on, Grace?”
“Everything,” I answer as I wipe my face on the sleeve of my sweatshirt. “It’s all a lie… or at least it was. Now, I think I’m really falling for him.”
“What? You’re not making any sense. I think you better start at the beginning.”
“You’re right,” I agree. “I’m just so mixed up about everything. I don’t even know where to start.”