Page 63 of The Senator's Secret
“There’s no time, Jake,” I say firmly. “I need to shower.”
Besides, I really can’t let him see me cry right now. I flip the taps on the shower and let the water heat up while I brush my teeth. I wish I had more time to stay in the shower and hide, wallow, whatever it is I need. But I wasn’t lying when I said there’s no time.
I let it all out, crying in the shower, and then I wash quickly and dry my hair. I pull on a hotel robe and walk out into the living room of the suite where I know Cara wants to set up hair and makeup. I am so worried about avoiding Jake and not making things more awkward while my heart is breaking that I’m surprised by the argument taking place in the suite.
“You are such a son of a bitch,” Cara shouts. “Just leave me the hell alone.”
“Trust me,” Rick bites out. “I would if I could.”
“I hate you.”
“Not as much as I hate you,” he snaps. “How I could have ever loved a cold-hearted bitch like you, I will never know.”
“Rick, that’s enough,” Jake intercede.
“You’re right,” he says, running an angry hand through his dark hair. “I’ll meet you in the car.”
Poor Cara. By the look of the beard burn on the side of her neck, they tried to fuck it out last night, just like Jake said they needed, but it appears it didn’t help. I guess I’m not the only one here with a bruised heart.
The rest of the morning is spent in silence. After Rick leaves, Jake excuses himself to dress and shower. Cara curls my hair and applies a delicate amount of makeup before I pull on a pink pleated silk skirt that falls just above my knees and a black V-neck cashmere pullover sweater. Cara adds a skinny black patent leather belt around my waist and patent leather Louboutins. Somehow, I keep from bawling like a baby when she hands me Jake’s diamond studs to slip in my ears.
Jake appears in a gray suit with an overcoat slung over his arm. He’s so effortlessly sexy I can’t stand it. He makes my heart skip a beat. I pull on the belted wrap coat that Cara hands me, and when Jake offers me his outstretched hand, I take it in the knowledge I could never hate him. I am in love with him, and I will ride this ride until it ends.
We take the elevator down with Gus. Rick is waiting for us by one of the dark SUVs. He rides with us while Cara and Carter and the rest of our team take the second one. Our cars pull into the underground tunnel of the convention center where the rally is being held. The news has been showing people waiting to see Jake since late last night. The energy in the area is palpable and thrilling.
Our staff file out of the cars and head into the building to begin prepping and setting up, but Jake waits. He holds me back. I don’t want to have this conversation; I’m not ready, but I guess it’s now or never.
“I guess I’ll see you inside,” Rick says before he walks through the doors.
“Don’t run,” Jake tells me once his friend is gone.
“Jake—” I start, but he doesn’t let me finish.
“Just trust me. Give me your trust, and I promise you’ll never regret it,” he says passionately. “Just don’t run.”
“Okay.”
Once the words are out of my mouth, he grabs me by the back of my neck and hauls me against his body, where he crushes his mouth to mine. The kiss is over before it starts and then Jake is helping me down from the vehicle. The only sign of anything amiss is my slightly smeared lipstick, but Cara can fix that really quick.
The door from the tunnel opens to a concrete hallway that leads to the back rooms of the convention center. The hallways are completely empty, and Jake takes advantage as he pins me to the wall and kisses me again. Gus clears his throat, making us both giggle like teenagers caught making out in a car.
My heart feels so light, so happy. Iamhappy. For the first time since this whole thing began, I think everything is going to work out with Jake. Maybe we got together under unconventional circumstances, but maybe, just maybe, we’re meant to be.
As we make our way farther up the hallway, angry words are being shared in hushed tones, but it’s clear Cara and Rick are arguing again.
It’s also clear I was very wrong. Heartbreakingly wrong. I had foolishly placed my trust in the one person that I knew I shouldn’t and I am paying dearly for it now.
“Stop calling me a bitch,” she hisses. “I did what I had to do, and I did it for you, you ungrateful bastard.”
Rick laughs harshly. “Don’t lie. You acted coldly and calculatingly. You thought of nothing but yourself, never thinking of who might get hurt with your actions.”
“No, baby,” she says snidely. “That’s all you. I never stooped so low as to blackmail a woman into being in a relationship with my bestie. You and Chancellor really take the cake.”
“I told you that in confidence!” he shouts. “I wanted you to see that I’m not a monster.”
“And look around, no one’s here to hear it,” she says, but when they both turn and look, Jake and I are standing there. My face, which I couldn’t control even if I tried, has to show the hurt I’m feeling slashed across it in bold lines.
I look over at Jake, and his face is carefully blank.