Incumbent(3)

“Have you met the president?” Yes.

“Have you ever been in the Oval Office?” His response was no with an easy chuckle.

The back and forth now had a more relaxed feel, and his responses were quick.

Jasmine raised her hand, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

“Will you be running for office again?”

“Yes, I’m the incumbent, and would love to keep my seat.” He was confident and his eyes shone with pride, which affected me even more than his good looks.

“Who are you running against?”

I’d never see Jasmine so engaged before. Maybe I should have the senator here more often. The thought made my thighs clench. Then again, maybe that’s not such a great idea.

“The primary is this June, so we’ll see then who my opponent will be.”

Another student raised his hand and stood. “Hi, I’m Robert. Are you a Democrat?”

Drake smiled. “No, Robert. I’m a Republican.”

Mike, who usually spent more time in the principal’s office than my classroom, raised his hand. He pushed to his feet and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his baggy cargo pants.

“Yeah, so, what’s your opinion on weed? I mean, legalizing marijuana.”

He sat down, and some of the other students laughed while he collected a few high-fives from his classmates sitting nearby.

I stepped next to the senator, and a rush of nerves passed through me. “Class, please settle down.”

My worried eyes found calm ones as Drake held up his index finger and gave me a confident nod.

“What’s your name, young man?” His voice boomed over the chatting going on. Some of the kids straightened in their seats just at the sound of it.

“My name is Mike. I don’t want to get busted or nothing.” His hands went up, palms facing us. “I don’t use the stuff. I was just wondering.”

His buddies snickered, and Mike’s lips twitched as he struggled to contain a grin.

“Legalizing marijuana has been a hot topic of late, but it’s not as cut and dry as one may think. There are a lot of factors that contribute to legalizing a Schedule One drug. Other governmental departments, like the DEA, need to be involved. Yes, some states have legalized it, but it wasn’t done overnight. That being said, if all research pointed to a positive effect medicinal cannabis had on certain ailments, and it could be administered and dispensed correctly, I wouldn’t be fully opposed to it.”

Mike and his friends slapped each other’s hands, and the class tittered.

“However,” the senator raised his voice and pinned Mike with a pointed look, “I wouldn’t agree to a law that let you and your buddies buy it to get high. Many think they can’t get addicted to it, but you can. Searching for the next high can lead to stronger narcotics. There are reasons laws are in place. They’re there for your protection.”

The boys quieted down, and I took over. After letting out a deep breath, I smiled. “Okay, class, the senator has time for one more question.”

I couldn’t believe how fast this period flew by. Usually, the hour dragged, but sadly, not today.

Veronica stood. “Yeah, do you like . . . have a girlfriend?” She ran her gaze over his expensive suit, as if wondering what lay beneath it, before she sat down.

When Drake glanced at me before answering, heat rose on every inch of my skin. It’s warm in my classroom today, isn’t it? Can he see me sweat? No one else seems to be sweating. While my mind raced, his gaze never left mine.

“No. I’m single.”

He smiled at me, producing that adorable dimple again before he shared it with the class, and I internally fanned myself to regain my composure.

“Okay, class, let’s thank Senator Prescott for taking time out of his busy schedule to be with us today.”

The bell rang, and my students scrambled and were out the door in a noisy flash. This period was the last of the day—as well as the last of the week—so they looked forward to hearing the final bell sound, signaling the start of their weekend. To be honest, on most days, so did I. But I wouldn’t have minded if today’s class were a tad longer.

Once we were alone, Senator Prescott turned to me. “Thank you for having me in your class, Ms. Washburn.” He extended his hand.

“I appreciate your answering their questions. It had to be such a thrill for them.”

I shook his hand, and when he didn’t let go right away, I was glad. His skin was soft, but his grip was firm, and the feel of it sent tingles up my arm.

“I don’t know how thrilling it was for them,” he said, holding my gaze, “but I enjoyed being here.” The scent of his cologne drifted toward me as he released my hand.

His expression shifted as he said, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Your student Marcie. When she asked about gay marriage, it seemed to be a very sensitive topic for her.”

“It is. She’s being raised by two men. Her mother left when she found out her husband, Marcie’s biological father, was gay.”

His eyes closed briefly. “I hope my answer didn’t sound too political.”

I laughed. “You’re a politician. Of course it did.”

He released a long breath and ran his hand across the back of his neck. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”