Incumbent(71)

“Jack, I don’t know what to say.”

“I told you an immediate reply wasn’t needed. Just think about it.”

“No. That’s not what I mean.” My heart soared at the thought of something totally new. “What I mean is, I’d love to work for you as long as you aren’t doing this because I’m in love with your brother.”

“Don’t take this wrong, but I’m doing it because my brother is in love with you and because you’re the right candidate for the job.” His expression sobered as he added, “With that being said, you hurt him when you left. Don’t do that again.”

I wanted to say more and prove to him I’d never leave, but I held my tongue and just nodded. All I wanted to do was give Drake space. I never meant to hurt him.

Jack finished up his coffee and folded up his paper. “I’ll treat you like any other employee, and you won’t be working directly for me. You’ll be the Director of Legal Resources and report to the head of our legal department.”

“Is that really a title?”

“It is now,” he said with a wink.

“Then I accept.”

We shook hands, and a weight lifted from me. I felt as if my life was finally falling into place.

As he headed out the door, he stopped and asked, “So, what are your plans for today?”

“I’d like to go home.”

His eyes widened and he shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

“Jack, please. I need to see my friend Mason. He’s going to be leaving for California soon, and if I miss saying good-bye to him, I’ll never forgive myself.”

The thought of not being able to spend time with Mason broke my heart. He’d been all I had for so long, and just because I was with Drake, it didn’t change how I felt about my best friend.

Jack frowned at me. “Then invite him here. I’m sorry, there’s no way I’m going to have Drake kick my ass for letting you go out. Just give it a few more days.”

Frustrated, I nodded.

“I need to head to the office. Make yourself at home. My housekeeper will be by later this afternoon, so if you hear someone in the house, that’s who it is.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m going to go call Mason. Have a great day. And, Jack?”

He turned to look at me.

“Thank you.”

He gave me that brilliant Prescott smile and walked out.

? ? ?

I called Mason. He was in DC and couldn’t come over, but he said he would on Friday if I was still there. I agreed and let him know that if anything changed, I’d call him.

Changed. Everything had changed in the blink of an eye. It was overwhelming and unsettling.

I went back to my temporary bedroom and looked over at my laptop sitting on the desk in the corner. I hadn’t gone online since I’d been here, but I needed to see if there were any new posts. Plus, I was getting bored.

With an unsteady hand, I opened it. Once it had booted up, I went to the search engine and typed my name in the search box and clicked ENTER. When I saw the list of websites that mentioned my name, my stomach twisted. It wasn’t only the National Reveal, there were several tabloids and one prominent paper. That was the one I opened.

The headline, LOSING A GREAT SENATOR, felt like a punch to the chest. The tagline beneath it read, PRESCOTT RUMORED TO STEP DOWN TO PROTECT GIRLFRIEND.



U.S. Senator Drake Prescott will be holding an impromptu news conference scheduled for noon today at the Grand Hotel. Rumor has it he will be finishing his current term, but will be removing his name from the ballot . . .





The words blurred through my tears. I closed the laptop and looked at the clock. It was eleven a.m. and I needed to stop him. Why didn’t he tell me?

Something inside me snapped. I quickly changed out of my shorts and put on a sundress Gretchen had given me, slipped my feet into flats, and flew down the stairs. Jack had already left and I didn’t have time to call for a cab, so I grabbed a set of keys to one of the many cars Jack had stored in his garage and headed outside.

The key in my hand had a Mercedes symbol on it, so I scanned the garage for a Mercedes. Unfortunately, most of the cars were Mercedes. Annoyance mixed with amusement as I shook my head. Really, Jack?

When I pushed the DOOR UNLOCK button on the key fob and pointed it toward the cars, the lights flashed on a cute silver convertible. Score! I glanced inside to see it was a stick shift, which luckily I knew how to drive.

I sent Mason a quick text.



LUCY: I’m headed to the Grand Hotel. Drake is holding a press conference. Can you come?



MASON: I’m not far. I’ll meet you there.



LUCY: Thank you!





I pulled out of Jack’s winding driveway, exited the gate, and zipped toward the hotel. The clock on the dash told me I only had fifteen minutes before Drake was scheduled to speak, but late morning traffic was a nightmare. I glanced out my right window and noticed a tiny gap leading to the exit on the highway.

I smiled as I remembered the sporty car I was in. “Okay, SL Roadster, let’s see what you got.”

The car whipped into the next lane when I released the clutch and pressed the gas. I prayed I wouldn’t get pulled over, but I was off the highway in an instant.