Off the Record (Record #1)(71)

“Senator Maxwell’s office. How may I help you?” his secretary answered.

“Sandy Carmichael for the Senator, please,” she chirped.

His secretary paused slightly on the other line before responding, “Yes, Ms. Carmichael. One moment.”

Liz froze at the way she said her name. Brady had had the same secretary all summer. Liz wondered whether Nancy knew in some way…about her and Brady. She couldn’t know for certain, but Liz used this line several times a week lately. She should probably mention it to Brady, but she didn’t want to freak him out. Maybe it was better to tell him than take a risk.

“Ms. Carmichael, how nice to hear from you,” Brady said into the phone. Liz squirmed where she stood at the sound of his voice. She was pretty drunk and ready for him to come pick her up already.

“Please tell me you’re not still at the office.”

“I’m in Chapel Hill, actually.”

“Perfect. I’m drunk on Franklin Street. Come pick me up. I want you…now,” she demanded. She took a step forward, stumbled, and latched on to a bench nearby. She giggled into the phone like tripping was the funniest thing she had ever done.

“Baby, how drunk are you?” he asked, laughter in his voice.

“Just come get me. I’m going to try to walk to the main bus stop,” Liz said, looking at it only a block down the street.

“Maybe you shouldn’t move.” Liz heard his engine rev through the line and smiled.

“Maybe I shouldn’t, but you might not find me.”

“I’ll find you.”

“I’ll be at the bus stop.”

“Be safe.”

Liz narrowed her eyes at the bus stop to keep it from moving and then tried putting one foot in front of the other. It was harder than it looked. Whatever that last drink had been that Victoria had ordered had f**ked her up. She needed some water. She glanced over at the store and thought about going in and getting a water bottle. She shook her head. No, she had to meet Brady, and she didn’t trust herself to make it inside and back to the bus stop.

She reached the first post at the bus stop and gripped it until she was steady. This was good enough. Holding on to the post made her feel better, more grounded. Her mind started clearing as long as she kept up deep breaths. She didn’t want to be sloppy when she was with Brady.

A sleek black Lexus pulled up in front of the bus stop, and Liz smiled. There was her ride.

The ten minutes holding on to the bus stop post had helped her addled mind, and she was able to more nimbly walk around the vehicle. She opened the car door and slid into the black leather passenger seat. It smelled like Brady—primal, enticing, and powerful. If that were a specific smell, she would only associate it with Brady.

He pulled away from the bus stop as soon as her door closed. She tilted her head back and stared at him. She reached out and laced their fingers together. He didn’t let go and instead held her hand in his lap. It felt natural, as if he had always been doing it.

“I’m glad you called,” he said.

“Me too,” she said, tracing her thumb in circles on his hand. Whatever had hit her so hard at the bar was fading away to a nice numbness.

“I have a surprise for you, if you’re up for it,” he said, glancing over at her.

“A surprise?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. The last big surprise had been the lake house. What other surprise could he have up his sleeve? “We’re not going to the lake, are we?”

“No. This is better. More important to me.”

Important. That was a big word. “I sure hope that surprise involves a bed.”

Brady chuckled and shook his head. “I’m glad you had fun. How drunk are you, anyway?”

“Gone,” she whispered.

“Are you feeling up to something else? Or should I take you home?” he asked, concerned.

“At least take me to a hotel so I can sleep with you.” She scooted over and rested her head on his shoulder. She was surprised, having not looked at anything aside from his handsome face, that she wasn’t resting on a suit. “You’re wearing a T-shirt,” she mused.

“I do own those,” he said, trying to hold in his laughter.

“You should wear them more often.”

“Are you trying to get me out of my suit?”

“Don’t I always?” she asked with a giggle.

“I think you need some water,” Brady said, turning to the side and kissing the top of her head.

“I was going to get some, but I didn’t know how far away you were. Where are we going anyway?”

“You’ll see. Do you need me to stop?” he asked her.

“No. I’ll be okay,” she told him.

“All right. But you have to drink some water when we get there.”

“I can do that. How far away are we?” She had no idea where they were going, and Brady didn’t seem ready to give out any clues. She just wanted to go somewhere where they could be alone. She preferred it that way; then there wouldn’t be any tension holding them back.

“Not too far. Maybe twenty to thirty minutes. Just relax. We’ll be there soon,” he told her. Liz nodded, nuzzled into his shoulder, and closed her eyes.

“Baby,” Brady whispered against her hair, “it’s time to wake up.”