On the Record (Record #2)(3)

“I was thinking of moving you and your team over to Massey’s Washington division. I’d still like some focus on whoever wins these races, and your team already knows them.”

He wanted her to continue to follow Brady . . .

Hayden must have seen something on her face, because he started backpedaling. “Unless you don’t want to work with Massey . . .”

“The Washington division sounds great,” she quickly corrected. She didn’t want him to think that she didn’t like Massey or that she wasn’t serious about her role at the paper.

“I had thought . . . that you might work with me some too,” Hayden said.

Liz arched an eyebrow.

“I still think you could be editor after I leave.”

Liz’s breath caught in her throat. Editor. It was her dream, what she had been working toward. But was he giving it to her because he liked her or because she deserved it? “Are you sure you want me for the job?”

“Yes, I’m sure I want you,” he answered quickly. “For the job.”

“All right. Well, I could work with you then,” she said, her head buzzing.

Liz couldn’t believe how much a few months had changed everything. She remembered her first press conference. The anticipation had killed her as she waited for State Senator Brady Maxwell III to walk out onto the stage. She’d had no thought that she would get to ask a question, or that that very moment would change her life. She had just been an untested reporter hoping to catch a break.

Now Hayden was pushing for her to be editor after he graduated. She knew that he had said she was capable of it that same day after the conference, but it was different hearing that he wanted to start preparing her to take the job. The very notion sent a shiver down her spine.

Liz caught Victoria eyeing her from the bar. She was sure she knew what Victoria was thinking . . . that Liz was taking her advice. It would be easy to return Hayden’s flirtatious smiles and cute comments. It wasn’t like she didn’t like Hayden . . . hadn’t always liked Hayden. But still, she stepped away from him instead of into him when he moved toward her.

Hayden’s smile didn’t falter, but she could see him straining to keep it on his face. Liz didn’t know why he hadn’t given up on her yet. One kiss wasn’t enough to keep a guy’s interest for this long. The way he looked at her, though . . .

Liz shifted her attention back to the television screens just as the announcers started broadcasting the latest results. She held her breath as she waited for them to show North Carolina.

“The Cunningham-Maxwell race that we’ve been following still doesn’t have full results in just yet,” the news broadcaster reported. “From the looks of what we do have it’s a pretty tight race down there. The front-runner, Cunningham, appears to have the lead by a small margin, but it’s a toss-up if I’ve ever seen one. We’ll keep our eye on that one, but in the meantime, let’s take a look at the open seat race in Pennsylvania.”

Liz breathed out heavily. She wanted the results, and the waiting game was frustrating.

“Going to be close,” Hayden said, walking with her back to the bar.

“We always knew that.”

“Those results Tristan had make me think Maxwell’s going to pull it out. You said it from the beginning, but it’s different having the proof in my hands.”

“Yeah,” she whispered. The culmination of a lot of hard work and ambition on Brady’s part. He’d been born and bred for this role . . . born and bred to be president. He had convinced her of that. Liz shook her head. She needed to get Brady Maxwell out of her thoughts. After tonight that would be her mission. After he won . . . He had to win!

“Are you two going to have a shot with me or what?” Victoria yelled. She reached out and latched on to Liz’s arm and dragged her back to the bar. “Come on, Lane. Hurry up!”

Hayden shuffled forward with a barely suppressed eye roll. “Whatever you say, Vickie.”

“Liz, make him stop,” Victoria whined just before shoving a shot into both of their hands.

Liz turned her back to the bar, cocking her head to the side as she stared at him. God, he looked good tonight! “Hayden, play nice.”

“I always play nice, Liz.”

Victoria thrust her shot glass up into the air between them and they both followed suit. “I’ll toast this one to Liz.”

“Me?” Liz asked, widening her eyes.

“To the chick who worked her ass off for this moment. May the best man win,” Victoria said with a flourish.

Liz cringed at the ill-timed toast. Victoria was talking about the congressional race, but to Liz it was more between Brady and Hayden. Brady had been her world, but then her world came crashing down. Now she had to keep moving, keep living despite the destruction. It was self-inflicted . . . after all, she and Brady couldn’t be together. She had written negative articles about him before she had gotten to know him, and anything that could hurt Brady’s chance of winning was a danger to the campaign. Brady hadn’t left her mind a single day since she had walked away.

As she tipped the shot back into her mouth, the burn down her throat reminded her of exactly how she had felt every day since she had left him. It might have been the right decision, but it wasn’t easy, and it constantly left her with a bad taste in her mouth . . . and feeling a little sick.