An Irresistible Bachelor(80)

"Jesus." Gray stared at him for a minute and then shrugged out of his coat. He tossed it over to the couch. "You okay?"


"Yeah, just banged up."

"Well, I'm glad you didn't get hurt worse. But you still should have called me back. What we're doing has taken on a life of its own and it's in your best interest to be up-to-date."

"I know." But falling in love had a way of making a man think of things other than politics. "Now sit down and tell me what I need to know."



Gray settled into a club chair and crossed his legs. His foot started tapping.

"There something I need to worry about?" Jack asked evenly.

"I just got a call from New York and I had to track you down in person. There's a rumor going around that you and Blair have called off the engagement. You want to tell me what's going on? "

The phone at Jack's elbow started to ring and he silenced it with the flick of a switch. "We have ended it. I did, actually. I made a terrible mistake, and like most lapses in judgment, I didn't figure it out until someone got hurt. I regret what happened, but getting out is absolutely the right decision."

Gray's foot stilled. "I'm your friend first, so I've got to ask, how're you doing?"

"I'm fine. Except for feeling like shit for what I put Blair through."

"Well, I'm sorry it didn't work out. She's a fine woman." There was a pause. "Now I'm also your political consultant, so I need to talk some shop."

"Shoot."

Jack tugged at the sling and repositioned the broken arm across his chest, trying to ease the strain in his shoulder. A meeting with Gray was overdue and he was prepared to spend an hour or two with his friend if that was what it took.

"We'll talk about the ramifications of the broken engagement in a minute. First, the election. It's getting to be fish or cut bait time. Speculation is beginning to mount even though we've still got a year before the polls open. I want to know, just between me and you, where your head is. Are you going to run?"

"Unless something drastic changes, yes."

"Good. Starting this week, I’m going to quietly look for a local campaign manager. I know a couple of good ones, and hopefully they haven't been snatched up yet. This is another reason why deciding now is so important." Gray bridged his hands together and regarded Jack over the tips of his fingers. "Now, about Blair. I'm glad you didn't announce the engagement, and I'm also glad that if you had to end one this close to an election that it was with her. She's a lady and she's got integrity, so I don't think we can expect her to jump up out of the bushes and spring a broken-heart tell-all."

Jack inclined his head. "Blair would never do something like that. We don't have anything to worry about."

"From her, maybe." Gray got up from the chair and started pacing. "I think we need to do some damage control anyway. Other people know you'd asked her to marry you. If it we're to come out that you'd broken off this engagement for another woman—”

"Who said anything about another woman?"

His friend shot him a dry look. "Don't even try that with me."

"I'm not denying it. I want to know who your source was."

"Karl Graves."

Jack tightened his lips. "So it's all over Manhattan?"

"I don't think so. I've known him for a while and he called because he was concerned about Blair and wanted to know what the hell had happened between you two." Gray planted his hands on the top of the desk and leaned forward. "My point is, this is just the kind of playboy move you don't need in the papers. I think for the time being I should function as your press man. Better for me to field the inquiries first, assuming there are any. It'll give you some insulation."

"Fine." Jack looked out the window.

"Listen, I don't want you to worry. I can handle whatever comes at us. My job is to ensure that people take you seriously, and I'm going to be ready."

Jack shook his head, thinking back to all the headlines he'd made over the years. A broken engagement fit the pattern perfectly. "Christ, Gray, do you think I'm crazy to run?"

"No, but you've got some liabilities to overcome." His friend straightened. "You've never held a political office before, which is one strike against you. You're successful at business, and God knows you've got the family name working for you, but you're going to be picked apart for those bad-boy years. The good thing is that while you've been with Blair, you've been out of the papers except for good coverage. I'm only concerned right now because I don't want this thing with Blair to start the avalanche before you get out there with your platform. The more voters know about you before they're reminded of your past, the better. Which is one more reason to declare loudly and early."