An Irresistible Bachelor(83)

"What do you mean?"

"If you have to ask that, I think I know your answer." He rolled over onto his back.

"I'm just not interested in talking about the man."

He turned his head on the pillow. "But maybe I want to know."

Callie sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. "What does it matter, anyway? The past is the past. He's dead and I've moved on from whatever problems I had with him. It's all a nonissue."

There was another long pause.

"Callie, I think we need to talk."

The tone in his voice was grim and she felt her skin shrink. "About what?"

"Us. The future."

She looked at him over her shoulder. He'd cradled his head in the palm of his good hand and his bare chest was only partially covered by the blankets.

"What do you have in mind?" she asked, hoping like hell she could bear his answer. He'd told her the night of the accident that he thought he loved her, but they hadn't talked about what was going to happen after she was done with the portrait.

"Have you ever thought of settling in Boston?" he asked. "You could work from here just as well as you could in New York."

Her slow smile returned. "True."



"And we could see each other. A hell of a lot."

She felt herself loosening up. "I'd like that, Jack. I really would."

He reached for her, pulling her down.

"Me, too," he said, against her mouth.

He kissed her once, but then stopped.

"About the election." He smoothed her hair back. "If I decide to run, it's going to get rough. If you're going to be at my side, you need to be ready."

"To duck and cover if they pelt you with tomatoes? "

"Well, yes." He laughed softly. "But I was thinking more about the press. You should be prepared to get hit with some inquiries into your life."


Cold dread coursed through Callie, wiping out the rush of relief she'd felt a moment before.

"What do you mean?"

"The media, my opponents, they're going to crawl all over me. My past, our relationship, your background, everything's going to be examined closely."

She jerked upright, trying to imagine what would happen if anyone looked into her life. Her father's secret, the thing she had protected for so long, would be prime fodder for reporters if it was discovered. She could just imagine the coverage.

And there was Grace to consider. Callie had promised never to betray her, and even though she wouldn't be selling out her half sister on purpose, the end result would be the same. The whole world would know the details of their father's infidelity and Grace would be the target of more tell-alls.

Jack sat up, having obviously caught the wave of her concern. "I'll take the brunt of it, of course, and Gray and I will take care of you."

She searched his face. "You said if you decide to run. Is there a chance you might not?"

He seemed taken aback. "Why don't you tell me what you're worried about? "

She thought about explaining everything to him and felt her throat close up. It was probably just as well that she keep quiet. The story wasn't hers alone to tell. Jack and Grace might have been friends, but exactly how close were they? After having made a promise never to speak of the past to anyone, she wasn't about to break her word.

"I just don't want the press in my life," she said. "That's all."

Jack frowned, his eyes growing shrewd. "What exactly do you have to hide?"

She looked away.

"Tell me Callie."

"I can't."

There was a long, tense silence.

"Why not?"

When she remained quiet, he got out of bed and roughly pulled on his pants.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I don't know what happened in your past, but it's hard to imagine what you can't share with me."

"Jack, don't be like this." She reached out to him, but he brushed her hand away and yanked his shirt on. "Look, I don't know why this has to be a big deal. You haven't decided to run yet, right?"



He shot her a harsh look. "What I'm worried about right now is how little you trust me."

"But I do trust you."

"Then tell me."