Rogue Ever After (The Rogue Series Book 7)

by Tamsen Parker

“And if I refuse?”

  A slow grin spread across Webster’s face. “I’ll bring Cox in and offer him the seat if he gets rid of the nanny and makes the story disappear, and you can spend the rest of your only term in the Senate stroking your balls down on the Indian Affairs committee. Your choice.”

  And what a fucking choice it was.

  6

  Two hundred and fifty of Ethan’s most ardent donors filled the dining room at the exclusive Capitol Hill Club. Large circular tables outfitted with white linen, fine china, and tall orchid centerpieces, with seating for up to eight, dotted the available square footage. Chandeliers lit the grand space, and plush navy and gold carpeting muffled the abundant tread of high heels and expensive wingtips.

  All evening, Ethan had been bombarded by varied opinions that added up to people being eager for him to seek a second term. Objectively speaking, his black-tie fundraiser was a huge success. He should be elated.

  Instead, he wanted to drop to his knees and yell in frustration.

  He couldn’t get beyond his central dilemma; the issue darted through his mind on a loop, like Forrest Gump running across the country. If he accepted Webster’s offer, he’d get the seat on the Appropriations Committee, the ultimate testament to his father. Of course, he’d have to win the election to claim it, which might be impossible considering what he’d done to get the seat. Or, he could refuse Webster’s request, win the election, and never get a seat on the Appropriations committee, at least, as long as Webster was Majority Leader. In doing that, he’d have failed his father.

  In both scenarios, the outcome that agonized him the most was the knowledge that no matter which fork in the road he chose, in the end he’d lose Zora.

  He searched the space until his gaze landed on her, standing across the room talking to a group of influential DC insiders. The fundraiser was her last event as an official member of his team. It had been two weeks since she’d handed in her notice. Two weeks of days filled with debates and strategy meetings and nights spent dreaming of her; of the laughs they’d shared, the looks they’d exchanged, and the opportunities he’d wasted and possibly lost forever. After his ill-advised visit to her house, she’d done everything short of moving her desk into another building to keep her distance, offering him a preview of his world without her.

  He’d hated it.

  For years, she’d been the first person he’d wanted to see in the morning and the only one with whom he trusted his fears and doubts. He’d loved hearing her take on daily events or seeing her eyes light up at the start of a good debate. Now, he experienced little joy coming into the office, and as much as he appreciated his staff, none of them energized him or motivated him the way Zora had. Her absence was like a crater in his chest.

  And it had only been two weeks.

  What would he do after a month? Six months? A year? Was he prepared to spend his life without her?

  He'd been a goddamned idiot. Why had it taken him so long to realize what had been right in front of him? Why had it taken her leaving for him to grasp that she was his everything?

  When he’d arrived and seen her, essentially his first time in about a week, his breath fled his body, as if it yearned to be with her. She wore a long-sleeved black dress that featured a swath of white fabric that flowed from her left shoulder and across her chest to curve along her right hip, flowing gracefully to the floor. With her thick hair falling in a straight curtain down her back and diamond earrings dangling from her ears, she looked like a Grecian goddess. The crater in his chest, where his heart used to be, pulsed in protest.

  He wasn’t the only one to notice her elegant allure. Several men eyed her and a few even attempted an approach, their toothy grins and Rico Suave demeanors a dead giveaway. Each time, she remained a true professional, declining their invitations politely but firmly.

  As usual, she sensed his regard and looked up, their eyes meeting. He poured everything he felt into that stare.

  Don’t leave. Please. Stay.

  She broke their visual contact first.

  Her rejection was a punch in the gut, nearly doubling him over. Zora had made her feelings clear. She couldn’t be with him because he’d refused to speak up. To stand up.

  Was that even an option?

  He’d thought his only choices were to accept Webster’s deal or refuse it, but neither of those addressed Zora’s concern. Whether he publicly spoke on behalf of the president or remained quiet, he was still supporting him. Was gaining a seat on Appropriations to honor his father and losing the woman he loved worth the widespread belief that he approved of Thayer?

  Was gaining the seat worth his soul?

  A technician fiddling with the microphone on the podium was Ethan’s cue. He made his way to the small dais at the front of the room, shaking hands and patting backs as he passed, his cheeks aching from the smile he’d pasted on. He reached David, who stood behind a large potted plant off to the side and back of the stage in the only space not taken up by a table, his face flushed with pride.

  “The fundraiser is going well, Senator,” David said, rubbing his hands together.

  “Appears so,” Ethan conceded.

  “Time for your speech. You’re great at these. Quick and breezy. Just give some remarks about what you’ve done and what you want to do when you’re re-elected. Make sure you mention the Appropriations committee seat.”

  David had been a great chief of staff, but, like Ethan, he’d been focused on maintaining his father’s agenda and not on pushing Ethan to forge his own.

  On the dais, one of his wealthy donors—who, if he knew David, had probably paid extra for the privilege—was finishing her introduction. “…and it’s now my pleasure to introduce Senator Ethan Humphries from the great Commonwealth of Virginia!”

  Enthusiastic applause rang out in the room, but the affirming sound didn’t ease any of his misgivings or provide him sudden insight or clarity.

  Ethan clapped a hand on David’s shoulder. “You’ve done a wonderful job with this event, and I appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into it—”

  “Thank you, sir,” David beamed.

  “—but I don’t want to mention the committee seat when I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do.”

  David frowned. “I thought you had decided. I even talked to Webster’s chief of staff. You don’t have to appear on Fox. They’ll book you on CNN and Meet the Press on MSNBC. Compromise.”

  “This is about more than which cable news network I’ll—”

  “What are you two doing?” Zora asked, appearing at his elbow.

  Heat flooded his body and tingles of awareness tiptoed across his skin. God, she was breathtaking. Her dewy cheeks appeared flecked with metallics and glimmered beneath the bright lights. He inhaled deeply, her warm, sweet heady fragrance making him dizzy.

  “I’ve missed you, Z,” he said, shocked that he’d uttered the words aloud.

  Her light brown eyes, dramatically rimmed with makeup, widened, her breathing grew more rapid, and her bracelets jangled as she lifted a trembling hand to smooth her immaculate hair.

  Thank God! Buoyant ripples of relief floated in his chest. He’d been haunted by the pent-up desire he’d sensed in her kiss, but he hadn’t known how much he’d needed confirmation of her feelings until now. His heart soared to know that she was just as affected by him as he was by her.

  But she shook it off. “People are getting anxious. You should be on the stage right now.”

  He’d rather be with her right now. Just the two of them. Alone.

  Glancing around the potted plant, Ethan saw that what he wanted wasn’t possible. Not at this moment. Two hundred and fifty curious gazes stared back at him.

  David rubbed his brow, his face contorted in disbelief. “Senator, have you changed your mind about being on Appropriations?”

  Zora gasped, her ruby red lips parting. “What?”

  David’s eyes widened as his gaze bounced between the two of them. “Is this
because of what Zora said? Sir, with all due respect, you need to be strategic. You can’t succumb to emotion and ideology—”

  Zora’s head swiveled to face David. “Excuse me?” she asked, in a tone and with a look Ethan knew meant shit was about to go down. He’d been on the receiving end of both. Hopefully, not for the last time.

  Still, though, there was a time and place for everything, and with people watching their discourse, now was not the time for an in-house fight. “Enough!” Ethan ground out. “We will not do this here.”

  “But sir—”

  Ethan shook his head sharply. He couldn’t put this off any longer. With one final glance at Zora, he straightened his black dinner jacket and walked over to the stage. Leaning into the microphone, he said, “I want to thank Connie for that wonderful introduction, though I’m forced to admit we may need to pick someone else next time.” At her surprised look, he continued, “You’re too good. Are you sure you’re not angling for my job?”

  Laughter erupted, as he’d intended. Connie gave him a smile and waved a “go on” hand in his direction.

  He gripped the sides of the podium and stared down at the dark wood without really seeing it. When he peered to his left, Zora was watching him, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth, absentmindedly fiddling with the intertwined diamond bracelets on her wrist.

  She made him a better man. From the moment they’d met, she’d questioned him, challenged him, forced him to listen to viewpoints different from his own. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, his life would be lackluster without her in it.

  I’m going to make you proud, Z. And I promise I’ll spend every day doing my best to be the type of man worthy of you and your love.

  Returning his attention to the audience, he took a deep breath.

  You can do this.

  The crowd quieted, and his voice carried throughout the room. “Four years ago, I received the surprise of my life when my father was diagnosed with dementia. To say that I never expected to receive that news is an understatement. My father has always been my hero. To me, he was invincible.”

  Sympathetic murmurs whispered throughout the crowd.

  “So, you can imagine my shock when I discovered the news of my father’s condition would turn out to be the second biggest surprise of my life, surpassed only by the Governor’s offer to appoint me to fulfill my father’s term.”

  He held up a hand to stem the responding cheers, suddenly needing to do this more than he needed to take his next breath.

  “My initial instinct was to decline the request. My father was the politician in the family, and he loved this country and what it stood for. He didn’t come from a wealthy background. His father farmed a tobacco field and his mother worked in a textile factory. But they both believed in the American dream. That a person’s future didn’t have to be determined by the circumstances of their birth. That hard work and a good attitude would always triumph in the end.”

  Tears threatened to spill over, and the lump lodged in the back of his throat felt like an immovable object. He missed his father. Being a power player in the Virginia Republican party meant Edward Humphries had often been insanely busy, but he always made time for Ethan. Which was why Ethan had been willing to do anything to honor his father.

  Ethan exhaled, willing himself to remain calm. He needed to get these words out. For his father.

  For Zora.

  For himself.

  “Pride of work, of bringing home a paycheck and providing for your family; of values and truth and right versus wrong. Those principles guided my grandparents and they instilled them in my father, who passed them on to me. The idea that his son would carry on his mission meant so much to my father. It was those thoughts that moved me to accept, and I came to DC—with a brilliant staff—determined to govern in his stead.”

  Here we go.

  “But, two years ago, the world changed. The country elected a president who, frankly, is unfit for the office he holds. He governs by using fear mongering, hate, and lies. He represents a threat to American democracy and the rule of law and it’s frightening that my fellow Republican colleagues are unwilling to stand up to President Thayer.”

  Several gasps erupted from the audience, as people shifted in their chairs and a low rumbling surfed the crowd. He ignored them, intent on speaking his mind and seeing this through. Before he continued, he allowed himself a brief glance at Zora. She stood stock still with her hands clasped beneath her chin, her brows raised in shiny hopefulness. He winked at her and his heart leapt when her features softened, and her lips tilted upward in response.

  He couldn’t stop now.

  “I may have begun my term resolved to legislate as my father would’ve, but I plan to continue governing as I see fit. In some ways, my father’s dementia is a blessing; he isn’t lucid enough to see what’s happening in the country today. But if he was, I believe I’d have his support. I hope to have yours, as well.”

  A handful of people stood and walked out. His stomach began to freefall and he gripped the edges of the podium tightly. Had he made a huge mistake? It was one thing to be true to his principles, but was he ready to deal with the consequences?

  Ethan offered those who stayed a bemused smile. “Everyone won’t agree with me, and that’s fine. Because that’s how a democratic republic is supposed to work. You should know what I believe in and where I stand on issues. Once you do, you have the right to decide if I’m the person you want to represent you. But we’ve gotten away from that concept. Politics has turned into a game of power worth billions of dollars. People are invested in telling you what you want to hear so you’ll elect them, then getting into office and doing what they want. And if you dare question them about it, they obfuscate the issue, call you names, or flat out lie.

  “So, if I wasn’t clear before, let me rectify that now. My name is Ethan Humphries and I want to represent you in the US Senate. This time, you get a say. And I’m running as a Republican. Not a Republican as President Thayer has re-defined and sullied the term, but the way my father meant it. I still believe in this party, and I refuse to cede it to prejudice and hatred. I’m going to fight to bring it back to the party of limited government, economic growth, and a strong American presence in maintaining global order. But we can make it better. My belief in pro-actively addressing racial inequities, a woman’s right to choose, and marriage equality for all shouldn’t preclude me from being a Republican. We can open our arms and make this party more inclusive. Our current predicament is what happens when we don’t.”

  His pulse raced and adrenaline hummed through his veins. He’d gotten a little caught up in his message, heightened by an absolute conviction in what he was saying. But the bright eyes and forward-leaning postures confirmed that his audience didn’t mind. They were listening intently, willing to give him a chance. His gaze flicked over to Zora, who nodded and gave him a thumbs up.

  Time to bring it home, Humphries.

  “Whatever you decide, I want you all to know that I appreciate the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes you’ve given both my father and me over the past several years. I hope I can continue to count on your support in the future as we work to take our country back from bigoted populists, corporate anarchists, and media conglomerates who care for nothing but their bottom lines. Thanks for coming, and enjoy the rest of your evening!”

  Thunderous applause greeted his words, but the sound was drowned out by his own booming heartbeat. Despite the noise in his head and in the room, he only had eyes for Zora. His lodestar. He hurried off the stage toward her.

  “You were wonderful,” she breathed, her eyes shining.

  The approval in her gaze made him feel ten feet tall. “Thank you for the verbal ass kicking. I needed it.”

  She tilted her head and smiled. “Anytime. You know I have the footwear for it.”

  Ethan studied David, who looked slightly queasy. “I’m happy to appear on those shows. But you should know, if I do them, I’m going to ta
ke the opportunity to speak out against President Thayer and what he said about rounding up all immigrants.”

  “What about the committee seat?” David asked gravely.

  “I still want it, but I’m not going to be blackmailed for it. Besides, Webster would be a fool to give it to Cox.”

  “And if you’re wrong?”

  Ethan shrugged. “Then, if I’m elected, I’ll remain on the Judiciary Committee. Look, I’m going to run on my beliefs and values. And if I win, I’ll stand ready to serve my constituents and do my job. If not, I’ll find some other way to give back. But I’ll be okay, because I’ll remain true to who I am. The question for you, David, is if you’re still willing to be a part of my team?”

  “Well, Senator.” David pressed his lips together and gave a curt nod. “I can’t think of a better way to honor your father than to support his son.”

  “Thank you.”

  The two men shook hands.

  Zora cleared her throat and a tiny smile hovered on her gorgeous lips. “At midnight I’ll officially be unemployed. I’d like to submit my application to run your election campaign.”

  There had been a time when he’d wanted nothing more. But now…

  “No.

  She flinched, her expression telegraphing her hurt. “Oh.”

  He took her hand, encouraged when she didn’t pull away from him. “You’re wonderful at your job, and after these past two weeks I know I’ll miss seeing you around the office every day. But I don’t want you to run my campaign. I want you in my life. I love you, Z.”

  Her smile was like the early morning sun, breaking over the horizon after the longest, darkest night. Warmth radiated from his chest outward and he cupped her cheek, almost weeping in gratitude at the privilege to touch her again.

  But before she could respond further, a wave of people interrupted them, coming over to offer their congratulations and support. In the commotion, her fingers slipped from his and he grasped wildly around, seeking their re-engagement, already missing her touch.

  For several excruciating minutes he lost sight of her until she appeared at his side, holding up a cellphone and grabbing his arm. “If you’ll excuse us for a second, the Senator has to take this call. Larry and David would be happy to answer your questions.”