by Ella Jade
“I always wanted a dog.” My mother raised me on her own and worked all day. She had said it was because no one was home during the day that we couldn’t have one, but when I got older I realized there wasn’t much money left over at the end of the month for us to have one. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
“I apologize for showing up unannounced. It was rude.”
“I don’t think so.” I motioned toward my ice cream. “You’re stopping me from the extra calories before bed.”
“Don’t not eat it on my account.” He picked up the container. “Chocolate peanut butter.”
“I’m celebrating.”
“The job.” He opened the ice cream and dipped the spoon in. “I may have made a phone call to the senator.”
“Why did you do that?”
“You wanted the job.” He scooped out some ice cream and brought the spoon to my lips. “I made sure you got it.”
I opened my mouth and let him feed me the ice cream. He watched as I licked the spoon clean. He shook his head and smirked.
“You didn’t have to call in any favors for me.”
“This is Washington. That’s how this town works. You should know that by now.”
“Why would you do that for me?”
“I have my reasons.” He filled the spoon with more ice cream. “There were twenty-five other applicants applying for the position. I’m not saying you couldn’t have secured the job on your own. Senator Pale’s staff was very impressed with you at the interview. I just made sure you were the one they chose.”
“I appreciate you helping but I don’t want to be known as the one who got the job because you called in a favor.”
“Anyone who got that job would have had a favor called in for them by someone else. Trust me, that’s how it goes. Why shouldn’t it be you?” He pushed the spoon between my lips. “You did the work. All I did was give you a great recommendation. If you don’t want this job I’ll find you something else.”
“I want this job.”
“I want you.” He set the container on the table. “You’ve been on my mind all day.”
“I think I like being on your mind.”
“Good because I have a feeling you’ll be there quite often.”
“Does that bother you?” He wasn’t an easy man to read. “The last time we were together you didn’t seem to want any complications.”
“I’m complicated enough. Last year I wasn’t in a good place.”
“Neither was I.” Looking down at my hands, I tried not to get emotional. “I’m not the type of person who takes money for...” I wanted to be around him but I was afraid I’d let the shame ruin anything that came between us. “Not usually, anyway.”
“I’ve never done that before either.”
He tilted my chin and stared into my eyes. When he held my gaze I swear he could see right into my soul. I wanted to believe I could see into his too. I saw a strong, confident man, but he was flawed. Who wasn’t?
“I’ve struggled with the way things played out between us. I never expected redemption but when I ran into you the other night I saw it as a second chance. A way to make it right. You said I don’t have to apologize so I won’t anymore. But you don’t have to feel embarrassed or ashamed about what we did. We both had our reasons but do you think you could move past it and see where we can take this now?”
“A beginning?”
“As many as it takes.” When he smiled, my stomach fluttered. “Let’s start over.”
“I could use a do over.”
“Couldn’t we all?” He gently pressed his lips to mine, kissing me softly. More stomach flutters. “What’s that?” He pointed to the bulletin board in the corner of the room. “It looks like a school project.”
“It is a project of sorts,” I said. “One I’ve been working on for a while.”
“Can I see it?”
“You might think it’s silly.”
“I won’t.” He scooted me off his lap. “What is it?”
I walked to the corner of the room and picked up my big board of places I wanted to go and things I wanted to do. “My mother passed away last year.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you.” I propped the board against the sofa and sat in front of it on the floor. Jameson joined me. “I’m sure you can see I don’t come from much.”
“Why would you say that?”
“You’re the politest person I know.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve seen my car. I’ve been in your penthouse and on your boat. You’re sitting in my tiny house.”
“I may be rich but I don’t judge others for what they don’t have.” He studied the board. “It looks like a scrapbook.”
“My mom and I started this when she was sick. I would bring it into her room when she wasn’t well enough to get up. I bought stickers, markers and fancy tape.”
“New York City?” He pointed to the picture of the Statue of Liberty.
“I want to go there and see all the touristy stuff.” I ran my hand over the Broadway Marquee. “Maybe see a show too. Oh and the stores with all the designer clothes in the windows. I would be satisfied with just looking.”
“Where’s this?” He gestured to the picture of the tropical beach with the white sand and blue water.
“No place in particular. I just want to go someplace hot. Swim in a fancy pool and have a frozen drink.”
“I love your innocence.” He ran his knuckles down my arm and took my hand in his. “This one.” He touched the sticker of the boat. “You checked it off.”
“Ah, yes, taking a cruise on a yacht.”
“That was on your list before last night?”
“No.” I giggled when I saw the curiosity in his eyes. “I added it when I got home. I never knew I wanted to take a ride on a boat until last night. It was worth putting it on my board because I don’t get to check many items off.”
“New York City, a tropical island.” He perused the large board. “The ballet, snow tubing, concerts. These are all things I can give you in a week. They’re easy. Where’s the Eiffel Tower, fashion shows in Milan, London?”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve never even been on a plane. Do you know how many states in America I haven’t seen? Getting to do this stuff is a big deal for me.”
“Which one do you want to check off first?”
“I don’t know.”
“Think about it and let me know.” He traced his finger along my lips. “I’ll take you any place you want to go. Make sure you expedite your passport.”
“Why?” I couldn’t help but gaze into his eyes. It was happening again. I was falling for him. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“You like chocolate peanut butter ice cream. That’s good enough for me.”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I.” He trailed his lips along my jaw. “I screwed up last time. I blew a chance and that’s not like me. I don’t intend to make the same mistake twice.”
“I can’t make another mistake when it comes to you.” This was too much too fast. “The last twenty-four hours have been overwhelming. The dinner, the flowers, my new job, and you. I don’t know how to respond.”
“Kiss me.” He cupped the side of my face in his hand. “Just feel.”
When his lips connected with mine all I could do was feel. Just like before, everything faded into the background and I was consumed by him. Nothing else mattered when he was close.
“Wait.” I rested my palm on his chest, breaking the kiss. “I’m not a fast-paced person. I’m not used to getting what I want, when I want. I don’t know how to live in your world.”
“So then I’ll live in yours. We’ll do this at your speed. Last time we played by my rules. This time we’ll do it on your terms.” He gently kissed me. “Trust me.”
I ran my hand along his stubble covered jaw, wanting more than anything to believe in him. All I needed to do was take a chance. “My terms?”
“Anything you w
ant.”
I couldn’t let him hurt me like before. It wasn’t entirely his fault. I had agreed to let him use me. He said we could put it behind us. If I could do that and let him show me the man he really was maybe we could see where this was headed. I needed to show him who I was too.
“Do you know why I picked lavender for the roses?” he asked.
“No but they’re beautiful.”
“The first day I met you in the cafe you were wearing a lavender shirt. I thought you were the most eloquent woman. I wondered what you were doing behind the counter. A woman like you shouldn’t be serving others.”
“You remembered what I was wearing?” He wore a blue suit with a light gray tie. When he walked through the door, I nearly lost my breath. He was by far the most attractive man I’d ever seen. It wasn’t a stretch for me to remember our first meeting in vivid detail but I never expected him to remember me.
“You had a bandage on your left forearm.”
“I did?” Maybe I’d burned myself on the coffee pot. I did that often when I worked there. “I probably did something clumsy.”
“Whenever I see the color lavender it reminds me of you. I can’t take back the way we started out but I can make sure this time we do better.”
“I want to try.” I had to take a chance. “I want to get to know you this time.”
“Most people want to be around me because of who I am or what I can do for them.” The muscles in his chiseled jawline tensed. “I don’t open up easily.”
“We can go slow.”
“Slow isn’t a bad idea at all.” He took my face between his hands, focusing on my mouth. “I can do slow.”
Something tells me you can do anything you set your mind to.
Chapter Nine
Jameson
Driving into the crowded lot, I put the car in park and got out. As I handed the keys to the valet, the attendant opened Cecilia's door. I walked around to join her, taking her hand in mine. I nodded to a few of the regulars as we entered the country club.
She glanced around the lobby, admiring the waterfalls and large marble pillars. “It’s beautiful here.”
“Mr. Clark.” The tall hostess, with the wide brown eyes approached us. “We have your table ready.”
“The one I requested?”
“Of course.” She smiled at Cecilia. “Is this your first time dining with us?”
“It is.” Cecilia tugged on the bottom of the shimmery, silver dress. She’d been doing that since I’d picked her up and I wondered why she was so self-conscious about those never-ending legs of hers. “It’s lovely.”
“Follow me.”
“You don’t need to be so nervous.” I placed my hand on the small of her back and led her through the main dining area and to the double glass doors that walked out to an enclosed patio. “This dress looks fantastic on you.”
“It might be a little too short for me,” she whispered. “I borrowed it from Kirsten.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve invited me to dinner three times this week and I don’t have that many dresses in my closet.”
I made a mental note to get her a personal shopper. She would be starting her new job and would need clothes. She’d also need some dresses when we went out.
I pulled out her chair as the hostess, whose name I still couldn’t remember, handed Cecilia a menu.
Once I was seated, she gave me a menu. “Your server will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you.” A stone fire pit adorned the center of the room giving off a light heat on the breezy August evening. There were a few other patrons on the patio, making it more exclusive and one of the reasons I chose to dine out here. The lights on the golf course reflected off the lake in the distance while the trees gently swayed in the wind. “This table is perfect.”
“I’m happy we could accommodate you. Please enjoy your dinner.” She headed back inside the main dining area.
“Are you a member here?” Cecilia asked.
“Yes, I play golf here when I can but lately I’ve been too busy for recreation.” The busier I kept myself the less likely I was to get into trouble. “My parents are members too.”
“What do they do?”
“They’re attorneys.”
“Both of them?”
“They have their own firm here in D.C. They were disappointed when Miles and I didn’t want to join them but I was more interested in being a political strategist and my brother wanted to work with me.”
“You and your brother are lawyers?”
“Haven’t I mentioned that?”
“No.” She sipped her water. “You didn’t.”
“We’re a year apart. We were both at Princeton during the same time when we interned for a councilmen. I’d always been interested in politics. Our younger brother, Max, is in his last year at Oxford.”
“In England?”
“The last time I checked that’s where it was.” I grinned. “He’s always been a free spirit. He took the first year out of high school to travel the world. He’s a smart guy. We all miss him but he always comes back.”
“Your family sounds very interesting.”
“I suppose.”
“You’re the wild card, aren’t you?”
When she threaded her bottom lip through her teeth all I wanted to do was pull her into my lap and touch her, everywhere. It had been two weeks since I’d seen her at the charity function. I was honoring her request to take things slow. I’d been the perfect date. Too perfect. I enjoyed her company and wanted to show her all the places she’d never seen but my hormones were in overdrive especially because she was the last woman I’d been with. The only woman I wanted.
“Whatever do you mean?” I played coy but I had been trouble and plenty of it.
“You seem as if you may have been a bad boy.” She giggled. “Rich, private school, a brother a year younger. You probably kept your mom on her toes.”
“I may have been a bit mischievous. My mom had her hands full with three boys.” I thought for a moment, not wanting to reveal too much of my troubled past. “I gave her the most problems in my later years. College was where I’d really gotten into it.”
“Drinking?” she quietly asked.
Among other things.
“We all do crazy stuff when we’re young. Look at you now.”
“What crazy stuff did you do?”
“Not much.” She glanced at her menu. “I lived at home and worked a lot through college.”
“You didn’t miss much.” My lifestyle almost killed me several times. “What would you like for dinner?”
“I don’t know. It all looks so good. What would you suggest?”
I suggest we leave and get into my bed. “I recommend starting with the wedge. The filet here is succulent. Not too big. Just right. The asparagus is always tender and the twice baked potato is the best I’ve ever had.” I should have been hungry with all this talk of food but all I wanted was to feast on her. “You could pair it off with a glass of red wine. I could have the steward visit our table to see what he recommends.”
“Everything sounds delicious but I don’t need the wine.” She reached across the table and took my hand. “You don’t like to talk about that part of your life.”
“I apologize if I’m dismissive when it comes to that. It’s not something I like to rehash.”
“I understand.” She rested her hand in my palm. “I have stuff I don’t like to talk about either.”
Only I was a jerk since I knew everything about her past thanks to Meg.
“I just wanted you to know that whatever happened before is your business but I don’t need to drink when we go to dinner. I just want to be with you.”
“That means more than you know.” I gazed down at our joined hands, feeling more vulnerable than I was comfortable with. “It’s hard for me to socialize and go out with others sometimes. I keep to myself.”
“You don’t have to anymore.” A refreshing hue of
red dusted her cheeks. “If you don’t want to.”
“I still want to keep to myself.”
“Oh, of course, I just meant...”
“Cecilia.” I brushed her knuckles along my lips. “I want to keep you all to myself too.”
“Isn’t this cozy?” A deep, sarcastic voice said from behind me. “A date?”
Fuck! Why hadn’t I taken care of him before now?
“Conrad.” When Cecilia smiled, my rage bubbled. She didn’t need to put on for him. Besides, that smile belonged to me. “How have you been?”
“I’m well, just really busy with the campaign.” Conrad looked at me. “Jameson, I met with Miles this afternoon. He said he would be accompanying me on my tour through my home state.”
“That’s correct.” I let go of Cecilia’s hand. “Would you mind if I spoke business with Conrad for a few moments?”
“I’ll go check my makeup.”
“It’s perfect.” I stood and pulled out her chair. “Just a few minutes.”
“Of course.” She glanced at Conrad. “It was nice seeing you.”
He nodded as she walked away.
“Have a seat.” I pointed to the chair Cecilia vacated. “I’ll make this quick.”
“Is this why you’ve been avoiding me?” He sat down. “Because you moved in on the girl who was going to help me become senator.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you. I do have other clients.”
“You promised to represent me.”
“No, my firm is representing you and Miles has been on your campaign for a year. He is better suited for you.” I had the Governor of New Jersey to get into the White House. “He’s doing a fantastic job and I’m overseeing everything.”
“And CC? Are you overseeing her too?”
“Cecilia and I knew one another before you met her. She explained to me she accompanied you as a friend to the benefit.”
“True but I had hoped it would turn into something more.” He smirked. “I even told some of the papers we were seeing one another. I thought it would help.”
“Miles asked you to retract that.”
“Now I know why.”
“It has nothing to do with my relationship with her and everything to do with your image. Because you made false statements to those reporters you’ve put us all in a potential PR nightmare.”
