We hold tight to each other while he plunges in and out of my body over and over. So lost in each other, the world begins and ends where our bodies join together. Sweat slicks our skin, and we breathe each other in with his lips so close to mine.
“Please, let this be real,” I gasp as he drives into me one more time.
“It’s real,” he growls just before I shatter, and Jake follows me over the edge, calling out my name as he does.
“Looks Like America’s Sweethearts are Headed to the White House.”
Chapter 19
Battle ground
Ohio
One week later...
“I love you,” I whisper as Jake plunges slow and deep. This morning he decided to take his sweet time and the slow building, all consuming burn has robbed me of all thoughts.
My eyes go wide as I realize the words I’ve just said, words I swore I would never say out loud. He presses his mouth to mine and thrusts his tongue between my lips. I cry out as he fucks me in earnest now, harder and faster than the leisure way he made love to me a moment ago.
The way he completely owns me, how he plays my body like no one ever has, chases all thoughts of things that should have been better left unsaid away as we pursue our early-morning orgasms. Jake’s measured movements are more frantic now, and I splinter apart in his arms. He drives down one more time before he plants himself deep and spills inside me.
My heart roars in my ears. Our breathing is loud, and his weight presses me down into the bed. But all too soon, reality sets in. I feel my spine stiffen, and I know that he does too. I push on his shoulders so he will let me up and miss his heat the minute the cold air conditioning of the hotel suite hits my overheated skin.
“Grace, we should talk,” he says softly as he sits back on his heels. I can’t let myself look him in the eyes. I can’t see what I know will be waiting for me there—sorrow, because I caught feelings even though this isn’t real, and pity, because he doesn’t feel the same way. All I know is I will avoid this conversation like I avoid the clap.
“We don’t have time,” I say, faking a look at the digital clock on the foreign bedside table. Cara will be here soon, and I have to shower.”
“Grace—” he starts, but I scramble off the bed.
“Not time!” I shout over my shoulder, and I practically run into the bathroom, where I quickly shut and lock the door. “Shit.”
I drop to my knees in front of the toilet and empty my stomach’s contents. Stress never was a friend of mine, especially added to the culmination of my life’s implosion while on the campaign trail with the man I’m in love with, who doesn’t feel the same way. Not to mention, we’re in Ohio, the battle ground state, to fight for his chance at the highest office in the nation. It’s a lot of pressure, and I’m falling apart.
“Grace, honey,” Jake calls out as he knocks on the door. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, fine,” I say just before I flush the toilet and rinse my mouth out in the sink.
“Sweetheart, let me in.”
“There’s no time, Jake,” I say firmly. “I need to shower.”
Besides, I really can’t let him see me cry right now. I flip the taps on the shower and let the water heat up while I brush my teeth. I wish I had more time to stay in the shower and hide, wallow, whatever it is I need. But I wasn’t lying when I said there’s no time.
I let it all out, crying in the shower, and then I wash quickly and dry my hair. I pull on a hotel robe and walk out into the living room of the suite where I know Cara wants to set up hair and makeup. I am so worried about avoiding Jake and not making things more awkward while my heart is breaking that I’m surprised by the argument taking place in the suite.
“You are such a son of a bitch,” Cara shouts. “Just leave me the hell alone.”
“Trust me,” Rick bites out. “I would if I could.”
“I hate you.”
“Not as much as I hate you,” he snaps. “How I could have ever loved a cold-hearted bitch like you, I will never know.”
“Rick, that’s enough,” Jake intercede.
“You’re right,” he says, running an angry hand through his dark hair. “I’ll meet you in the car.”
Poor Cara. By the look of the beard burn on the side of her neck, they tried to fuck it out last night, just like Jake said they needed, but it appears it didn’t help. I guess I’m not the only one here with a bruised heart.
The rest of the morning is spent in silence. After Rick leaves, Jake excuses himself to dress and shower. Cara curls my hair and applies a delicate amount of makeup before I pull on a pink pleated silk skirt that falls just above my knees and a black V-neck cashmere pullover sweater. Cara adds a skinny black patent leather belt around my waist and patent leather Louboutins. Somehow, I keep from bawling like a baby when she hands me Jake’s diamond studs to slip in my ears.
Jake appears in a gray suit with an overcoat slung over his arm. He’s so effortlessly sexy I can’t stand it. He makes my heart skip a beat. I pull on the belted wrap coat that Cara hands me, and when Jake offers me his outstretched hand, I take it in the knowledge I could never hate him. I am in love with him, and I will ride this ride until it ends.
We take the elevator down with Gus. Rick is waiting for us by one of the dark SUVs. He rides with us while Cara and Carter and the rest of our team take the second one. Our cars pull into the underground tunnel of the convention center where the rally is being held. The news has been showing people waiting to see Jake since late last night. The energy in the area is palpable and thrilling.
Our staff file out of the cars and head into the building to begin prepping and setting up, but Jake waits. He holds me back. I don’t want to have this conversation; I’m not ready, but I guess it’s now or never.
“I guess I’ll see you inside,” Rick says before he walks through the doors.
“Don’t run,” Jake tells me once his friend is gone.
“Jake—” I start, but he doesn’t let me finish.
“Just trust me. Give me your trust, and I promise you’ll never regret it,” he says passionately. “Just don’t run.”
“Okay.”
Once the words are out of my mouth, he grabs me by the back of my neck and hauls me against his body, where he crushes his mouth to mine. The kiss is over before it starts and then Jake is helping me down from the vehicle. The only sign of anything amiss is my slightly smeared lipstick, but Cara can fix that really quick.
The door from the tunnel opens to a concrete hallway that leads to the back rooms of the convention center. The hallways are completely empty, and Jake takes advantage as he pins me to the wall and kisses me again. Gus clears his throat, making us both giggle like teenagers caught making out in a car.
My heart feels so light, so happy. I am happy. For the first time since this whole thing began, I think everything is going to work out with Jake. Maybe we got together under unconventional circumstances, but maybe, just maybe, we’re meant to be.
As we make our way farther up the hallway, angry words are being shared in hushed tones, but it’s clear Cara and Rick are arguing again.
It’s also clear I was very wrong. Heartbreakingly wrong. I had foolishly placed my trust in the one person that I knew I shouldn’t and I am paying dearly for it now.
“Stop calling me a bitch,” she hisses. “I did what I had to do, and I did it for you, you ungrateful bastard.”
Rick laughs harshly. “Don’t lie. You acted coldly and calculatingly. You thought of nothing but yourself, never thinking of who might get hurt with your actions.”
“No, baby,” she says snidely. “That’s all you. I never stooped so low as to blackmail a woman into being in a relationship with my bestie. You and Chancellor really take the cake.”
“I told you that in confidence!” he shouts. “I wanted you to see that I’m not a monster.”
“And look around, no one’s here to hear it,” she says, but when they both turn and look, Jake an
d I are standing there. My face, which I couldn’t control even if I tried, has to show the hurt I’m feeling slashed across it in bold lines.
I look over at Jake, and his face is carefully blank.
It’s true. Everything Cara just said is true. I haven’t seen the cool politician side of him in the last two months. I guess he was just keeping his true nature locked away.
“Grace,” Cara gasps. “I’m so sorry.”
“Save it,” I snap. I feel numb, but I know it won’t last long. I need answers, and then I need to get out of here. “Were you ever going to tell me the truth?”
She swallows audibly but then at least answers me honestly. “No.” Thank God, because I couldn’t bear it if she lied to me right now.
“And you?” I prompt, turning to Jake. “Were you ever going to tell me the truth?”
“No,” he says low. “But Grace—” He starts reaching out for me, but I throw my hands up and back away.
“I told you I loved you!” I scream.
“And I love you!” Jake shouts back.
“No,” I say sadly. “You don’t. You never once said it until now. Now, when I can’t believe a Goddamned thing that comes out of your mouth.”
“That’s not true and you know it.”
“I don’t know anything,” I trade barbs.
“I have always loved you, but you wouldn’t give me the fucking time of day!” he thunders. “What was I supposed to do?”
“Not fuck everything that walked by, Jake!”
“What would you have me do? Become a monk like Rick?” Jake roars. “He hasn’t fucked a woman since his wife left him when we were deployed, I’m guessing, until he fucked her last night.”
“And look what good that did!” I shout back. “You’re both monsters.”
“You don’t believe that,” he says with hurt flashing in his eyes. Even after everything, I hate that I’ve caused him pain. But he should have been honest with me from the beginning.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” I say sadly. “I have to go.”
“No!” Jake growls, but I’m running. I should have ran months ago. Then I wouldn’t have lost my heart to a man who cheated to win it. “Grace!”
“No, Jake,” I hear Rick say. “Let her go. For now.”
I don’t stick around to find out what that means. I just run. Like my gut told me to do in the beginning.
I was wrong when I said my heart was breaking this morning, because now it’s completely and irrevocably shattered. Maybe it’s partly my fault anyway. I had so loved the way he lied.
“Is There Trouble in Paradise?”
Chapter 20
Runaway
Tall Pines, Texas
Three days later
Lights. Lights are bright, and my eyeballs feel like there are shards of glass in them. I suppose crying your eyes out for three days will do that. Not just crying, but the kind of sobbing that is accompanied by screaming and wailing, so my throat feels like I drank too much whiskey while screaming Janis Joplin songs.
That actually doesn’t sound like too bad of a plan. I know there’s a bar in this town, because I’ve heard Angie mention it before.
I’m awake. I’m awake, but I don’t open my eyes. Maybe if I keep them closed tight enough, this nightmare will go away. But it won’t. This nightmare is my life. I finally found a man who checked all of my boxes. He knew me, he really got me in ways that no one ever had before, and he loved me good and well.
“Yeah, Jules,” I hear Angie say. “She’s here.”
I don’t want to face Angie yet. I’m not ready. Although, I know she’s been ready for the whole sordid tale for days now. All while her sweet husband, Cody, shoots me nervous glances. It’s not like a Chinook helicopter is going to materialize out of nowhere in the sky late one night full of special operators in black cargo pants to carry us all away to an unknown location and kill us for knowing their secrets. Jake doesn’t have those kinds of connections—yet. Although, in less than two weeks, he could very well be President Elect. I haven’t bothered to watch the news or pick up a paper, so I have no idea where he is in the polls now.
And then three days ago, I found out it was all a lie. A lie he had orchestrated and had his political henchman help carry out.
“GRACE!” JAKE SHOUTED MY name. He pleaded with me to come back.
“No, Jake,” I heard Rick say while he held Jake back. “Let her go. For now.”
“Ms. Sanders!” Gus shouted as he ran after me. “Grace! Dammit, stop!”
“No!” I shouted as I ran down the hall. Gus, a former Marine, caught up with me easily before I hit the doors to escape.
“Grace,” he said calmly as he shook me gently by the shoulders to get my attention. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“I don’t want to,” I cried. “I just need to go. Let me go. Why can’t you just let me go? I have to get out of here.”
“I will,” Gus said as he held me in his arms like one would a child. “But I need to know you’re going to be safe. So clear your head right fucking now.”
Gus had never taken that tone of voice with me before, but he’s right. I have to clear my head and formulate a plan. And fast. Rick won’t hold Jake back for long. And I want to be gone before he lets go.
I let out a shaky breath to try to quell my rising panic. “You’re right. What do I do?”
“We’re going to get you to the car rental outside this town and then you’re going to drive to a private airport and board a flight back to New York, where I will have an agent waiting to meet you,” Gus explains. I nodded. I needed to get to a car rental place, but I wasn’t going back to New York, at least not then.
“Okay,” I lied to one of the few people I still respected. “I’ll follow your lead.”
“Let me radio the other agents on the premises and update them,” he said before touching his clear earpiece I never noticed with the tip of his index finger. “This is Raider. I have the Nightingale and am moving her to an alternate location. Ghost needs coverage. Monk has his hands full.”
There was so much there that I couldn’t even begin to decipher it, so I didn’t. I don’t care anymore. Jacob Chancellor had my heart, and he smashed it to pieces.
“Let’s go,” Gus said to me before loading me into one of the SUVs.
“Thank you.”
Gus got behind the wheel and drove me for forty-five minutes to just outside the town we were in, where no one would recognize me. At least, I hoped not. Gus walked me into the small car rental agency and helped me procure a car, mainly by handing me my purse so I could hand over my ID and credit card.
Once a small SUV with all the bells and whistles including GPS was brought around, I climbed in the driver’s seat. Gus stood over me like a big brother. I needed to remind myself that he works for Jake and not me. Everyone was loyal to Jake, and by way of that awful token, not a one was loyal to me. Even Cara. When the hurt has eased a bit and the fog clears, I was sure I’ll realize she was stuck in an unfortunate situation. But that’s a song for another time.
“Remember,” he said. “Go straight to the airport. I’ve plugged it into the GPS for you already.”
“Thank you,” I replied and meant it. He got me out of there when I needed it.
He shut the door, and I buckled my seatbelt before starting the engine. I waved to Gus, who stood on the curb, ready to head back to his duties to the senator, and I merged onto the highway. I drove two exits up the highway in the direction of the airport when I spotted a big warehouse store. I pulled into the parking lot, checking my mirrors the whole time. My phone rang, but I didn’t reach for it. I didn’t care anymore.
I grabbed my bag from the passenger seat and ran inside. I pulled a shopping cart from the rack, dropped my bag in the baby seat, and headed for the women’s section. I pulled leggings, tees, a ball cap, and sweatshirts from the bargain racks. A pack of cotton panties and a couple plain cotton bras like the one I had worn under my sheer e
ngagement dress were next, my heart panging at the thought of the beautiful photo that still sits on the front page of every news site.
My phone buzzed in my bag.
I grabbed a bag of plain white socks and then pushed my cart to the shoe department. I picked a pair of cheap white sneakers and moved on to the beauty section. I loaded up a toothbrush, face wash, a comb, deodorant, and a box of tampons before heading to the register. I checked out quickly and hurried into the ladies’ room, where I don the leggings, tee, sweatshirt, and ball cap.
My phone buzzed again, and I pulled it out of my bag. I had five missed phone calls from Jules, eight from Cara, three from Rick, and forty-seven from Jake. When he didn’t get through calling, he began texting.
JAKE: Call me.
JAKE: It’s not what you think.
JAKE: Baby, I love you. Please call me.
My heart clenched at his saying he loved me. If he loved me, he wouldn’t have fucking lied to me. How could he do this to me? To us?
JAKE: Dammit, please call me.
JAKE: Don’t do this, Grace.
The kicker was the next message. Guilt poured through me. But how could he accuse me of giving up on us when he never even gave us a chance to begin with?
JAKE: You promised you wouldn’t run.
JAKE: Gus says you’re not at the airport. Damn it, Grace. Don’t do anything stupid.
JAKE: Please, just come back to me. I’ll explain everything.
JAKE: Pick up the phone, Grace.
JAKE: Rick says they have a ping on your phone. Gus is coming for you. I promise I’ll never lie or withhold the truth from you again. Just come back to me.
JAKE: Don’t run.
Shit! I couldn’t wait around to find out how this drama would end, so I did what Jake just told me not to do—I ran. But not before I dropped my brand-new cell phone on the floor of a Walmart bathroom and stomped it beneath my sneaker-clad heel.
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