by Kim Law
What were they doing? Her breaths panted out of her as she looked around, wide-eyed, at their surroundings. The driver had to know what was going on back here.
She pushed against his hand, pausing his movements. “Stop.”
The word was barely more than a whisper, and absolutely filled with uncertainty, but his movements ceased instantly. His ragged breathing matched hers, and she almost cried out in pain at the thought of climbing off his lap and out of his car.
With shaking hands, she reached to refasten her bra, but he shoved her hands out of the way. He closed the undergarment and smoothed her shirt over her without saying a word. All the while, a muscle ticked in his jaw.
When finished, he dropped his hands to the seat and glared. “We are not done. I’ll see you to your room tonight, but don’t plan on it happening again.”
She lifted off his lap and scooted to the edge of the seat, no longer able to look at him. “Please, stay in the car. I can see myself to my room.”
“Vega.” His hard voice pulled her gaze back to his. “Say it. It’s not over.”
She shook her head and whispered. “I can’t.” A tear slipped out the corner of one eye.
After exiting the car, her bag slung over her arm, she couldn’t keep from leaning down to look in one last time. Though he was still the man she’d played with in the sun the last two days, he now wore the air of the stoic businessman with the reputation for getting everything he went after.
“Thanks for everything.” Her voice was soft. Sad. “I’ll be at your office tomorrow morning at eight.”
“And tomorrow night you’ll be in my home.”
Vega bit the inside of her lip to control her emotions. “No. Tomorrow night I’ll come back here, exactly as I will every day this week.”
They stared at each other, both unwilling to give in.
Her smile shook as she lifted the corners of her mouth. “You’re a good man, JP.”
She stepped from the limo without another word and rushed into the building before she burst out in tears. The last thing she wanted was to end things, but what they’d had wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. They were purely chemistry and excitement.
And if she told herself that enough, she might eventually believe it.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
JP STORMED INTO his office the next morning, still fuming at Vega’s refusal to admit they weren’t over. He also had to acknowledge that part of his anger stemmed from the fact that no matter how he’d tried, she’d refused to budge on talking about what had happened in her past. He needed her to open up to him. They couldn’t move ahead if there wasn’t trust between them.
A niggling voice in the recesses of his mind questioned why he hadn’t yet told her of his own past. The dyslexia that had always been there, tainting everything he did. He consoled his guilt with the knowledge that he would show her the school this week, as well as tell her of his plans to fund similar programs across the country. No one should grow up ashamed of themselves.
But at the moment, his fury boiled from the fact he’d let her disturb his morning routine. Though he’d barely gotten any sleep, he’d risen at the normal early hour, and his frustrations had caused him to slam things a bit too much. The coffee cup breaking when he’d set it in the sink should have been his warning. He hadn’t heeded the message, however. When he’d stepped into his shower, he’d rung the glass door on its frame. It had promptly shattered, thousands of glass crumbles falling into a heap and water spraying over the room.
He was only fifteen minutes late, but he was never late.
Beverly looked up when he neared, a smirk on her face as if she already knew about his bad morning. “Something eating at you, boss?”
Her use of the less formal boss pulled him up short. “Why would you ask?”
She shrugged. “Just find it odd you’ve spent your life keeping the media out and yet there was someone here with video equipment when I arrived this morning, swearing you’d given her permission to follow you around the whole week.”
“She’s already here?” His gaze shot to his closed office door.
“Has been for thirty minutes. And quite a fetching young lady, I must add,” Beverly snickered. “Something tells me she’s the reason for your sour mood this morning.”
He growled. “She can be annoying.”
“Most sharp ones can.”
He pulled his gaze back from his office door and studied Beverly. “You typically have good instincts with people.”
“The best.”
“And I take it you like her?”
She gave a short nod. “I think she’s great. Possibly enough to bring you down to a human level.”
He wouldn’t have put it that way, but he thought Vega was good for him too. He just had to show her that as well. “Can you call my cleaning people and a repairman, please? The master bath needs cleaning and the shower door has to be replaced. Today.”
“I’ll get on it.”
“When’s my first appointment?” He moved toward his door.
“Nine o’clock.”
“Don’t disturb me until then.”
When he entered, the first thing he noticed was that Vega was wearing more new clothes. These fit as well as the ones they’d purchased on the islands. She turned when the door clicked softly behind him.
“JP,” she started, her voice holding a breathlessness he liked. She cleared her throat and began again. “Thank you again for this opportunity. I hope it’s okay that your assistant let me in so I could get set up. I wanted to get some shots of you starting your day.”
“Of course.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was gorgeous. Though her hair was once again clamped to the back of her head, she wore a glow from spending the last two days in the sun.
She inclined her head toward the camera positioned on the tripod. “All right if I start?”
“Certainly.”
“Okay, then.” She licked her lips before reaching up and hitting a button. A small red light came to life and glowed from the camera. “Go on about your business exactly as you normally would, please. Just pretend I’m not here.”
Like that was possible. He crossed the room and sat at his desk as if this was any other day, and he wasn’t simply waiting for the right time to prove they weren’t over. “I see you fit in time for shopping.”
A hint of pink touched her clear skin as she glanced at the trim-fitting dress. The top was a wraparound style with a single button at her waist, while the bottom hugged her curves and ended modestly above the knees. The orange was bright, but not overly so, and complemented her complexion perfectly.
“The hotel boutique was still open last night,” she explained. “This seemed more appropriate than cargos since I’ll be with you for appointments and site meetings.”
He flipped through the messages Beverly had left from the previous day. “You know there are things I won’t allow you to record, right? Some of my dealings are confidential.”
“Of course.” She fidgeted in place. “I appreciate this opportunity and will do whatever you say.”
He looked up at her, doing his best to control the desire to stride across the room and take her up against a wall. “Anything at all?”
She didn’t pause at the loaded question. “Anything concerning the interview.”
This wouldn’t be easy. Clearly she still had her mind wrapped around the thought that what they’d discovered over the last two days was over. He’d simply have to show her she was wrong.
Moving his mouse, he woke the computer and logged into his e-mail. Beverly had flagged the items he needed to attend to, and had also sent an e-mail marked “Personal.” He opened it to find a link to a tabloid site. Those links rarely produced anything he enjoyed seeing.
Glancing over at the camera, he found Vega chewing on her bottom lip as she watched the flipped-down screen. Though she could no doubt see him, she wasn’t looking directly at him, and that annoyed him. He wanted her as aware o
f him as he was of her.
With a quick click of the mouse, the link brought up the shot they’d been waiting for. He and Vega making out in the alley, her bikini top down around her waist.
Luckily, her head was at an angle making it difficult to determine who she was, but there was no doubt it was him enjoying a naked breast. This was not a good way to start off a political career.
On the other hand…damn, she had nice breasts. Ones he’d personally like to see again as soon as possible.
“You might want to take a look at this.” He motioned to his monitor.
Vega’s gaze zoomed to his. “I don’t want to get on camera. If I do I’ll just have to edit it out.”
“Then turn it off.”
Tension crackled as he watched her trying to decide whether to do as he said or not. She was no idiot. He was pretty sure she could figure out that whatever it was very likely had to do with her. She didn’t turn off the camera, but she did finally slide out from behind the tripod and head his direction.
He waited until she stepped behind his desk then rolled back to give her space.
She leaned in, fire flitting through her eyes before it smoldered and they turned a dull brown. “I told you this would happen. Being together was such a bad idea.”
“Nothing about you and me is a bad idea.” He pointed to the picture, where, thankfully, her exposed side was mostly covered with his hand. “Even that wasn’t a bad idea, just wish we’d thought it out a bit more so we didn’t get caught. I’ll no doubt be hearing from my mother soon.”
Before he could finish his sentence, his phone rang. He shot a glare at the closed door, wishing Beverly had followed his orders and not bothered him. He couldn’t seem to get anyone to do what he wanted anymore.
But since she’d sent a call straight through, that meant it was either his mother or an emergency.
He glanced at the call number and picked up the receiver. “Hello, Mother.”
“Have you seen the Internet this morning, Jackson?”
Ignoring her for the moment, he studied Vega, who looked at the photo one second longer then quietly moved away. Her shoulders drooped as if the world had sat down on them.
“All of the Internet, or something in particular?”
“Don’t be a smart-ass.” His no-nonsense mother was in full force this morning. “Have you seen it or not?”
“Looking at it as we speak.”
“Do you know what this looks like?”
He chuckled. “It looks like I had a really good weekend.”
She went dead silent and he waited. He may be doing what she wanted with his life, but that didn’t mean he was playing her games.
A long sigh finally filled the void. “That’s all you’ve got? You had a good time?”
“I did have a good time. Excellent, in fact.” He snuck a quick glance at Vega, who was now looking out the window over the heart of the city. She was using one finger to trace a pattern against the glass. It looked as if she were outlining the other buildings.
“There isn’t a name tied to this one yet, but clearly you went away with Vega. I assume it’s her?”
Since Vega had been identified in the beach shot, as well as the clip he’d caught on the news that morning of the two of them exiting his plane, it would look even worse if this were with a different woman. Might as well come clean. “Yes, mother. It was Vega.”
Vega’s shoulders stiffened.
“And you’re letting her do the interview now.” It wasn’t a question. Probably she’d gotten the information out of Beverly.
“We actually just started filming, so if you don’t mind—”
“Wait.” His mother’s voice was tight. “I’m glad you’re doing the interview, Jackson. Really. I think it could be excellent coverage for you.” She paused before continuing. “You get final approval?”
“Of course.”
“Then I think it’s an excellent idea…”
“But?”
“Well…” It wasn’t like his mother to beat about the bush.
“What is it, Mother? I’m busy and I have a meeting in less than an hour I need to prepare for.”
“You’re sleeping with your interviewer, Jackson. That will look bad as well.”
He didn’t comment. He knew she was right, but there was nothing he could do to change the fact. “Anything else?”
“I just think that…well, Vega seems nice enough, but maybe she isn’t the right one to be hanging around with…that way.”
“That way?” He could not believe just because he was letting his mother talk him into office, she now thought she could dictate who he did and did not see. He may never have lived up to her expectations since he hadn’t been able to read in his youth, but she did not get a say in his choice of women. “You mean you don’t think I should sleep with her, or you don’t think I should bring her home for dinner?”
At the question, Vega spun around. Eyes wide, she shot him a hard look.
He winked at her.
“There’s no need to get snippy, Jackson. You know I’m only looking out for you, same as always. I only want what’s best for you.”
“Yeah?” What she thought was best, she meant. “Well, staying out of my love life would be best for me, Mom. Anything else you wanted?”
He heard the soft release of air as she opened her mouth to respond, then clearly thought twice about whatever she’d been intending to say.
“Fine,” she said. “It’s your life and I can’t tell you how to live it. I have no problem with young men having good times, but you’ve got to think about where you’re having these good times these days. This picture of you and her out in public like that…it doesn’t look good, Jackson. Imagine what people will think. Imagine what Governor Chandler will think.”
“Beverly has already called our lawyer to get it taken down.” He would make sure of that, but given how well Beverly did her job, he was confident it had already been handled. But he had no idea how to make this better in the governor’s eyes. “Anything else?”
“Just be careful. This is what you’ve wanted for so long. Don’t damage it before you even get started.”
He stared at the receiver, amazed as always that she actually thought this was his dream. But he couldn’t disappoint her by telling her the truth. He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I’ll call the governor. Any chance this will affect his decision?” He shook his head because he knew better than to think it wouldn’t matter. “Do you think it’s already affected his decision?”
“I’ll talk to him,” she said. “I’ll run a little cleanup, but he believes in us, he has for years. Surely this won’t be enough to pull his support. But you have to be more careful in the future, Jackson. He can’t let too many situations like this go.”
JP nodded, resignation filling him at the big mistake sitting in front of him he needed to correct. “I’ll go over, get an appointment with him. I’ll make sure he understands it won’t happen again.”
His mother got off the phone, and he turned to Vega, who still stood gaping at him.
“You were talking about me?”
He waggled his eyes, trying to force himself into a better mood. “Who else have I been caught in public fondling the breasts of lately?” Actually, ever. He was normally very careful about such things.
“But you told your mother it was me. Couldn’t you at least have kept that part a secret?”
He shrugged and stood. “It’s not like it won’t be confirmed soon enough anyway, probably already is.”
“I don’t get why you aren’t mortified.” She flapped her arms in the direction of his computer. “You have my naked breast in your hand!”
“Not at the moment.” He stood, but when she stiffened, he changed his course and moved to her camera instead of her. Leaning down, he glanced through the eyepiece and repositioned the lens until Vega filled the center of the shot. “Though I wouldn’t mind putting it there again.”
“Stop it.” S
he glanced back at his desk, gnawing on her bottom lip once again. “What do we do to clean this up? Will your lawyer really get it taken down?”
He zoomed in on her face. She was even hotter when riled up. “Probably within the hour. But you know it’ll pop up somewhere else.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her mouth. “And even with the X-rated version taken down, someone will still have a cleaned-up shot out there.”
She paced to the desk and back to the window, and he followed her with the camera.
“You look awesome, you know. Did I mention that?”
Vega glanced over at his words and pursed her lips. “Quit messing around, JP. I had that perfectly lined up where I wanted it.”
“I like recording you.”
“Well, the point of the recording is to capture footage for the interview.”
“And I told you, you should be a part of the interview.” He peeked out over the top. “You should watch this later. You glow on camera.”
For a second, she stared directly into the lens, her brown eyes deep and intense as thoughts ran back and forth through her mind. He would have paid big money to know what she was thinking. She then dismissed her thoughts as easily as she did him, and turned back to the window. “I told you how this was going to play out. It’s all about you. Not me.”
“And I asked you to consider doing the live portion yourself.”
“I already considered it.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She sighed, a long, frustrated sound. “It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not. I considered it. Case closed.”
He flipped the switch and turned the camera off, then moved to the window to stand behind her. He reached one arm around her and rested it on the glass, putting his body within inches of hers. “Okay,” he whispered. “Case closed.” He nudged his nose against the back of her neck. “For now.”
“What are you doing?” She stiffened. Her tone said outrage, but he also caught the slight tilt of her neck.
