The tiny phone felt like a lead brick pressing against my palm. I lifted it to my ear and tried to not wince at the sound of my father’s exasperated sigh.
“Hi, Daddy.”
The door closed behind Reese as she left me alone.
“Maddie.” The amount of disappointment packed into one word was a clear example of how my father could affect people. I immediately cringed and fought the urge to chew on my fingernail.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” I whispered the words softly.
“Sorry you got caught?” I could picture him leaning back in his chair and frowning.
“That too.” My smile was short-lived. “Mostly I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
“That’s something, but not enough.” My father didn’t pull punches.
“I’m going with Jake.” This time I didn’t stop myself from chewing on my thumbnail. If they wanted me to feel inferior and pathetic, working with Jake was the perfect way.
“It’s a start.” His eyes would be narrowed, his left pointer finger tapping on the arm of the chair.
“Daddy, you’re sending me out with Jake. What more could you possibly want from me? You know how much I hate doing press. This is basically torture. Are you going to throw me in Guantánamo next?”
“You’re so dramatic.” My father’s chuckle surprised me. “I’m sending you with Jake because he needs someone on his side.”
I let that sink in for a minute. “Not to punish me for breaking into an animal clinic?”
Part of me wanted to ask if he had put me to work with Jake because he would tell on me if I did something wrong. The only other time my father had been angry with me—truly angry—with me had been the time Jake told him I was spending time with Nate Renson. I’d been told to avoid Nate Renson at all costs and instead had run straight to him with the intent of pissing everyone off.
And I’d succeeded, though not how I’d planned because of Jake and his big mouth.
“That was a fringe benefit.” His words were casual, but that was misleading when it came to my father.
“What are you not telling me?”
“Roughly a billion things.” His laugh was genuine.
“Dad.” I gritted my teeth and tried to stay calm. “What’s going on?”
“You’re an adult, Maddie. An adult. I can’t ground you. Technically I could because I’m President of the United States, but I won’t do that. It would only backfire.” He stopped for a minute and I took a deep breath. “I love that you’re brilliant and passionate. I don’t want to take that away from you.”
“I get it from you.” I closed my eyes.
“You get it from your mother.” His voice took on a wistful note.
“She would have been holding the flashlight.” I smiled, even though tears gathered in my eyes.
“That is quite likely true.” He chuckled. “Then again, she would have been frustrated by your short-sighted plan.”
“I had an organization willing to try and rehabilitate them.” I frowned and thought about the people I’d need to contact.
“They’ve been locked in cages for years. They don’t know how to interact, to be normal dogs. The chances that they would ever be able to live a normal life are beyond slim.” He sighed. “You mean well, but you can’t just throw them out in a yard and expect them to play fetch.”
“I’m supposed to just count them as a lost cause then?” My eyes drifted back to the newspaper on the table. “I guess it doesn’t matter. They’re dead now.”
“Maddie.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“The only thing they did wrong was be born, Daddy.” I hoped he hadn’t heard the catch in my voice.
“Then you have to stop the process. Change it so that there are no more animals born in cages.”
“What do you mean?” I lowered my voice.
“Find a sponsor and take it to the House.”
“Propose a bill? They get stopped in the Senate every time someone tries.” I shook my head. “Too many people try to add unimportant things and it drowns.”
“Then make sure it doesn’t drown.”
I could hear someone talking in the background and knew that my time was almost up. When your father is the President there aren’t a lot of long heart-to-heart talks. So I waited while he sorted out whatever someone needed.
“I have to go.” His voice had lost some of its warmth and I knew he was slipping back into the role of Commander-in-Chief.
“If I can get a bill through the Senate you’ll sign it?” I gripped the phone tightly.
“I’ll sign it. I have no one I need pander to.” I could imagine his smile. He believed in his job, his role in the world, but was more than ready to be free of the strings that came with his office.
Wheels spun in my head. I hated politics, but knew they were sometimes a necessary evil. Did I really want to get involved with that hellish nightmare? You started out selling tiny bits of your soul to accomplish some good and before you knew it, you were so entrenched there was no hope of escape.
As if reading my thoughts my father lowered his voice once again and said, “It’s the only way to make it permanent, Maddie.”
“I don’t want to fall down the rabbit hole.”
“Then don’t.” Someone started talking in the background and I knew my call was over.
“I’ll talk to you soon, Dad.”
“Wait. You’re the daughter of the President, Maddie. Use it. Own it.” His words were edged with intent, reminding me that he was the leader of the free world. “You’ve given up a lot over the years and might as well get something you want out of it.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think about it, Maddie. Jump in and make it happen. That’s what you do best. I love you.”
The phone clicked and I sighed before setting it back down on the table. I glanced back at the article about the slaughtered beagles and fought my tears. I’d failed them.
A quick knock was followed by the door opening and someone stepping into the room. Quickly wiping at my eyes I stood up and turned around, tripping slightly on one of the high heels I’d grudgingly worn. I was expecting one of the aides; instead I fell into Jake’s arms. The last person in the world I would have ever wanted to see me in such a weak moment.
Tall, striking Jake Simmon. He dropped his cane, letting it clatter to the ground, and steadied me with both hands. I stared into his brown eyes and found that my throat had gone dry. How many times had I fantasized as a teenager of being this close to him? Far too many.
His face looked sharper and the white scar under his right eye gave him a roguish air. Standing so close to him made it hard to ignore the way his suit jacket fit tightly across his chest and how tight the muscles of his arms were under my fingers.
As he studied my face, my heart hammered. I shouldn’t like being around Jake. That was a dead-end road that I had roped off years ago, but being around him was always a shock to my senses. He’d been gone so long I’d lost my immunity to his charm, which was something I’d relied on during the campaigns and endless dinners. He wasn’t the poster child of the perfect political son for no reason. He was gorgeous before, but now there was something dangerous under his eyes that made my knees weak. Jake wasn’t that perfect, pristine boy anymore. He had grown and matured.
And from the way my pulse was racing, I obviously liked what I saw.
“Have you been crying?” Warm fingers touched my cheek and I jerked in surprise at the sparks that danced through my blood. I couldn’t remember if he had ever touched me except for obligatory dances at celebrations and fund-raisers. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“No, I’m fine.” I stepped out of his reach and rubbed under my eyes. Tearing my gaze from his I leaned over and picked up his cane. “It’s allergies.”
“We’ve known each other too long for you to lie to me.” He let his hand fall back to his side. I handed him the cane and stepped back. “Someone told you that I was
on my way, huh? We all know how much you hate me. I’m surprised you didn’t jump out of the window.”
“It was an option.” I rolled my eyes. I guess I wasn’t the only one that remembered our last meeting hadn’t been pleasant. “I also considered hiding in the closet, but was too slow.”
There! Take that, perfect Jake Simmon. I was quick on my feet today.
“So, you know why I’m here.” The way his eyes ran over me as if taking stock was obnoxious.
“I’m your bodyguard. When the crazy women start running after you, I’m to dive in the way.” And damn if they wouldn’t come running when they saw how he looked all grown up and rough around the edges.
“I’m glad they have a plan.” He scratched his chin. “Getting bombarded with underwear and bras is a health issue.”
“If they got to know you, it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“What does that mean?” His head cocked to the side.
“I thought you lost your leg, not your brain.” My eyes widened, but it was too late to take it back. Why was it that I said the most horrible things around him? Even when we’d been younger I’d had diarrhea of the mouth. Especially around Jake.
He threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t think they’re after my brain, Maddie. Thankfully the part they’re most interested in is still fully functional.”
His lazy smile and sparkling eyes had me swallowing hard.
Heat crept up my neck and I fought to not look away. “Well, good for you.”
There went my witty responses. Really, what was I supposed to say to something like that?
I’d always suspected he’d hated the attention he garnered, but maybe I’d been naive. There was no denying his appeal to women. When he’d cut his hair for the Marines there’d been girls crying on the news asking him to be allowed to grow it back. As if his wavy hair was a national treasure.
Steeling my nerves I let my eyes run over him. He was different from the teenager that had stolen a million girls’ hearts—different from the boy that I had secretly wanted. In the past, he’d barely acknowledged the attention he’d received from the girls—and the women. But something had changed; and not just his extremities. There was a darkness behind his eyes that made my heart ache, despite his pompous attitude. I’d seen it on the news when he had first returned to the States and was sad to see it still lurking deep down.
The difference also affected how he held himself, the relaxed confidence in his movements. Despite his injuries he knew that he was capable of handling himself no matter what was thrown his way. He moved toward the water pitcher and poured himself a glass of water and handed me one as well. I realized I’d been staring and took a gulp of water as I looked away.
Where was everyone? Weren’t we supposed to be having a meeting? I was never alone for this long without some aide asking if I wanted anything. A third person would help make my awkward banter a little more bearable. Being alone with Jake Simmon typically led to arguing and hollering.
Before he’d left for officer training, he’d told my father about Nate Renson and I’d called him all sorts of names. Including jealous. Heat curled up my neck and I tried to calm my nerves.
“If it was a guy, you’re more than welcome to borrow my cane to deliver a few lumps.” He took a sip of his water. Why would he think it was a guy? I looked over at him and was surprised to see the appreciative look on his face. I tried to ignore the way his eyes ran over my body and the goose bumps they left behind.
That was new and not exactly welcome. Had he been gone so long he was willing to ogle anything with boobs? He’d always treated me like I was his ugly third cousin.
“I don’t cry over men.” I shot a covert look in the large mirror over the mantel. The navy dress and nude heels were a far cry from my normal outfit of jeans and t-shirts but that was the only difference. I still had bland hair and a boring figure. My face was symmetrical, but nothing of interest. I was average in every physical way. My only redeeming point were my eyes. Despite my lackluster hair, I’d been gifted with thick, dark eyelashes that surrounded my hazel eyes.
“Is that so?” One side of his mouth turned up in a sardonic smile. I itched to punch him in it.
“Crying over men is a complete waste of time.” There, that sounded mature and worldly, right? I sat back down and tried to ignore the fluttering in my chest as he walked toward me. If he hadn’t been holding his cane, I wouldn’t have noticed his slight limp.
But it was definitely there.
“Ah, I should have known better. I seem to remember you used them to piss off your father.”
My eyebrows shot up and I snorted. “Yeah, that’s me. I’m only after one thing.”
“Several of the senators’ sons will never recover from the heartbreak.” His eyes twinkled at me as I tried to not gape at him. “You only showed interest in the ones that would piss off your family.”
What on Earth was he talking about? What senators’ sons? The only time any of them invited me to do anything was out of obligation, or some gross need to score with the President’s daughter. No, at every gala and fund-raiser, I’d been left with no dance partners.
Except for when Jake would escape the masses of giggling women and perform his obligatory dance with me. And those had been humiliating. Look at the President’s gangly daughter, poor thing. She can’t find anyone to dance with her. Oh, look! Dreamy Jake is so gallant and is offering to dance with her. Blah, blah, blah. I’d seen it on every face that looked our way.
“It wasn’t a man.” He frowned at the paper on the table next to me. “What about puppies?”
“Puppies are an entirely different matter.” I glanced at the newspaper. Men could fight for themselves, puppies didn’t have that luxury.
“And those were the ones you meant to save?” He sat down across from me and propped his cane against the side table.
“Yes.” I looked down at the cup in my hands. A silent alarm and one key-code is all that stood between me and their freedom. But I had failed and now they were all dead.
“You tried, Maddie. Sometimes, that means more than anything else.” He watched me with haunted eyes. “Sometimes knowing you tried is all you have.”
I met his gaze and wondered what had inspired the pain in his eyes. I only knew what the news had said about his accident. I couldn’t imagine the horrors he must have faced. Had people been depending on him?
“What did the police say when they realized they had arrested the first daughter?” He smiled and I knew he was trying to lighten the mood.
“Asked for pictures.” I took another sip of my water.
His laugh was a surprise again. It wasn’t the polite chuckle I remembered from years ago. It was a hearty, honest laugh that made his eyes twinkle. It also came much more readily than it would have in years past.
“How many phones did Cruella confiscate?”
“I didn’t bother to mention that little tidbit. I’m sure I’ll be hearing from her when the picture of me in handcuffs being held in the air by three smiling officers starts circulating.” I hid my grin behind my water glass.
“You’re trying to kill her, aren’t you?” His laugh filled the room again. “I hope someone is following her with smelling salts when that happens.”
“Oh, give me some credit. I didn’t really pose for any pictures.” I smiled remembering the way the cop had fumbled with my wallet when he saw my name. “They were all very proper.”
“That’s a shame. Maybe we can get one during the construction.” He settled back in his chair.
“Construction?”
“I’m tired of television shows and pointless interviews. I don’t want to just talk about veterans and the troubles they face when coming home. I want to do something about it.”
“You want to get your hands dirty?” I leaned forward excitedly. This was something I could get behind.
“I can’t go back to sitting behind a desk and smiling for cameras.” The raw truth to that was etch
ed in his face. “My mother wants me to promote this new program, but I want to do it my way. With your help.”
“Look at you, you rebel. If it means I won’t have to wear these ridiculous shoes, then you can count me in.” I kicked the shoes off and smiled at him. “What are we building?”
“Houses. So many veterans come back with nowhere to go.” Passion lit his eyes. “They should have somewhere to call home.”
“We could also add ramps, make modifications to established homes.” I looked around for a pen and paper. “That would give the media plenty of picture ops that wouldn’t require high heels or long interviews. They can just watch us actually doing something.”
I grabbed a legal pad from a desk and sat back down. “The program already has something along those lines in place, right? All we need to do is pick families that can handle the media attention and then dig in.”
“Mom has arranged for a publicist to work with us. They can work on contacting the media and arranging the camera stuff.” He leaned forward with a wicked smile. “Then we can work on getting dirty.”
My eyebrows shot up and I looked back at the paper hoping to conceal my blush. He didn’t mean that to sound so . . . naughty, I told myself.
“Your cheeks are red, MadLibs.”
When I looked back up at him his smile had grown. I hated that nickname and he knew it.
“You just try to keep up, golden boy. And don’t think I’m going to cut you any slack because of that.” I pointed at his prosthetic leg with my pen. “I’m not going to take it easy on you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” His eyes sparkled and I had the horrible sensation that I had just fallen into a different sort of rabbit hole.
Chapter 4
Jake
Maddie stood next to me, a giant fake smile plastered to her face. Oddly, it was her fake smile that made mine genuine. Over the last week, I’d grown used to her carefree smile as we made plans to work with the charity, but it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one hating being up on the stage. Flashes from cameras partially blinded me as we waited behind my mother for her to talk about her great plans to fix the country; starting with our commitment to the RCVA.
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