by Ava Miles
Rob’s eyes narrowed. “You told her about being a politician’s daughter?”
“And about going to Harvard,” she said. “I hate to name drop. It won’t stop her, though. She thinks The Grand Mountain Hotel is Sodom and Gomorrah.”
“Maybe we can turn her into a pillar of salt,” Matt joked, but the humor fell flat.
“Matt’s in trouble because of me. And that’s the last thing I want.” Jane ran her finger over the edge of her wine glass, making it sing.
“I’d love to hear your ideas, but first you need to tell me what you’ve been up to since you left Harvard and arrived here. Besides running the women’s scholarship. Great organization, by the way.”
“Couldn’t find out?” she asked him, her chocolate eyes bold now.
Rob laughed. “I did try.”
“I told you not to do that,” Matt said. “Jane, I—”
“I believe you,” she answered. “Just a quick question, Rob. Have you signed a confidentiality agreement to work with Matt?”
“Yeah. He didn’t want one, but I did. I know he’s a choir boy, but I learned a long time ago that confidentiality agreements are as much for my protection as for my clients. Then they’re not tempted to kill me when I learn all their dirty secrets.”
“Cripes, you’re acting like this is an episode of Scandal.”
“I hope not,” Jane said. “That show’s even more over-the-top than real politics, and that’s saying a lot.”
“Amen,” Rob agreed. “Okay, so what were you? Some secret spy?”
“Jane,” Matt said, kneeling in front of her. “You don’t have to do this.”
Her eyes darkened, and she smoothed the hair off his brow. “I won’t hurt your campaign if I can help it. Besides, it’s time to come clean…to everyone. We both know it. We’ll have to talk to Rhett and Liz tomorrow. Then your family.”
His chest felt like a crushed-up soda can all of a sudden. “Do you have any idea how much I love you right now?”
The soft smile she gave him was the one reserved for the moments after they’d made love, and he would have swept her into his arms right then and there if Rob hadn’t been present.
“I love you too. That’s why I’m doing this. Okay, Rob, prepared to be shocked.”
His friend leaned into the sofa’s cushions and set the beer against his chest. “Trust me, Jane. There’s no way you can shock me.”
She raised a brow and then began to describe the events that had led to her transformation into Raven, going so far as to pull her smart phone out and show him a picture from the Internet. Rob’s mouth dropped open, and then his gaze slid down Jane’s body in a way that made Matt want to punch him in the face. But he didn’t.
When she finished, she gulped the rest of her wine.
“Okay, I’m shocked,” Rob said.
Jane’s laughter sounded like it had been squeezed out of her. “I’m trying to feel emboldened by that.”
“My God, you are a woman of mystery, and I can’t say that too often. I would never in a million years have imagined you being…well, a woman like Raven.”
“And having an MBA from Harvard,” Matt added, just to keep his friend on track. “Jane’s smart and sexy. It’s a killer combination.”
Jane just smiled at him.
“So how does telling the world that you’re Raven not ruin Matt’s campaign?” Rob asked.
“I was just getting to that,” she said and held out her hand to Matt. “Come sit down again.”
He put his arm around her shoulders, seeing the tension that had crept into her muscles. “It will be hard to spin the story about me being Raven, and frankly I don’t want to be ashamed of it. But I know people will see those pictures of me dressed like that and think…well, that I’m a slut.”
Matt winced, hearing that word come out of her mouth. “They’re morons if they think that. No one has more integrity than you.”
“But you know as well as I do that people tend to judge a book by its cover,” she said. “They’ll say I’m a candidate for a new reality TV show. Politicians’ Daughters Gone Wild.”
Matt didn’t like that one bit.
“Right, Rob?”
His friend nodded.
“So, we need to give them a new story. One that shows that I’m smart and savvy, that I’m using the skills I learned as Rhett’s secret poker scout. Of course, I need to run all this by Rhett and our other colleague tomorrow.”
Matt wondered what they’d say. Elizabeth had gone out of her way to be nice to him lately and had made them an incredible gourmet meal a week ago. She’d even gone so far as to volunteer for his campaign, which had shocked Jane and brought tears to her eyes.
“What’s the plan?” Rob asked.
“I’m going to play in The Grand Mountain Hotel’s upcoming poker tournament,” she announced, so smoothly it took a moment for it to sink in.
He rose off the couch. “You what?” he almost shouted.
“I’m going to do my best to win it,” she continued, smoothing her hands down her thighs, a gesture that seemed to indicate nerves.
“But you hate the limelight,” Matt said.
“I haven’t liked it in the past, but this time I’m stepping into it as myself. With Raven, I was hiding behind a character. Everyone’s going to know it’s me now. And when I sit down and play with the same men who used to ogle me and treat me like a dumb bimbo—because that’s what I was playing—I’m going to have the satisfaction of beating the pants off them. Not literally, of course. This is professional poker, not strip.”
“A professional poker player as a girlfriend,” Rob considered, stroking his chin.
“I know there will be voters who will have serious concerns, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I was Raven. I was happy to be Raven while working for Rhett. I’ll never regret the freedom it gave me from my parents, but now it’s time to be Jane Wilcox. To bring everything I am, everything I’ve become out into the light.”
“Be tough at first, but it could work,” Rob mused, taking another swig of his beer. “Are you that good?”
Her brow knit, and this was the first time Matt could see her doubts. “Well, I don’t know. I beat Rhett almost every time when we play online, but that’s different. I’ve never done it in a live tournament.”
“And just how different is it?” Rob asked before Matt could.
She let out a slow breath. “Pretty different. Some men crumble under the pressure. Matt, you haven’t said anything. If you’re worried about how this will affect your campaign…”
He pulled her off the couch and into his arms. “You know I’ll stand beside you, whatever you do.”
“Even if it means losing the primary?” she whispered.
“Even then,” he said. “But I want to ask you again… Are you sure you want to do this? It’s a huge step.”
She rubbed her neck. “Part of me has always wondered if I was good enough to play with the big boys. I’ve dreamed about it. Fantasized about it. Now I want to go all in, as my real self with my real skills. It’s time to see what I’m made of.”
“I’m so proud of you, Jane.” He kissed her to punctuate his pronouncement. “And if we do things this way, it takes the power away from Florence Henklemeyer. What kind of a name is that anyway?”
“She’ll still make waves,” Rob said, looking away to give them some privacy, “but this just might be crazy enough to work. People might react positively to this kind of honesty.”
Matt released Jane, and they both sat down again.
“At least we’ll be calling the shots,” she said. “We know what’s true. That’s half the battle in politics anyway.”
Rob nodded.
“What will Rhett and Elizabeth say?” he asked.
“I don’t know, but this will be a big step for all of us. We’ve operated in the dark for a long time.”
“I’m coming with you to talk to them,” he said, taking her hand. “We’ll do this together.”<
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Rob stood and set his beer aside. “I have to say, Jane. You're not the woman I would have envisioned for Matt. But I think you’re the best choice he could possibly have made. I’m going to head to the spare room and let you two… Just take the dog with you if you’re leaving. I’m not good with animals. Matt, call me tomorrow when things are more definite.”
“Will do,” he said, watching his friend head out of the room.
Rob stopped at the doorway. “Jane, it was great to finally meet you. I’ll look forward to more chats. Tonight has been illuminating to say the least.”
“Thank you,” she said primly, and then tucked her legs under her and turned to Matt. “Is this plan crazy? It came to me while I was taking your uncle home.”
“How’d that go?” he asked.
“About like you’d expect. He loves you and laid it out as cleanly as Rob did.”
“That’s not much of a surprise. Uncle Arthur doesn’t mince words.”
She fingered the fold of his white dress shirt. “How will your family react?”
He pulled her onto his lap then and tucked her close. “They will be surprised. You are a woman of mystery, after all. But I have a feeling they’ll come to the same conclusion I finally did.”
Leaning in, she wrapped her hands around his neck. “And what’s that?”
“That you’re pretty awesome.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “God, I love you. You know you don’t have to do this, right? I’ll take the punches and plead the fifth about your background. I don’t want you to get hurt over this.”
“No, it’s fine. I need to own who I am. When I was with my family, I wasn’t my own person, and when I was Raven, well…I was someone else. I need to be…myself, and poker has helped me realize that in a weird way. I know that sounds dumb, but it’s how I feel.”
“I can’t say it enough. I’m so proud of you,” he whispered. “And I pretty much adore you right now. I also wish we were alone.”
“My house is only five minutes away.”
“Three if I speed.”
She clucked her tongue. “Mayoral candidates should not speed. What happens if you get a ticket?”
He was laughing as he scooped her up in his arms. They’d get Henry and take him to her house. And then he was going to make love to Jane Wilcox all night long. The politician’s daughter, the Harvard MBA, the poker scout, Raven, and the dog walker.
And the bed wouldn’t feel crowded at all.
Chapter 37
The next morning Jane and Matt prepared for their guests. Elizabeth arrived first and hugged them both right away. Yeah, her friend was making some serious strides when it came to accepting the man in Jane’s life. The biggest surprise came when Abbie arrived with Rhett.
Rhett barrel-hugged Jane and lifted her a foot off the floor, and when he put her down to shake hands with Matt, Abbie gave her a gentle hug. Elizabeth gaped like a codfish, but Rhett just winked at them. It took a second, but Jane managed to wrap her arms around Abbie and return the embrace. She had obviously decided to be more accepting of the women Rhett considered sisters.
“Thanks for coming,” she said to everyone. “Matt, will you take everyone’s coats? We’re just waiting for Mac to arrive. I figured he should be here too.”
Rhett tossed his sheepskin coat to Matt and headed straight for the fire. “It’s all over town about what Florence Henmaker pulled at your meeting last night.”
“Henklemeyer,” Abbie corrected softly, handing her navy wool coat to Matt.
“Whatever,” Rhett said. “How is it that some women get away with actions that would get most men punched?”
“Are you all right, Jane?” Abbie asked, standing there in her winter white pantsuit, pearls at her neck.
“Yes,” she responded, “but it was my worst fear come to life. I made tea and coffee for everyone. Let me serve it while we wait for Mac.”
“Don’t make this into a damn tea party,” Rhett fumed, punching the air. “That Henkle woman is going after you and Matt, which means she’s coming after us too.”
“Calm down, dear,” Abbie said softly, taking his hand. “I expect that’s why we were invited over this morning.”
“I’ll help you get the drinks,” Elizabeth said, threading her arm through Jane’s. “How bad was it?” she whispered as they walked into the kitchen.
“Bad. I felt like a newly turned Jell-O mold on the inside, but my old training kicked in. I smiled until my teeth hurt.”
“I expect that didn’t feel great.”
“Rather like having a root canal without meds.” She smoothed out the small beverage napkins, straightening the folds as her friend pulled the milk and creamer from the fridge. “I wanted to punch her for going after Matt like that and then for attacking me directly.”
“She approached you?”
Jane filled her in, and by the time she was finished, Elizabeth’s face had lost all color. “She isn’t going to stop, is she?”
“No,” Jane said, picking up the coffee tray. “But I have an idea on how to have the upper hand.”
Elizabeth hefted up the tea tray. “By giving her cement shoes and tossing her in the lake near Pohawatan Valley?”
“Cement shoes?” That made Jane laugh, and it felt good even though her throat was tight. “What have you been watching?”
“Another mob show. I’m addicted. You’ll have to come over and watch. We’ll make buttered popcorn and drink good wine.”
“I’d like that,” Jane said with a smile. A noise filtered in from the other room. “Oh, that must be Mac. We need to join the others.”
“I’ll support you, Jane. Whatever you need.”
God, she hoped so. “Don’t make that promise until you hear what I’m going to propose.”
When they returned to the sitting room, Mac was already talking with everyone in front of the fire.
She and Matt had agreed to put the dogs in her guest bedroom so they wouldn’t be interrupted. Since Rhett hadn’t asked about Annie, she knew his mind was on other matters.
Heck, so was hers.
Things were about to become very interesting.
Matt took the tray from her and placed it on the coffee table so she could greet Mac, who hugged her tight. She’d known him as long as she’d known Rhett, and he was one of the good guys.
“How are you doing after last night?” he asked. “I’ve already heard an earful from Jill. She was hot to trot at work this morning, let me tell you. I was afraid I might need to sequester her in her office to keep her from heading into town to give that woman a piece of her mind. Apparently, Florence walked into Don’t Soy with Me this morning and asked the barista if she could tape one of her son’s signs on the wall. Fortunately the barista declined and said she’d have to check with Jill first.”
“That Henkle woman has balls,” Rhett said.
This time Abbie didn’t correct him. “How about we call her Flo? It will make it easier. Jane, I’d love some tea. Is that jasmine green tea I smell?”
“Yes,” she said, pouring her a cup.
She was using her fine china today. Rhett was right. She was trying to make this into a tea party. And it was time for that to stop.
“Rhett’s right.”
“I usually am. What about this time?”
Abbie rolled her eyes.
“You can’t put lipstick on a pig,” she said.
“Or a feather boa on an armadillo,” he added, pouring himself a cup of tea. “Jane, do you really expect me to use this itty-bitty cup with my hands?”
He held up a palm that could scoop up a small child. She laughed. “I’ll get you a mug.”
“Make that three,” Matt added.
Once they were finally settled into their respective seats, Matt opting to stand beside Jane’s arm chair while Mac settled in across from her on a matching chair, and Abbie, Rhett, and Liz sat on the couch, she let out a deep sigh.
“As I was saying, I won’t try and put lipstick on a pig
. This woman…Flo is going to make trouble. If she doesn’t find out what I was really doing at Mac’s hotel, she’s going to make something up. She said last night the hotel was Sodom and Gomorrah, and since I’m from Sin City—”
“Jesus,” Rhett breathed out before Abbie elbowed him.
“Well, there’s no need to go further into her nonsense. I don’t want Matt to have to constantly be on the offensive, pleading the fifth or saying I was working on special projects.”
Elizabeth was holding her breath. Yeah, she knew what was coming now.
“I want to tell people that I was Raven, but I want to go one step further too.”
Rhett’s eyes narrowed, and Abbie took his hand. Elizabeth looked down in her lap. Mac just stared at her, waiting for her to continue.
“If I come out as Raven, people aren’t going to believe I was Rhett’s poker scout. Some might, but not without proof. They’ll cast me onto the fire as a slut and burn me.”
“Nice analogy,” Mac said. “Can we shoot for something less violent?”
“You know how this would go,” she told him. “You’ve had to handle the media each time you open a new hotel. You know that the smallest minds tend to be paired with the loudest mouths.”
He took a sip of his coffee. “Unfortunately.”
“I don’t want this to hurt your hotel either. That’s why I invited you this morning.” She set her tea cup aside, her hands trembling too much to hold it. “I want to show everyone how smart I really am. I want to play in your upcoming tournament, Mac. And I hope to make the final table.”
Elizabeth blinked at her. “But we’ve never—”
“No,” she said. “We’ve never tried, but it’s the only way I can see this working. We need to show this is above-board. People will knock Rhett around for using scouts, but it’s becoming more and more common now, and I think we can weather it. What I don’t think we can weather is the lascivious comments that they’re going to make about me as Raven, and all of you because of your association to me. I know it’s a big step for everyone, but we need to talk this through.”
“There’s another reason we should go public,” Matt finally said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “I’m not letting that woman make us cower or create further shenanigans by her unsubstantiated bullshit. I’m willing to lose the primary to be with Jane, but I don’t want this to be the skeleton that’s hidden in all of our closets.”
