“You prefer I bend you over my footboard instead? Sweet Virginia, that’s no problem.”
“No. Well, maybe… It’s just I’ve been told I’m pretty good with my hands. Seems a shame to tie them up.” He laughed and a little of the anxiety she’d been carrying around since the debate lightened. “You’re not upset about the…um…the debate?”
“We should talk about it. Later.”
Uh-oh. The tone of his voice didn’t change, but the words struck her as slightly ominous. “You warned me Justin might tell Tom, but I didn’t think Tom would take aim at me like that at the end of the debate. I dodged the bullet—barely—but I should have planned a better response.”
“Better than a lie, you mean?”
Now she heard a note of censure, loud and clear. “I didn’t lie,” she replied, knowing she sounded defensive. “It was more of a ‘no comment’. What did you want me to say?”
“Uh-uh. I’m not going to put words in your mouth. I’ve got other plans for it.”
Okay, that got her cascading again, but she took the phone off speaker, even though her windows were closed, and replied, “We have to be more careful from here on out. Ms. Van Hendler cornered me after the debate, mentioned seeing a car she didn’t recognize parked on our street, and asked who I’ve been entertaining these past few weeks. She didn’t come right out and say it, because she can play cat-and-mouse like a damn panther, but she suspects it’s you, especially after what Tom said.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “It’s like the walls are closing in.” To combat the feeling, she opened her door a few inches.
“We are being more careful,” he pointed out. “Any more careful, and I’ll have to drag my ass back to Annapolis for the latest covert training. This need for secrecy disappears after the election, right?”
“Yes.” Unless I win. Obviously, if she became mayor the secrecy would have to continue. She couldn’t risk her reputation, or hamstring her effectiveness as a leader by getting caught in a sex scandal, which is exactly what sleeping with her adversary’s son would amount to around these parts. Something told her not to bring that up right now. They were already balanced on a tightrope over what felt like a huge, gaping argument. Shaun sounded annoyed with the precautions—she refused to call it deceit—they were taking to avoid discovery. Tonight wasn’t the time to talk long-term strategies. It might not be a conversation he was willing to have—ever.
The realization hurt more than she expected. “The election will definitely change things,” she murmured.
“Good. So we’ll be careful a little bit longer. Hopefully our luck will hold out.”
Her interior light cast a glow on the strip of pavement visible beneath her door. A new penny shined up at her. She leaned down, retrieved it, and held the tiny talisman in the center of her palm. The profile of honest Abe faced up. “Speaking of luck, I just found a penny.”
“Great. Bring it with you tonight.”
“Why?” She tossed it into the cup holder in her center console.
“Heads, I tie you to the headboard. Tails, I bend you over the footboard.”
“Oh.” See? There you go. He’s all about the sex. This will fizzle out sooner rather than later. He’ll move on as soon as a job comes through. The thought should have leveled her out, but instead her misguided heart bashed into an iceberg of disappointment and started sinking into her stomach.
“It’s only fair you make the toss,” he said. “I’ve already gotten my wish.”
“Have you?”
“I get to fall asleep with you in my arms, and wake up to the prettiest green eyes I’ve ever seen.”
Life boats launched. Heart rescued. Still, she couldn’t help stating the truth. “I browbeat you into it.”
“Virginia, I think you know me well enough to know I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you here. But since you appreciate clarity, let me be clear. I want you. In my bed. Tonight. Don’t be late.”
“Or what? You’ll start without me?”
“I’ll start when you get here, but you can forget about choices like headboards or footboards because you won’t make it past the hood of your car.”
Next thing she heard was a dial tone. She hit disconnect, slipped her phone into her purse, and stared out the windshield at the hood of her car. The height and angle offered a thousand fascinating possibilities, and she wondered what constituted “late”. What if she started the engine and drove to his place right now? It was well after ten o’clock…somewhere.
A knock on her driver’s side window startled her out of her panty-melting musings. She turned to see Ellie standing on the other side, Tyler just behind her. Lifting her bag onto her shoulder, she exited her car. “What up, party people?”
“Your polls, from what I hear,” Tyler drawled, and led the way to the pub. “Ellie says you kicked ass at the debate this afternoon.”
“I said you kicked butt.”
“Well, thanks, either way. I felt like it went well.”
“Sorry I missed it.” He held the door open for her and Ellie.