by Rachel Grant
Of course, she and Josh were as pasty as the rest of them, but still, it seemed odd.
She and Josh both plucked glasses of champagne from a tray carried by a passing server and clinked glasses in a silent toast. “At least for the price tag, the champagne is free.” She sipped the bubbly wine and smiled at the glass. “And it’s good.” There were several Willamette Valley vineyards that made excellent sparkling wine. She’d be sure to check the vintage before they left tonight.
“We still haven’t found time to go wine tasting,” Josh said.
“My group doesn’t go again for another three weeks, but you and I could go. Next Saturday?”
He gave a short shake of his head. “I’m doing a final training that day before Sunday’s rally. It was a mistake for me to spend so much time at R&R. I should’ve been here, training the volunteers today.” She could see the tension in his shoulders, and he held the champagne flute in a tight grip. That quickly, his stress level had shot up.
She leaned close to him. “You don’t have to be a superhero. You deserve a break too.”
He gave her a weak smile. “I’m trying to convince myself of that, but there’s something about the timing of these rallies that makes me anxious. Like, I’m already too late in starting these trainings. Something is imminent.”
And just like that, his worry became hers. She believed Josh had good instincts, plus he’d spent the last few years studying white supremacy and militia movements to try to gauge their next move. If he was worried, there was reason to be.
“You’re training tomorrow?”
“Yes. And every night this week.”
“I’d like to go. To train.”
He frowned. “I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
That…didn’t feel great to hear. She tried not to let hurt—or anger—take over her tongue. “Are women not…allowed?”
“No. Hell no. Of course women can train with us and participate in the counterprotest protection. I just don’t want you to do it because…I’d be distracted. I might lose my focus checking on you more than the others. I had the same conversation with Ava—aside from the fact that she’s under eighteen and we aren’t training anyone who isn’t a legal adult, it would be terrifying for me to have her at a protest.” He slipped an arm around her waist and whispered, “I care about you, Maddie. I can’t risk splitting my focus when things can get dangerous.”
“That’s fair,” she said, her throat going a little dry at the emotion in his eyes. “Can I at least train? Self-defense is never a bad thing.”
“Can I think about that? Not give an answer right now?”
She nodded and scanned the crowd, searching for C-IV. Her gaze landed on a familiar face, and she let out a soft gasp of surprise.
Good Lord. She really should have considered this possibility. She huffed out a breath. At least now Cliff’s invitation made sense. He’d made it clear to Josh he wanted to buy a senator. This was the next best thing.
“What’s wrong?” Josh asked.
“I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe…” She let her words trail off. He was making a beeline for her. Had he asked Cliff to invite her? All because she’d refused to be in public with him or do anything that might be considered an endorsement?
This was so not going to be fun.
He reached her before she had a chance to say anything to Josh. He kissed both her cheeks and gave her an awkward hug. “Maddie, such a surprise to see you here.”
“A surprise for us both,” she said, inwardly cursing C-IV for this ambush. If she’d realized, she could have warned Josh.
He turned to face Josh and held out his hand. “I’m Alan Tisdale.”
“Congressman, it’s nice to meet you. Josh Warner.” They shook hands. Josh’s gaze flicked to hers in question. All she could do was give him a sorry smile.
“I recognize you from the news,” Alan said. “Such disturbing business with what happened at the rally.”
Maddie moved closer to Josh. “It’s thanks to Josh’s team of volunteers that only one person was injured.”
“Your campaign has yet to make a statement,” Josh said, and Maddie let out an internal cheer. She’d told Alan the same thing on Sunday night. He needed to make a statement disavowing the White Patriot’s assault on Desmond. “While your opponent reached out to me within hours.”
Alan stiffened. “My team is still weighing the evidence provided by the police bureau.”
Josh put an arm around her and cinched her to his side. “So, how do you know my Maddie?”
Alan gave her a baffled look, and she couldn’t suppress a laugh. It was ridiculous that she hadn’t told Josh about Alan and vice versa, but the moment was funny thanks to the look on Alan’s face.
“Your Maddie?” Alan cocked his head. “Who is this guy to you? And why haven’t you mentioned him?”
She let out a soft sigh. This wasn’t how she’d planned this introduction. Not that she’d planned it at all, but this definitely wasn’t how she’d have wanted it to happen. “Alan, this is my boyfriend, Josh.” At least this was less of a lie now than it would have been a week ago. “The relationship is new, so I didn’t mention him at dinner last week. Josh, Alan is my brother.”
Now it was Josh’s turn to give her a confused look. “Your brother is congressman and Senate candidate Alan Tisdale, and you didn’t mention it?”
Alan gave her a pained look—upset that she hadn’t seen fit to tell her boyfriend about her famous brother—but his feelings didn’t matter to her in the way Josh’s did. She hadn’t considered how her omission would hurt her sort-of-fake boyfriend. “Yes. Sorry I forgot to tell you.”
Josh laughed. “Forgot. Sure.”
She gave him a sheepish grin and shrugged. “It didn’t come up?”
His smirk combined with the light in his eyes said she’d be answering his questions later, which was totally fair. “So you’re…half siblings?”
Maddie nodded. “Different dads.” To Alan, she said, “Where’s Sharon?”
“She isn’t feeling well and decided to sit this evening out.”
Maddie had no doubt the campaign had been grueling for her sister-in-law, considering her brother used the woman as a prop. But when asked about it, Sharon denied there was a problem, and Maddie wasn’t about to make it worse by pressing her to stand up for herself. Perhaps taking the night off from a public event was a start.
“Be sure to give her my love,” Maddie said.
Alan’s gaze bounced from Maddie to Josh and back to Maddie. “How did you two meet, anyway?”
“Josh is best friends with Trina’s husband.”
“Ah. Yes. The Raptor CEO.” He gave Josh his best politician smile. “It’s uncanny how much Maddie and Trina look alike, isn’t it?”
Maddie stiffened. It was a natural statement to make—everyone commented on it at one point or another—but now, knowing what she did, it felt awkward.
Josh’s arm at her back also tensed. “I noticed the resemblance at first, but now, when I look at your sister, I only see the beautiful woman I’m crazy about.”
She couldn’t stop herself from studying his face, searching for truth in his words. She hated knowing his secret.
Alan broke into her tangled thoughts. “Mom’s going to love this one, Madds.” He glanced around. “Listen, I’ve got to work the room, and since you’re here, you can fill in for Sharon. Show a united family front.”
And that, right there, had to be why C-IV had invited her here tonight. What were the odds that Alan asked him to get Maddie to force her to publicly join his campaign?
Maddie represented the demographic where he performed most poorly: women between eighteen and forty-five on the western side of the state. Alan and his staff had been after her to campaign for him for months, to show a family-centric side of him and convince women voters that Alan would be good for the women of Oregon and the nation. He didn’t have children to use as props, so he wanted Maddie to step up.
&nb
sp; The problem was, she knew he wouldn’t be good for women if he won. And not because he had any personal beliefs, but because his views were informed by whatever was most politically expedient.
“Sorry, Alan. This is a date and not a political event for me.” She looked up at Josh, who smiled down at her, his arm tightening around her in support. “We’re here to speak with C-IV about my research for the Kocher project. Then we’re out of here.”
“You know Troy Kocher is here, right?” Alan said.
Maddie glanced around the room, and her gaze landed on Troy. She recognized the woman by his side as his sister. Next to Anne Kocher was the curator, Oliver Shields.
She should have realized they’d be here. Shields’s museum would probably receive grants from the historical society. This event could help fund his museum. Yet another reason to skip the diamond necklace.
Did Anne know about Troy’s tricked-out security belt? Did she know about his intimidation tactics? Anne had negotiated the NAGPRA contract, and Maddie had the sense she was eager to get it over with so the house could be sold. She might not be pleased to know her brother had done everything he could to slow the work down.
It might be worth talking to the woman. Maybe she could rein her brother in.
“Troy Kocher approached me before you got here, complaining about your work,” Alan said in a pained voice.
“Troy knows I’m your sister?”
Alan shrugged. “Guess you aren’t hiding it as well as you thought.”
“I’m not hiding it, Alan.”
“Yeah, you’re just not acknowledging it.” His voice was hurt.
There wasn’t anything she could say to that.
Once upon a time, she’d worshipped her big brother, and his approval had meant everything to her. But that ended when he won his party’s nomination. It wasn’t his political affiliation that mattered, it was what he’d done to win.
“It’s your campaign. Not mine. When you change your stance on women’s health care, we’ll talk.”
“I wouldn’t have won the nomination if—”
She crossed her arms. “Maybe it wasn’t worth winning if you have to betray your beliefs.” And your sister.
She turned away from him. This wasn’t the time or place for this.
She headed for the cash bar. The champagne might be good, but she wanted a real drink. Josh kept pace with her as she wove through the crowd. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have told you about Alan.” All those evening phone calls, when their conversation had flowed so easily, she could have mentioned her brother. But—she’d enjoyed those conversations so much, and talking about Alan hurt these days.
“I think I understand.”
“I promise, I’ll tell you everything later.”
“You don’t have to. I mean, eventually, yes. But not before you’re ready.”
She stopped and turned to face him. “I really, really like you, Josh Warner.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “Same,” he whispered. He glanced around the room and kept his voice low. “I don’t know why I had it in my head you were part of some idyllic family. Mental image corrected.”
She gave him an apologetic smile. “To be fair, I never said anything one way or another. Not even after our very awkward family dinner two weeks ago. Family can be so complicated.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Yeah, you probably win there.” She spotted Alan talking to a couple on the far side of the room. He was laughing and probably being his undeniably charming self. There was good reason he’d gotten as far as he had in politics. “I know Alan loves me, and truth is, even though I’m hurt, I love him. He’ll always be that larger-than-life big brother who swooped in and played with me when he was home from college. I cherish those memories. But I’m not sure if I like him anymore, if that makes sense.”
“So much sense. I struggle with childhood memories versus who my brother Ari has become on a daily basis. We were close as children, just two years apart in age and allies against our father.”
She got a fruity cocktail from the bar. They circled the room after that, looking at the history exhibits and silent auction items. “Oh, good Lord,” Maddie said when she found the Kocher family’s contribution to the event. “We can host a party of ten to spend the night in a haunted mansion and enjoy a séance in a crypt, where we will speak with the Native Americans housed in the vaults.”
“Wow. That’s crass. And horrific. Can they do that?”
“If the party is scheduled before my work is done, there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”
“No one’s bid on it, though,” Josh said.
“Thank goodness for small mercies.”
“Are you saying it wouldn’t be a good choice for my donation?” a man asked from behind Maddie.
She turned to face C-IV. “It’s another exploitation of remains his and your great-grandparents stole. I don’t care if it supports curation and museums. It’s wrong.”
“You don’t believe in gray areas, do you?” Nielsen asked.
“I know there are gray areas in this world, but this isn’t one of them.”
His gaze scanned the tables. “So which silent auction item should I bid on?”
Josh put a possessive arm around her waist again and said, “Depends on what you need.”
“I’m the wealthiest man in this room. I don’t need anything.”
“Not even a senator?” Maddie asked.
Nielsen’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe those are up for auction. Unless you know something I don’t?”
“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? A path to my brother?”
“No, actually. I do want to talk to you about your research into my great-grandparents.” He met Josh’s gaze. “And once she told me she had plans with you tonight, I realized this would be the perfect opportunity to make the announcement.”
“Announcement?” Josh asked.
C-IV turned toward the front of the room where a photographer was taking photos. “We’ll have our photo taken for the paper, then we can talk,” Cliff said.
They had no choice but to follow as he turned to cross the room.
“What announcement? And why are we having our picture taken?” Maddie asked.
“Nielsen Steel is hiring Raptor for all our security needs. The photo will be good PR for us both.”
Josh stopped in his tracks. “We haven’t negotiated the contract yet.”
Cliff paused and faced Josh. “The details don’t matter. We’ll make it work. We can get a photo now. It will look good in the news.”
“What happened to your contract with Apex?”
“My needs have changed. They no longer suit.”
“In less than two weeks, your needs have changed.” It was a statement, said with a tinge of disbelief in Josh’s voice.
“Yes. I want Raptor taking over security at Nielsen Tower within the next ten days. We’ll discuss my personal security when I get back from Japan. I’d ask you to start tomorrow and accompany me, but I realize that’s too short notice.”
“Are you doing this for the PR? Because of my work with Bond Ironworks?”
“I’m doing it because I got ahold of your military record, and I’m impressed.” He paused. “And I have concerns about Apex.”
“If you’re so eager to hire Raptor, why did you ask my girlfriend out instead of calling me?”
Maddie was surprised he asked the question, given how much he wanted this contract. Her belly did a little flip. Who knew integrity was such a turn-on?
Nielsen’s gaze bounced between them. After a pause he said, “When Maddie showed up in my archives asking about my great-grandparents, I did a background check and discovered the connection to Congressman Tisdale. Almost immediately after, I spotted her in the lobby of my building with a contractor I’d decided not to hire. You claimed to be a couple, so I called Tisdale and asked if you were dating Warner. He said you weren’t.”
“W
hy would that even matter?” Maddie asked.
“I wondered if it was all a lie. If Warner was using you and your connection to Tisdale to get to me.”
Maddie startled and stepped back. “Josh didn’t even know Alan is my brother.”
Josh’s hand curled around her hip. “Our relationship might be new, but it is quite real. And if you ever make a pass at Maddie again, ruse or not, you can take your contract and shove it. People are not pawns to test and manipulate.”
Nielsen grinned. “Good. I needed to be certain you wouldn’t be a drone of a yes-man, even willing to sell out your girlfriend for a contract. That’s one of the reasons I’m firing Simon Barstow and Apex. His entire staff are ass-kissers. That’s no way to protect someone in my position. Plus, no one at Apex is willing to take a risk to do what’s right, like you’re doing to protect counterprotesters. I need someone with balls to watch my back.” He leaned toward Josh and said in a low voice, “I’ve been getting threats…and I think these ones are serious.”
“If that’s the case, you should cancel your trip to Japan tomorrow.”
“I can’t do that. But before I leave tomorrow morning, I’m going to have a contract couriered to you authorizing you to do a thorough vetting of the security at Nielsen Tower. I want you to be ready to take over tower security in ten days. And within twenty days, I want you in charge of my twenty-four seven personal security team. Can you do that?”
Maddie could practically see Josh weighing Ava’s need for college money with his desire to push back against what had to be impossible demands.
“I can get started assessing tower security by the end of the week.”
Nielsen nodded. “It’s settled, then. Now, let’s get our picture taken, then we’ll have a stiff drink to celebrate.”
The photographer had Maddie stand between the two men in the photo. Right as he began snapping, Josh’s phone let out a loud odd beeping sound.
“That’s quite the ringtone you’ve got there,” Cliff said.