by K. A. Linde
“I think I’m more than just a suit and tie,” he said sternly.
“You know what I mean.”
Brady walked around the bed to face her. “You wanted me to go with you before, when I thought I was busy. If it were next weekend then it would have been impossible, since it’s the gala, but I can go with you this weekend.”
Liz reached up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. Brady’s kiss was deep and passionate this time. And he seemed to have no real desire to let her go. He pressed her knees back into the bed and she leaned back onto her clothes. Liz giggled against his lips and came up for breath.
“Clean clothes!”
“Priorities,” he said with a headshake.
“My priorities are making sure both of us are packed and in my car in the next hour so we can drive to Charlottesville.”
“Oh, so now you’re letting me go with you?” he teased.
“It’s not that I didn’t want you to come to Justin’s. I just didn’t think that you’d be interested or have time.”
“Well, I want to come. I always want to come.”
“Mind, meet gutter,” she joked. “We only have an hour before I need to leave.”
“Who said I needed an hour? No suits or ties needed this weekend. I’ll just throw some stuff in a duffel and we’ll have the other fifty-eight minutes to ourselves.”
“Whoa, there, Casanova. It might take you two minutes, but you know women take a bit longer.”
“I always focus on you,” he growled. His hand ran up her bare inner thigh.
“I’ll be as quick as I can,” she insisted, skipping around him. He sighed as she scurried back into the closet.
She was quicker than she expected and as soon as her suitcase was snapped shut she was lost in Brady’s arms once more. They never seemed to be able to get enough of each other. She hoped that they never would.
About two hours later Brady pulled into the outskirts of Charlottesville. He had insisted on driving his Range Rover, since he had ridden in her car for the five-hour road trip and claimed to have feared for his life. Once he had started talking about getting her a new car, she had relented to having him drive just to get him to shut up. She knew he had been joking, but she loved her car.
The navigation system directed them through the town and to a brick town house with a line of cars as far as the eye could see. So clearly this party wasn’t going to be a small affair.
Brady looked around incredulously. “You sure you want to crash here tonight? I could get us a hotel.”
“Then we couldn’t get wasted,” she said, slinging her purse over her shoulder.
“I could drive.”
“You missed the key word we.”
“Then I’d call a cab,” he said as if it didn’t matter which option they chose.
“Just slum it with me, Maxwell.” She walked around to the trunk and extracted her suitcase.
He immediately retrieved it from her and hoisted his duffel onto his shoulder. He looked really hot in khaki shorts and a fitted Brooks Brothers T-shirt.
“It’s never slumming with you, baby.”
They walked up the stairs and through the front doors. A half-dozen people sat in the living room, Liz could hear voices down the hallway, and at least another dozen were out on the back porch. Just then Justin came jogging down the hallway and barreled into her. He lifted her off her feet and swung her around.
“Hey, my favorite employee,” he said casually.
Liz laughed and stepped out of his reach. “You’re so ridiculous. Justin, this is Brady. Hope you have room for one extra.”
“The more the merrier,” he said and then stuck his hand out. The guys shook, sizing each other up for a second, and then released.
“Nice to meet you,” Brady said cordially.
“You too. I’m just used to seeing you as a floating head on TV.”
“Good to know I have a body attached,” he said.
“Sure is. You want a beer, man?” Justin asked, falling easily into the frat-boy host.
“Lead the way.”
Liz followed the guys back into the kitchen. She waved at a few people she recognized before exiting onto the patio, where the keg was set up. Justin poured them each a drink in a red Solo cup. Just as she went to take her first sip, a blond girl rushed up the stairs.
“Justin didn’t tell me that you were coming!” Massey screeched in excitement. She rushed over to Liz and threw her arms around her as if the last time that they had seen each other hadn’t been awkward at all. She was already really drunk.
“Surprise, sugar,” Justin said, grabbing Massey possessively around the waist and planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
Liz’s brow furrowed as she took in what she was seeing. “I’m sorry . . . are you two . . . together?” She knew that they had made out at her birthday party last year, but that had been over a year ago. No way they had been together that long.
“Well, yeah,” Massey said with a shrug. She tossed her shoulder-length blond hair to one side and her brown eyes went wide. “I start grad school in like two weeks, but I moved up here right after graduation.”
“Oh right, you’re going to UVA,” Liz said, the pieces falling into place.
“Yep. Justin and I kept in touch after your birthday party. Then once I moved here, one thing led to another . . .”
“And now you’re together.”
“Yeah. God, I’m so glad you’re here. I was so fucked up at school about all that newspaper stuff. I should have never kicked you off,” Massey drunkenly rambled.
“It’s really okay,” Liz said awkwardly.
“Wait, she was the one who kicked you off?” Brady asked. He looked mystified by the drunk girl standing in front of him.
“Oh. My. God! You’re Brady Maxwell,” Massey cried.
“Yes, I am.”
“Well, fuck me sideways. Y’all really are dating.”
Liz shook her head. “I’m not sure how I could have made that more clear. And how much have you had to drink?”
Massey shrugged. “We started with whiskey and then mixed it with tequila. And then I’ve been washing it down with beer.”
Liz’s stomach protested at the thought.
“Brady, this is Massey,” Liz said as an introduction. It was strange having Brady meet the rest of her friends.
Brady politely stuck out his hand and Massey shook it. “You know, you’re way hotter in person.”
“Thank you,” he said, all signs pointing to the fact that he was trying not to laugh at her.
“I see why she fucked you on the side.”
Liz cursed. “Okay, lush, you’ve had one too many and need to start in on the water.”
“God, do you remember your birthday, when you thought that shit tasted like Kool-Aid? You were so fucking adamant about it,” Massey reminded her.
“I bet it would taste like Kool-Aid to you right now.”
“No way. I’ll never be as far gone as you were that night.”
Justin kept her from stumbling and laughed. “Chill your hot ass. I don’t want you passing out before we get the bonfire going.”
“I’m not going to pass out!”
“You did last time.”
“Whatever. It’s not my fault. We were smoking too. You know that messes me up.”
Justin just squeezed her tighter. Something seemed to catch his eye and he stood up straighter. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
“The life of the fucking party. Obviously,” Victoria said, strutting out on the patio in a silver minidress that barely covered her ass, and black high heels. Daniel followed on her heels in a checkered button-down and black shorts. He had black-rimmed glasses on, and they worked for him.
“Vickie!” Liz cried. “If I’d known you were driving do
wn from D.C., then we could have ridden together.”
“Last-minute change of plans. We didn’t think we’d be here,” she said.
“Hey, man,” Brady said, shaking hands with Daniel.
“ ’Sup. How’s the campaign?” Daniel asked. He ran a hand back through his hair, then stuffed his hands back into his pockets.
“Smooth sailing so far. How was the summer lab work?”
Liz stared between them, dumbfounded.
“What are you guys, like, buddy-buddy now?” she asked when she got closer to Brady.
“Daniel is a good guy. My mother introduced him to a colleague he worked for this summer. We kept in touch.”
“Networking really is your thing, isn’t it,” she said.
“It’s not what you know but who. That’s why I wanted to help you find a journalism position earlier this year, but I should have known you could do it all on your own.” He kissed the top of her head and drew her in closer.
“I am a bit stubborn.”
He raised his eyebrows. “A bit? You make a filibuster look like compromise.”
“Oh, ha-ha. I’m not that bad. I don’t need sixty senators to get me to change my mind.”
Brady tried to hold in his laughter, but he wasn’t able to and it erupted out of him. “I’m hoping you’re only going to need one.”
“You’re not a Senator yet, Representative Maxwell.”
“Give me a few years.”
“You’re as strong-willed as I am.”
“Just as ambitious.”
Liz shook her head. “No one is ambitious as you.”
“That’s why I always win.”
Liz smiled and hoped that remained a fact. She didn’t want to be the reason he lost; that was for sure. She would do everything in her power to ensure that didn’t happen.
Justin started crowding everyone down to the fire pit. They spent an exorbitant amount of time building it to extreme heights. It reached a full inferno just as the sun fell over the horizon. By then even Brady seemed to have reached a tipsy point, which rarely happened.
“I can’t believe we’re having a bonfire when it’s a hundred degrees outside,” Victoria complained.
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not wearing any clothing then, or else you might be hot,” Justin joked.
“Hilarious, asshole.”
“It is ridiculously hot,” Liz agreed. “Aren’t you glad you’re not in a suit?”
Brady glanced up from his phone. “I would be sweltering in a suit.”
“Are you working?”
“Just Chelsea.”
Liz crinkled her nose. “Why does she always text you? Just tell her to schedule a meeting or something,” Liz said, the alcohol making her haughtier than she normally would have been.
“All right,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll turn it off. No work this weekend.”
“Heather is going to love that.”
Brady tucked the phone back into his pocket. “Who cares?”
As the night wore on, the numbers around the bonfire started dwindling. A lot of the people who had been there were locals, so they just headed home. There were only a few other people from out of town. As expected, Massey was completely passed out in Justin’s lap while he smoked a cigarette. He passed one to one of his frat brothers who had driven up for the party, and he lit up.
“So Liz, what are you doing up in D.C. besides working for me? You just hanging out doing charity work for starving puppies or whatever the other Stepford Wives do up there?” Justin asked, blowing out smoke.
“Justin, you’re such a twat,” Victoria spat. She adjusted her tiny dress and rolled her eyes. “Liz could never be a Stepford Wife.”
“She really couldn’t,” Brady chimed in. “She’s too strong-willed and independent.”
“Well, we all know that I wasn’t a GDI,” Justin said, laughing to himself.
“You’re reminding me why I’m a goddamn independent and not Greek.”
“Don’t hate the player, hate the game, babe.” Everyone groaned.
“Anyway I’ve mostly been writing for you and following Brady to campaign events before grad school starts,” Liz said.
“Give yourself some credit.” Brady nudged her. “You’ve practically been writing my speeches all summer. If you weren’t already set on journalism, then I might suggest speech communications. You’re better than my speechwriter.”
Liz beamed at his compliment. “Thank you.” She had never considered speech communications or even speech writing before Brady, but she did enjoy it.
“You’re at Maryland, right?” Justin asked. “How much is that going to interfere with the site?”
“I’ll make time. I like the blog.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Justin turned his attention back to his cigarette.
Liz glanced over at Brady. “It completely slipped my mind until Justin just mentioned it, but when we were at the JJ gala I was asked what charity I’m heading.”
“You’re not heading a charity.”
“Well, yes. I know that. But I told them I was working with underprivileged children and education. I figured it was a politician’s truth.”
He tilted his head to look at her. “You mean you want to do the work?”
“I don’t want to head any charity,” she quickly amended, “but you know how passionate I am about education, especially reform in primary education. I thought it would be an easy thing to move into and I thought . . . you know . . . since, well . . . you know people.”
Brady eyed her curiously. “Are you asking for my help?”
“I thought it might be good to have something to stand behind while I stand beside you.”
“Are you sure you want to add more work to your plate?”
“It isn’t work,” she insisted. “It’s doing something I believe in and helping people less fortunate. The same thing that you’re doing in Congress, just on a different scale.”
“I’m going to keep you,” he whispered into her hair.
“I sure hope so.”
“I’ll get you in contact with the right person. Thank you for letting me help you.”
She closed her eyes and breathed in the late-night air mingling with the smoke from the bonfire. She let her mind drift away as she lay snuggled in Brady’s arms, content in the company of good friends and the love of her life.
Chapter 24
A REDO
Liz tugged anxiously on the black-lace sheath that hugged her figure like a glove. It had detailed cap sleeves and a lace V neckline. Her hair hung loose to the middle of her back in delicate finger waves, and light, smoky makeup had been carefully applied. This was her big debut at Brady’s biggest fund-raising gala of the year.
Two years ago Brady had brought someone else to the event, but had ended up confessing that he loved Liz later that night. It had all been so confusing at the time, and some of that old anxiety materialized inside of her once more.
“Would you relax? You’re going to be fine,” Brady assured her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and slowly kneaded the tense muscles.
“I know. I know.”
“Then would you lose some of the tension? You’ve been to gala events with me before.”
“I know, but never one for you, where I’ll have to parade around and pose for pictures with you all night,” she said softly.
“You’re not just arm candy. You’re the woman I love. I want people to get used to seeing you with me. Where you belong.”
Liz sighed softly and turned to look up into his brown eyes. “Do you always say the right thing?”
“It’s my job.”
“Okay. Let’s go then. I can’t be any more ready than I am right now.”
“You’ll do fine. Don’t worry. The limo is waiting,�
�� he said as he walked toward the door. “Can you grab my phone?”
“Sure.” Liz snatched her gold beaded clutch up off of the table. Brady’s phone was sitting next to it. She grabbed that too, stashing it into her purse as she followed him out the door.
The driver opened the door for them and they both slid into the darkened interior. Brady wrapped an arm around her waist and planted soft kisses down her neck and over her shoulder.
They pulled up to the front entrance of the convention center a few minutes later. Heather was waiting outside with a photographer and a woman who Brady told Liz was the event planner. The photographer snapped shots of each of them stepping out of the limo. Brady placed his hand on the small of her back and more photos were taken. Liz smiled until her jaw hurt and then smiled some more. The photographer finally stopped and the event planner rushed over.
She walked Brady through the last-minute details as Liz stood a short distance from Heather, waiting to go inside.
“Are you happy that the primary is so close?” Liz asked Heather, trying to strike up conversation.
“Sooner it’s over the sooner we can work on the real race,” she said, barely glancing at Liz.
“Crazy how much has changed in two years. This was the night you first found out about me and Brady.”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t just say everything that’s on your mind tonight. No one needs to know you were here before,” Heather said harshly.
“Look, I know you hate me, but do you mind toning down the condescending-bitch voice for two seconds? I was just carrying on a perfectly normal conversation with you, and every time I try, you snap at me. I’m not here to mess up Brady’s chance at reelection. In fact, I’ve done nothing but support him. I’ve even been writing Brady’s speeches. Good speeches! I’ve done everything exactly how I’ve been told.”
Well, aside from the Dear Congress articles, but she wasn’t about to bring them up.
“He loves me. He told you two years ago, and it still hasn’t changed. I’m going to be around for a while. I’d appreciate if you started treating me like a human being.”
Heather didn’t say anything for a moment, and then she turned to look at Liz. “You’re right.”