Part of being in politics was learning to read people quickly, to trust your gut. I liked her. And something told me to give her a chance.
Understanding flickered in her gaze. “Are you okay?”
I struggled to get my emotions under control. “Yeah.” I offered her a watery smile. “I’m normally a little more together than this. I just—I fell in love, lost my dream job, had my boobs exposed to the entire fucking country, and am now talking to a sister I never expected would acknowledge me. My emotions are a roller coaster.”
“I know what you mean. You feel like your life’s falling apart, and it’s the scariest thing, and yet you’re starting to realize you’re becoming someone you like even more than the person you were?”
I nodded. “Something like that.”
“Trust me, I know how you feel. The rumors are true. I caught my fiancé screwing his best man in the dressing room at the church on our wedding day. I get it.”
My jaw dropped. I hadn’t given much credence to the rumors, but whoa. “I’m so sorry.”
She shrugged. “It feels good to not have to pretend to be perfect anymore.”
“I can imagine.”
The more she talked, the more I liked her. I’d always had this image of her in my head, maybe it was the one she presented to the media, but the girl in front of me seemed down-to-earth and cool. She seemed real, and I got why Will liked her and trusted her.
“Do you want to get a drink sometime?” I asked, surprised by the words coming out of my mouth. I didn’t have a ton of friends, didn’t let many people in. But I wanted to know her—wanted to know my sister—better. Her easy acceptance was an invitation I didn’t want to reject and a chance I didn’t want to throw away.
She smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
Will
“Are you sure this is the right decision?” my mother asked, worry coming through her voice on the other end of the line. My parents were in Paris, but they’d already gotten a few calls from reporters asking for their comments on the story with Jackie.
“I am.”
“You’ve worked so hard for this, William.”
I had worked hard for it. Lots of people had. And there was a part of me that couldn’t help but feel like I was letting them down. But there was one person I couldn’t let down.
“I love her, Mom. I want to make her happy. I want to do what it takes to make this work. She’s the thing that makes me happy, more than politics, more than anything. I know it’s sudden, and I know it means I’m going to have to sacrifice some things, but I’m okay with that. I can find another job; I won’t ever find anyone like her.”
She sighed. “My baby’s growing up.”
I laughed for the first time in days. “Mom, I’m twenty-six. I think I’ve been ‘grown-up’ for a while now.”
She sniffed. “Just you wait and see. One day you’ll have kids, and you’ll watch them grow up, hoping you’ve given them the right foundations to make good choices, to find their own happiness.”
Emotion filled me. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, William. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s your plan? Do you still have the ring?”
I stared at the black velvet box sitting on my dresser. “Yeah.”
“Are you going to propose to her?”
A knot tightened around my heart. “When she’s ready. I don’t want to rush her. It may take some time.”
“When I was single, most girls were eager to lock a good man down.”
I laughed at that one. “Jackie’s not most girls. She’s been through a lot; hasn’t really had a family. Hasn’t ever had a boyfriend. I think it’s going to take her a bit to warm up to the idea of marriage and kids, and the kind of commitment that comes with ’til death do us part.”
“Well, that’s fine and good, but I’m not getting any younger, and I need a grandchild to spoil. Lord knows your sisters aren’t interested in settling down. So you might tell her to hurry up a bit.”
I laughed. “Will do. You’ll like her, Mom.”
“I’m sure I will. You have excellent taste.”
The doorbell rang.
“I need to go. Mitch was going to stop by to talk about the press conference.”
“Tell him I said hello. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I disconnected the call, and pulled open the door, expecting to see Mitch standing on my doorstep. My heart lurched—
Jackie stood in front of me, a smile on her face.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Is it true? Are wedding bells in the air?
—Capital Confessions blog
Jackie
It had only been a few days since I’d seen him, a few days since we’d been together in the elevator, and yet I drank in the sight of him.
He looked tired, and worn-out, and somehow still like the best thing I’d ever seen.
“Can I come in?”
Nerves filled me and my voice trembled slightly. I was going for an emotional trifecta today.
He nodded. “Of course.”
I walked past him into the entryway, shades of our first night together flashing back to me. We stared at each other, the events of the past few days between us. And then I was moving forward, and he was, too, and his arms enfolded me, and his lips engulfed me, and everything else melted away.
He kissed me like it had been months; kissed me like he was desperate for my mouth, like he searched for something only I could give. He kissed me like I was everything, and finally I believed it.
We stayed like that for a while, our hands, and mouths, and bodies getting reacquainted. And then I pulled back, my lips puffy, my heart bursting with everything I wanted to say.
I couldn’t pinpoint the moment when everything changed between us. There had been moments when it felt like a slow burn, and others when it came on quick like a wildfire. However I’d come to this point, whether it snuck up on me, or presented itself in a dazzling smile and an innocent touch that night at the Hay-Adams, it was here to stay.
“I love you.”
In typical me fashion, I blurted the words out with more exuberance than finesse.
He froze, his eyes widening.
“Sorry. I probably should have led up to that or something.” I walked into the living room, Will trailing behind me, and sank down onto the couch. I needed some kind of support considering how much my legs shook.
“Let me try again. I love you. I don’t know when or how, I just know that I do. You’re right. I wasn’t paying attention earlier. Maybe it snuck up on me, maybe I knew you were meant for me in some secret, not-yet-grown-up part of my heart, the night we met. I’m sorry it took me longer to figure it out, but I know now. I love you. I’ve never said those words before, never felt this way. So I’m sort of figuring it out as I go.”
I struggled to calm my racing heart.
“Don’t drop out of the race. I talked to my father.”
“Jackie.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine, really. He’s going to throw all of his support behind you, and we’re going to feed the media some bullshit story about being one big happy family.” I winced as the word “bullshit” left my mouth. God, I couldn’t have been further from the Jackie Kennedy political mold if I tried. Whatever. I plowed on. “Mitch and I think it’ll be enough to get you elected.” I grinned. “And Mitch hired me to work for him.”
Relief flashed across Will’s face.
“Good. I’m so happy for you. And I want you to think about this campaign thing,” he replied. “Seriously. It’s asking a lot for you to deal with.”
I shook my head. “I have giant lady balls, remember? I can handle it. I was scared before, but the worst is out. We can do this together.”
“And what do you mean by ‘together’?”
This was the scary part. But I’d gotten through I love you with relative ease.
“I want it all.�
�� The truth of how much terrified me. “I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone but you. I’ll admit I never saw this happening at this point in my life—ever, really—but I want you, more than anything. More than my career, although I’m not going to say no to having my cake and eating it, too.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I want you. I love you. I’m done pushing you away; I’m done running. I know things are complicated for your campaign, and we can wait and just date for however long you think is appropriate. I’m in this for the long haul. I’m in this for forever.”
Will’s eyes closed, and for a moment I couldn’t read him, and then he opened his eyes, and the love I saw there, blasting back at me, rocked me.
“Wait here.” His voice was hoarse. “I’ll be right back.”
Will
I took the steps two at a time, nerves running through me. Maybe I was pushing; maybe this was impulsive. I didn’t even know anymore. We’d been impulsive from the beginning. I wanted her, and she was sitting in my living room, and she loved me, and this felt like one of those moments when you had to seize life by the balls before you lost your chance.
I opened the bedroom door, grabbing the box and stuffing it in my pocket, my heart about to beat out of my chest, and hurried down the stairs again.
Jackie sat on the sofa, her hands folded in her lap, looking a little nervous, a little lost, and I wondered if she was ready for this. But she’d said she wanted forever, and I was more than happy to oblige.
I sat down on the couch next to her, struggling for calm when I felt anything but. I cleared my throat.
“So here’s the thing. You know how there are some guys who are afraid of commitment, guys who just want to have sex, and have fun, and aren’t looking to get married? Guys who pale at forever, and say things like they don’t want to get tied down?”
Jackie nodded, the motion jerky.
“I’m not that guy. I want forever with you. I want to wake up next to you every morning and go to bed beside you every night. I want to wear a ring on my finger every day of my life marking me as yours.
“I want to make you promises, and I want to spend every day of my life working to keep those promises. I want children with you.” Her eyes filled with tears, and I figured it was a good sign, and I plowed right on.
“I know it freaks you out, and I’m not saying we have to have kids anytime soon; I know you want to focus on your career now—you should focus on your career—but eventually, yeah, I want to have kids with you.
“I want a little girl with your smile and your smarts. I want Christmases and birthdays and a chocolate Lab who wears an American flag bandana that you name after a political philosopher or something. We can even include him in the family campaign photos.” A tear slipped down her cheek as a laugh fell from her lips.
“I want forever with you. I want you to be my wife. If politics gets to be too much, I’ll figure something else out. We’ll figure something else out. We’re in this together.”
I pulled the ring out of my pocket, my gaze glued to her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I’ve been yours since the first moment I saw you. All I want is for you to be mine. And you should know by now—I always get what I want.” I sunk down on one knee, the movement tearing a gasp from her lips. “Marry me. Please, Jackie. You said you wanted forever. Here it is.”
Jackie
He flipped open the ring box, an enormous diamond staring back at me. I wasn’t much of a jewelry girl, but that could change with a ring like that.
“It was my grandmother’s.” He smiled. “I figured you would appreciate wearing the ring of the Second Lady of the United States. I wanted you to have it. It feels like it was meant for you.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. My gaze darted from Will, to the ring, and back to Will again, as if one or both of them would disappear if I looked long enough.
I wasn’t the “happily ever after” girl. I was messy and complicated. I was sharp edges and a mouth that could rival a sailor’s. And Will loved me. Wanted to marry me.
My biggest reservation had always been the scandal of my illegitimacy and my father’s identity. But now that the secret was out, there were no more scandals, no more fear. I’d never be the kind of political wife who looked good on paper, but that didn’t matter. I was the wife Will wanted. And I got it now. He loved me, more than the campaign, more than politics, more than power. He loved me enough to stand by me, to give up everything for me. I felt the same way about him. I didn’t know how far he would go, what his career held, but I knew that we would be a team, and we’d face it together.
I moved toward him, throwing my arms around his neck, pulling his body into mine, fusing my lips with his. I kissed Will with all of the love in my heart, all of the hope and gratitude pouring through me. I kissed him with the thank-you for the future he was giving me, for the children we’d have, the plans we’d make. Most of all, I kissed him for loving me, for smoothing out my sharp edges, for giving me peace.
I pulled back.
“Is that a yes?”
I nodded, dizzy from the kissing, and the diamond, and the excitement swimming through me, and most of all, the man.
I watched, unable to tear my gaze away, as he removed the giant diamond from its little box, slipping it on my finger, over my knuckle, until it found home.
He gathered me in his arms, pushing me back onto the sofa, his body covering mine, his hands working quickly, removing the layers of clothing between us, and it hit me—
Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe princes did exist. Maybe it wasn’t bullshit after all.
And then Will slid my skirt down my legs and I stopped thinking, period.
Epilogue
Will Clayton and his lovely fiancée looked like they had some celebrating to do on Election Night. Rumor has it Blair Reynolds was by her sister’s side.
—Capital Confessions blog
Election Night
Jackie
“How do the latest numbers look?”
“Still too close to call.” Mitch grabbed his cell. “I’m going to make some phone calls.”
I nodded, my gaze glued to the TV in front of me. I didn’t smoke, but god I needed a cigarette right now.
“Obsessing?” Will came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me back against him, nuzzling my neck.
“It’s so fucking close.”
The past two months had been a whirlwind, our lives dominated by damage control and the election. We’d called a press conference with my father and sold the story that we were all one big happy family. It had helped minimize some of the media firestorm caused by the Capital Confessions story. News of our engagement leaked—Mitch might have had a hand in it—and that had helped more.
My father was able to call in enough favors, which, combined with Will’s grandfather’s connections, gave Will powerful backing within the state of Virginia. But the biggest help had come in the form of a solicitation case featuring several high-profile politicians that had swept D.C. An elevator sex tape between an engaged couple paled in comparison to lurid tales of sex for money, and bondage, and all sorts of kink that titillated the public. Especially when there was photographic evidence.
The news cycle turned, our scandal passed, and we focused on the election.
I shifted in Will’s arms, pressing a swift kiss to his lips. “Are you nervous?”
He shook his head. “Nope. It’s just one campaign out of what I’m guessing will be a long line of them.” He grinned. “If I know you, you’ll have me running for office when we’re retired. President of the condo board or something like that.”
“You laugh, but those can be tough elections. Full of nepotism.”
His smile deepened. “I fucking love you.”
I swatted him. “Shh. You can’t say things like ‘fuck.’”
He laughed, the sound rolling over me. “But you can?”
“I’m strictly behind the scenes. You
’re the candidate.”
“And you’re the woman behind the man.”
I beamed. “I guess I am.”
“I love you.”
My heart still skipped every time I heard those words. “Love you, too.”
The “Breaking News” alert flashed on the TV, and we both watched as the announcer called the U.S. Senate race for Virginia.
“And Senator Reynolds will hold on to his seat.”
I shook my head. “So he lives to fight another day.” People like my father always did. But then again, he wasn’t the only one who knew a thing or two about surviving.
I watched as the channel switched over to his campaign headquarters, watched as he took the stage, his wife by his side, but no daughters. Camelot had been reduced by two.
“So he won.”
I turned at the sound of Blair’s voice. I’d been surprised when she said she wanted to come here tonight. We’d spent the little bits of free time I had in the last two months together, hanging out with Kate, building a relationship I’d never imagined happening, and now I had sisters.
“It appears so.”
Blair grimaced. “Does it make me a bad daughter that I almost wanted him to lose?”
I shrugged. “He’s a hard figure to have much sympathy for.”
“True.”
We watched his speech, no trace of remorse or humility, no acknowledgement that the image of Camelot he’d created was falling down around him.
“We have results,” Mitch shouted, coming toward us, turning my attention away from my past and pulling me into my future. His entire face transformed, his lips cracking into a smile the likes of which I’d never seen on his weathered face. “Congratulations, Senator Clayton.”
I let out the most unladylike whoop ever, throwing my arms around Will’s neck. He pulled me against his body, his lips finding mine. All around us the news spread—a low buzz turning into a cheer.
“I love you so much,” he whispered against my mouth.
“Love you, too.”
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