Rage burned red hot inside me. My body shook with pure contempt for the man in front of me.
“You don’t mean that, Bet.”
“Don’t call me that. Only my friend can call me that, and you are not my friend. You’re nothing to me. You understand? Nothing. You will stay away from me. You will stay away from Jordyn and if I so much as see you anywhere near Liam…so help me God.”
“And what about the campaign? It’s your baby. You still need me for financial backing. I mean, who’s going to pay that over inflated salary of yours?”
My mouth set in a grim line. “Don’t you know me well enough to know I never put all my eggs in one basket? Wait. Obviously you don’t when you tried to destroy my life.”
Though I was angry, I’d never felt such intense heartbreak. The day Russell and I separated wasn’t nearly as painful as this. Harper was right about one thing, I was different. Then again, so was he. The man I called my friend, my brother, would never have betrayed me like this.
“Elizabeth, please.”
I jutted my jaw. Malice rolled off of me like a threatening storm. “Don’t please me. As a matter of fact, forget you ever knew me.”
“I’m sorry. What I did was wrong. I know that.”
“Wrong? You tried to destroy me! And for what? For some trumped up idea in your head that you could swoop in and save me.” I thrust the photos outward, squeezing them tight in my hand. “This is my life, Harper! Not some business deal gone bad.”
“But he’s a liar, too. He cheated with that woman! If you can forgive him, why can’t you forgive me?”
I sailed toward him, poking a finger in his chest. “He’s not a liar. He never slept with her. There was no affair. Had you actually investigated the situation instead of giving Victor real incriminating evidence, you would’ve learned that. But no. Instead, you wasted your money following me. And now, you’ve lost me.”
“Elizabeth, don’t do this,” he entreated.
Deep down I wanted to slap him. The idea alone made me feel better, but something told me it would make him feel better, too. He’d take it as though I was getting out my frustrations and we could move on from this. That wasn’t going to happen. There was no moving on from that kind of betrayal. “You did this. Not me.” I pulled myself up and took in a deep breath. “Goodbye, Guy.”
I rushed out of his office, flew up the stairs to my room, where I packed as fast as I could. I expected to hear him follow me, but he didn’t, which proved he did have a few scruples in his head.
As I packed, I called Liam. All I got was his voicemail. More than likely he was still in the interview.
At the tone, I left my message: “Liam, it’s me. I’m leaving Lone Star tonight and heading to my place in the city. There’s been some...developments,” I paused and stared down at my bag, a single tear trickled down my cheek. I couldn’t remember the last time I cried. I swiped the traitor away and whispered, “I’ll explain later.”
I disconnected the call and immediately called security at HQ back in Washington.
When the officer answered, I was expedient with my instructions. “Brandy Turner is terminated effective immediately. She is not to be allowed back into the building.”
“She’s still here, Ms. McNeal.”
Son of a….
“Okay. I want you to go to her desk and escort her from the building. Do not, I repeat, do not allow her to take anything with her. We’ll ship it to her, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I ended the call and finished my packing. My heart was shattered and my pride pulverized. The pictures sat on top of the bed next to my luggage, all crumpled and marked from my sweaty palms. I grabbed them and shoved them into my bag.
Luggage in hand, I dashed downstairs and out of the house without so much as a glance behind me, determined I’d never grace the Lone Star Ranch with my presence again.
“I’ll be on the next flight out of Dulles.”
The sun faded into the backdrop of skyscrapers. The moon was translucent in the sky, waking up to take her reign over the night. As I drove down the freeway, thankful there was no traffic, I called Jordyn to let her know what’d happened. I didn’t want to take any chances Harper might try to manipulate her with his lies.
“Absolutely not!” I insisted, pounding my hand on the steering wheel.
I pressed the jostled earpiece in my ear as Jordyn’s high pitch appeal squawked, causing me to momentarily pull it back out. “But, Mom!” I returned the earpiece and rammed my foot on the gas pedal, taking my speed over seventy-five. I needed to get home. My head was throbbing, my stomach churning, and my eyes burned with the tears that brimmed to the edge. “No buts, Jordyn. You need to be in school. I’ll be home on Sunday.”
She expelled a breath in a loud whoosh. “I can’t believe it. Are you sure this isn’t some twisted joke? I mean, it’s Uncle Harper.”
I brushed another tear away from my eye, thankful she couldn’t see the mess I was. “He admitted it, sweetheart, which is why I need you to stay there. I don’t want him to drag you into this. You understand me?”
“You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“And I won’t be. Once Liam’s done with his interview, I’ll be in touch with them.”
“Wait, you haven’t seen his interview yet?”
I pulled into the drive of my Dallas home. It was strange being here so early. Staring at the pale pink colored brick brought on another wave of sorrow. Because of his betrayal, Harper wouldn’t be involved in our traditional Christmas celebration. There’d be no disgusting homemade eggnog that Harper swore by or sounds of his laughter after I opened some stupid gag gift from him. He’d taken so much away and for what? His stupid pride?
“No. I feel terrible that I missed it, too. I promised Liam I’d watch.”
“Oh, Mom. You need to see that interview right away.”
“I’ll watch the recaps on the news tonight.”
I parked my car in the garage and cut the engine. “Um, Mom,” she hesitated, “it’s gone viral.”
“Oh God no!” I climbed out of the vehicle and popped the trunk, extracting my bags. “What the hell did he say? Why haven’t I heard from Scout?”
“Trust me, Scout’s busy. But you’ve got to fucking see this. Like now.”
“Language, young lady. Geez.” I waddled my bags into the house and dropped them in the laundry room. “I just got into the house.”
“Hurry, Mom. I want to hear your reaction.”
“Fine.” I grabbed my laptop bag and marched into the kitchen. “What website should I go to?” I extracted my laptop and plugged it in.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s everywhere.”
My stomach curdled. This didn’t bode well. For a politician’s interview to go viral was usually an indication of a major screw up.
I fired up my laptop and picked the first news site I had saved under my bookmarks. Instantly Liam’s face appeared with the caption: Hollywood romance meets Washington DC politics.
Dammit! They were making a mockery of him. I’d directed him wrong. I should’ve had him be more discreet. What had I done?
My already watery eyes were now blinded by tears. My heart filled my throat making it hard for me to breathe.
“Mom? You still there?”
“Yes,” I managed. “I seriously fucked up, didn’t I?”
“Language, Mom,” Jordyn jibbed. “And watch the video for God’s sake.”
I clicked the video box and turned up the volume.
Corgin Masters sat across from Liam, his long legs crossed and a stack of cards sagged in his hand. “You’ve had a bit of a rough go of it recently,” Masters chuckled, rubbing his lips together. “First the pictures of you and Anita Cole, the wife of General Michael Cole, surface and now these photos of you and your campaign manager have emerged. Would you say you enjoy the company of older women?”
Ouch! I cringed at that question, but Liam remained calm and smiled. “Corgin,
I believe age is nothing but a number. In regards to Mrs. Cole, she was and still remains a friend, and as for Ms. McNeal,” he waited a moment, “she’s an amazing person who could run circles around me on her worst day.”
“You would know,” Masters pumped.
Liam, so professional, didn’t respond.
Realizing Liam wouldn’t take the bait, Master continued, “So you claim you and Mrs. Cole were never intimate.”
Liam didn’t even flinch. His smile unwavering. “As far as I know, Mrs. Cole has never strayed from her marriage. I have nothing but the utmost respect for General and Mrs. Cole. This country owes them both a great debt for their service.”
“Well said,” Masters noted. “And what about Ms. McNeal? Those pictures of you two...yowza!” Masters fanned himself with the cards in his hand.
“As I said before, Ms. McNeal is an amazing woman. She is an impeccable campaign manager and...”
Corgin smirked, biting onto Liam’s hesitation. “Yes?”
“I deny nothing in regards to my relationship with Ms. McNeal. We have shared certain intimacies as two consenting adults do.”
I fist pumped. He nailed it just as we practiced.
“Then how about your relationship with Kristin Page? She recently made a statement that you two were nothing more than friends. How do you respond?”
Liam smoothed his tie and graced Corgin with a full smile. A smile I knew all too well. He was about to do something possibly dangerous to the campaign. I slapped my hand over my eyes and groaned.
“Here comes the good part,” Jordyn rasped into the phone. I ignored her. It might’ve been good for her, but Liam was about to go off script and I was freaking the hell out.
“Most men can tell you exactly how many women they’ve loved in their lives. We might’ve had our fair share of romances, but there are those few women who stick with us. In a way, they mold who we become.”
Corgin leaned in, intrigued by where Liam was going.
“In my life there have been three such women. The first was Kristin Page. She was my best friend throughout elementary school and as a teenager, she became my first real kiss. It’s safe to say I loved her then and I love her now, though my love for Kristin is much different now.”
“So, you’re more than friends, unlike what she suggested?” Corgin probed.
“Let me finish, please,” Liam politely replied.
Corgin bowed his head. “Of course. I apologize, Congressman.”
I hugged my arms around my stomach, glued to Liam’s expression. He was happy. Content.
“After that first kiss, Kristin and I knew something was different. In later years we understood what it was.” Liam dropped his eyes to his hands. “To answer your question, Corgin, Kristin and I are only friends and will only ever be friends, because Kristin’s gay.”
My mouth hit the ground. “Holy shit!” I gasped.
“I know, right!” Jordyn cheered.
“I never got the gay vibe off her. I knew they were hiding something; I just thought she was shy. It all makes sense now.”
That explained why when I vetted Kristin I never found any former relationships. She kept them concealed, which also made her the perfect candidate to stand at Liam’s side for events. “Shit! He just outed her on television.”
“Listen,” Jordyn shushed me.
I settled myself by leaning against the counter. “As of yesterday, Kristin informed her family of her secret, and as her best friend, I was proud to be by her side.” Liam looked into the camera, and grinned. “I’m so very proud of the first woman I loved in my life, and I stand proudly by her decision to tell her family.”
“That’s fantastic, Representative Baxter. I shared a very similar experience about six years ago with my partner. We’ve never been happier.”
I clapped my hands over my mouth. Liam had won Corgin over by being honest. I’d been right. All he had to do was tell the truth. This was him. Out in the open. No secrets to hide.
“Congratulations, Corgin. Love is a beautiful thing and should be cherished. Which leads me to the last woman I’ve loved in my life.”
“Wait! We’re skipping the second? That doesn’t seem fair?”
I barked in laughter. Liam owned him now. I’d never seen an interview with Corgin Masters where he was on the edge of his seat waiting for the candidate to speak. He was usually derailing them hard and fast.
“The second was my college sweetheart. I was ready to marry her, but sadly she decided I wasn’t the one.”
Corgin awed. “So, then the third one?”
Liam templed his fingers under his chin and grinned. “The third one...” he let out a romantic sigh. I was on pins and needles waiting to hear what he’d say. “Has no idea I’m in love with her.”
“How’s that possible?” Corgin gasped. “Who is she?”
The corner of Liam’s mouth twitched. “Why, it’s the woman in the photos, Corgin. Elizabeth McNeal.”
Jordyn clapped and squealed. My eyes grew wide. I covered my mouth as tears streamed down my cheeks. He loved me. He really loved me!
For all of two seconds his announcement thrilled me. Then it struck me. He just announced that he was in love with me on television and it’d gone viral. The Republicans had to be foaming at the mouth over his confession.
“Mom!” Jordyn squealed. “He loves you!”
“I heard him,” I whispered.
The two sides of me were pulling me in every which direction. The woman in me was floating on air, happy and in love. The strategist in me was trying to figure out how to handle the situation.
“You okay?”
“I...ah…” As my mind whirled with scenarios, the doorbell rang. “Someone’s at the door. Let me call you back.”
“Be careful. It could be Uncle Harper.”
I hadn’t considered he might follow me to my house. “I won’t open the door if it’s him. I promise.”
“Okay, call me back. Love ya.”
“Love you, too.”
As I closed my laptop, we disconnected our call. I walked down the hall to the front door. Taking a peek in the peephole, I started to cry. Liam, sans his tie and jacket, with his hands jammed in his pockets, stood outside my door. I unlocked the deadbolt and threw it open.
“I can explain,” the words flew out of his mouth, but I didn’t care to listen. I flung myself into his arms, and pressed my lips firmly against his. His hands cupped the back of my head, tangling in my hair as our kiss deepened.
The dam of my heart broke. The river of love flowed through my veins. My pulse raced. My body trembled. For the umpteenth time today I cried. I couldn’t believe any of this was happening. My heart hammered with the knowledge that I got to love him. Really love him.
The rasps of our heavy breathing hummed inside my ears. A stifled moan escaped my lips as he broke away. “I love you,” he breathed.
“I love you, too.”
“You do?”
“Yes! God, yes!”
Liam showered my face with kisses, trailing his mouth down my neck. I clung to the fabric of his shirt, refusing to let go.
“So you’re not mad at me?”
“Of course I am. Are you crazy? Announcing something like that on live television.”
Liam pulled back, his chocolate orbs peering deep into mine. “I am. I’m crazy for you. And I couldn’t take them tainting my feelings for you anymore. This isn’t some sleazy affair as they’ve tried to make it out to be. I had to set the record straight.”
“You could’ve warned me!” I kissed him hard and unabashed.
Against my lips, he mumbled, “You would’ve tried to stop me.”
“Because this could lose you the race,” I argued.
“Who cares? If I lose, I lose, but I refuse to lose you. I can’t live without you. This last week has been hell for me.”
I leaned back in his arms, laughing. “I can’t believe you!”
Liam smoothed away the tears that clung to
my cheeks with his thumbs. “Believe that I love you.”
I combed my fingers through his hair, unable to control my need to touch him. “I believe you. And I love you. With all my heart.”
One look at him and my world was realigned better than it ever had been. Everything would be okay, because even if we lost the election, we’d won each other. Together, we were stronger, and no matter the obstacles we had to endure in the future, we would face them together.
I stared at the television chewing the inside of my cheek. At any moment, Associated Press would announce the final numbers in the election.
“God, this is so close,” I crooned.
Scout nudged me in the ribs. “Stop worrying. He’s got this.”
I waved my hand out toward the screen. “There’s no guarantee he does.”
While Liam announcing to the world that he was in love with me actually helped his ratings, it didn’t stop the flood of media from ripping him to shreds. Our massive lead was now a neck and neck battle of votes. It was officially anyone’s race.
Liam stepped in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He placed a soft kiss on my shoulder. The only saving grace to having outed our relationship to the world was that we no longer had to hide our feelings in the shadows. Liam enjoyed that part a little too much.
“Nervous, are we?” he tittered, taking my earlobe between his teeth.
“How can you be so calm?”
His arms tightened around me and he rocked me slightly. “Why shouldn’t I be? I have you. And if I lose, I still have my seat in the House.”
“But it’s not the Senate,” I whined.
“And who’s to say I’ll never get there?” He pressed a kiss to my jaw. “There’s power in the House. I can still make a difference.”
“I know. You’re right. I just want this so bad for you.”
Liam turned me around in his arms. “For us. Always for us.”
I grinned. “Yes, for us.”
He rubbed his nose against mine. “I love you so much.”
My heart ran wild every time he uttered those words. “I love you, too.”
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