LifeoftheParty

by Trudy Doyle

  “Now you know how I felt yesterday,” he said without preamble.

  “That’s my fault,” Doug said. “We were following a few leads. And someone broke into Gina’s hotel room yesterday. We had to check her out.”

  “Damn. I’m sorry, G. Where you at now?”

  Doug winced. He hated that nickname. He hated she had a nickname he didn’t give her. “Why? Can’t you—”

  “We’re at the Radisson in Philly,” Gina interjected, squeezing his knee. “We came to check out that email addy. But I’ll be staying at Doug’s place in Camden.”

  “In Camden?” Jack cleared his throat. “Of course. At Doug’s place. I’m sure you’ll be perfectly safe.”

  Doug shifted beneath her, exhaling heavily. Gina swiped her hand under his chin and asked, “Jack, why didn’t you tell me about Milton Tate?”

  Silence for a moment. “That’s far from finalized.”

  “It sure as hell is! Especially since I don’t know about it.”

  He laughed humorlessly. “Gina, you’ve been a little preoccupied these days. I didn’t want to burden you with it.”

  “Jack! Burden me. I’m your chief of staff. I’m supposed to be your beast of burden. I’m supposed to know things before you do. How does it look when I had to hear it from Lee Roland last night?”

  “Wait a minute. You saw Lee last night? He’s supposed to be in Washington at a party strategy session.”

  “You don’t say,” said Doug, looking at Gina. “How do you know this?”

  “Because he’s on the vetting committee for my seat. As soon as I announce I’m running for governor, I want to pull my replacement up on the podium next to me. He’s supposed to be down in D.C. finalizing it for me for tomorrow.”

  Gina stood up, pacing. “Now you’ve got me baffled, Jack. We decided on Jerry Szabo, the mayor of Florence Township, remember?”

  He sighed. “There’s been a change of plans.”

  “Oh really. Did you plan on telling me who?”

  Another pause. “Ted Parks.”

  “Ted Parks?” Her face went crimson. Doug jumped from the chair. “Are you kidding? I’ve been working for months with Szabo. This’ll make me look like a fool!”

  “Gina, I’m not having this conversation over the phone. Be at my office in an hour.” He hung up.

  She was livid, but more than that, Doug realized. She was scared.

  “Jesus, Doug, why is he closing me out?”

  “I don’t know,” he said softly.

  The BlackBerry dinged for a text. She looked at it, going white. “Oh God.”

  Doug grabbed it from her. Your big fan won’t have an idol too much longer. He scrolled to the source. PRIVATE CALLER. “Jesus, now he’s texting. And it’s blocked.”

  Gina crumpled to the chair, her face in her hands.

  Chapter Eleven

  DISTRICT OFFICE, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN C. FALCO—RIVERBORO

  SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER

  11:14 A.M.

  Gina pressed her knuckles to the desk. “Why are you closing me out, Jack?”

  He sighed, coming around to her. “I’m not closing you out, Gina. It’s just that things are happening very quickly.”

  “Without me, it appears. Apparently, you must be dissatisfied with my work.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve never met anyone more dedicated. You’re the best there is, and I mean that.”

  She glanced to Doug on the sofa. She had his full attention. “Then why?”

  “Gina…” Jack scrubbed his hand over his face, half sitting on his desk.

  “Would you like me to leave?” Doug asked.

  Jack looked to him, as if suddenly realizing he was there. “No. As a matter of fact I’m glad you’re here. I think you should be.”

  “For what?” Gina asked, getting impatient.

  Jack regarded her, crossing his arms. “Gina, I don’t have to tell you I’m in this for the long haul. I’d like to go as far as I can, all the way to the top if I can get there.”

  “And I want to be right there with you, you know that.”

  “You told me as much. But do you believe it?”

  She looked at him, incredulous. “Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I? Do you think I take any of this lightly? Do you think I don’t give you a hundred and ten percent and more?”

  “Of course you do. And that’s your problem, Gina. You squeeze everyone and everything out until you get what you want. You can be ruthlessly efficient, more than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

  “And what’s wrong with that? Because if I were a man—”

  “Stop right there,” said Jack, sliding from the desk. “Do not play the sex card with me. You above anyone else should know that doesn’t matter. What I’m talking about is what does, and Gina? You just don’t get it anymore. I don’t know if you ever did.”

  “Then what are you saying?”

  “Simply this.” He looked away for a moment, returning with an intensity Gina had never seen before. “To succeed in this business, because politics is a business, don’t fool yourself, you have to let it absorb you. Nothing else can matter, not even your family, because what do they end up becoming anyway except filler in the background of your campaign poster? Everyone you love, anyone you’re close to, has to take on the same persona. There’s no independence in politics, there’s only lining up behind the party line, Democratic or Republican, liberal or conservative, from ward leaders right up to the top. Are you prepared to live like that?”

  He palmed his chest. “For me? It doesn’t matter. I have no pretty family to stand alongside me, no beaming wife to hold my bible while I’m sworn in, but that’s okay. Why would you ever want to drag someone you love into this kind of life? And I love you, Gina.” He looked to Doug. “Don’t worry, not that way. But in a way I would love a family if I had one, enough to tell you flat-out this is no life for you anymore.”

  “You have no right to say that,” she said evenly.

  He nodded. “True. But somebody should. Because you have too much life in you to give it up for me or the party, not when you can be so much more effective out there in the real world, getting your hands dirty instead of dirtying someone else’s. If this whole stalker episode has proved anything it’s what’s important and what isn’t.” He laughed harshly. “I should’ve never coaxed you out of lobbying. You were one of the good ones, for a cause you believed in. To get where I want I’m going to have to be an egomaniac surrounded by mercenaries, and Gina? I don’t think you want to go there. Not now.”

  She met his gaze directly. “Are you firing me?”

  “Of course not. Believe it or not, that’s one decision you’ll have to make on your own.” He turned to Doug. “The only thing that’s important now is getting this maniac out of the way.”

  Doug stood. “We’re going to get that list from Ted Parks right now.”

  “That’s what I figured. But he’s not at his office, if that’s where you’re headed. I left a message on his cell telling him to call you right away.”

  “He called my captain the other day, trying to find me. Any idea how he knew to do that?”

  “I told him to,” said Jack. “He’s organizing the rally, and even though we’re trying to keep Gina’s situation out of the public eye, obviously there’s a leak. Having this maniac think the police are somewhat involved couldn’t hurt. Ted just thinks we want it for general security reasons. Anyway…” He stood, extending his hand. “Thanks, Lieutenant. It’s a godsend on many levels you’re here. I mean that sincerely.”

  Doug shook it heartily. “You’re welcome.”

  Jack looked to Gina. “And for your information, G, nothing’s finalized about meeting with Tate. All I’ve done is left the door open. As far as who’s going to take over my seat, both Szabo and Ted will be at the rally, as Ted hasn’t passed the vetting committee yet. And don’t underestimate Lee. He’s been known to slip back into playboy from time to time, but
he gets the job done.”

  Gina snorted. “Yeah, well, we’ll see.”

  Falco placed his hand on her arm. “Look, I don’t even know who’s going to replace me until I actually call them up on the platform tomorrow. Just be there at noon. And, Doug? Please make sure she is.”

  “A foregone conclusion, Congressman.”

  They left.

  Gina turned toward the window as they pulled out of the parking lot. “My career is over.”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “Maybe it’s just beginning.”

  “Oh Doug, I’m too jaded for aphorisms. Try another tack.”

  “Then how about this. Anywhere you want to go, I’ll be right there with you. Does that help?”

  “More than you can imagine,” she said, nuzzling his hand, knowing full well it only made the guilt so much deeper.

  * * * * *

  SERIOUS JOE COFFEE BISTRO—RIVERBORO

  11:51 A.M.

  “He said he’d be right over.” Gina slipped the BlackBerry into her purse. “Jeez, why all the drama? Why didn’t he just email me the list two days ago?”

  “He lives just a couple of streets down,” said Roark, setting two mugs and a plate of fruit on the table. “His wife and mine are pretty thick.”

  Doug slanted him a look. “How is Pam? Still pissed at me?”

  Roark smiled, sliding the tray under his muscled arm. “Not anymore,” he said, glancing at Gina. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  “What was that all about?” Gina asked.

  Doug slid a mug to her, poking the fruit with a fork. “I showed up at his house in the middle of the night a few days ago. Scared the crap out of his wife.”

  “Isn’t his wife that big writer, what’s her name, Pamela Flynn? And she’s pregnant, right? With twins?”

  “Triplets,” he said, sipping as he looked out the window.

  Gina felt a little sick. Sick for Doug, sick for herself. How painful was that to see his best friend’s wife pregnant, massively, no doubt. She touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”

  He looked at her sharply. “What for?”

  “For it not being me instead of her.”

  He turned back to the window. “Forget about it.”

  “How can I? It’s the two-ton elephant in the room.”

  “Gina, we can beat it to death or we can forget about it, but I’m not going to let it sit between us anymore. I can’t. Because the fact that you’re here says more about what we mean to each other now than what we meant in the past. You do want to be here, don’t you?”

  She felt the knife twist in her heart. “Oh God, you know I do.”

  “Well, there it is. That’s the best I can hope for, isn’t it?”

  This is why people meet in public places to discuss the things too close to the heart, she thought. To reveal them privately was unbearable. “I want to give you so much more, Doug. Truly I do.”

  He looked to her, impassive. “Do you?”

  A bell tinkled over the door. They looked to it. A tall, lanky man walked in, dressed in running clothes. He smiled cheerfully. “Gina. So good to see you.”

  Her smile was cordial. “Ted. We’ve been waiting for you. Have a seat.”

  “Don’t mind if I do.” He twisted the chair around, sitting backwards. “Lieutenant Welland.”

  Doug nodded. “I believe you have something for Gina?”

  “Right.” Parks reached into his pocket. “Everyone from the senators right on down to the guy who cleans the grease trap. No one got in or out of there without getting on this list. Including me.” He leaned into Gina, the printout between his fingers. “Now why is it you need that? Should I be scared?”

  “Only if you have something to hide,” she said, snatching it from him. “Do you?”

  “Ha!” he laughed. “I’m an open book. At least the vetters seem to think so. Nothing but good news so far.”

  “How wonderful for you,” Gina said, stuffing the papers into her purse. “You’ll love Washington. I do.”

  “Past tense, Gina. You did, if Jack goes to Trenton. But it doesn’t have to be that way, you know. If I win, you can keep your job and work for me.”

  Gina’s eyes flared. “I’m Jack’s chief of staff. Where he goes, I do.”

  Parks threw out his hands, standing up. “Just throwing the offer out there. Well, got to run, literally. See you tomorrow.”

  Doug eyed him as he ran down the street. “Presumptuous little bastard, isn’t he?”

  Gina watched him until he turned the corner. “The thing is he’s too used to winning. He always gets what he wants.”

  “Like you?” asked Doug, nipping into a strawberry.

  Her mouth crooked. “Like me. Now can we get out of here?”

  * * * * *

  HENRY STREET—CITY OF CAMDEN

  12:44 P.M.

  “I’m so tired,” Gina said, leaning against Doug’s shoulder as he shut off the car. “Do we have to go anywhere?”

  “Nowhere except up to my rooms. How does that sound to you?”

  “Like heaven,” she said, yawning expansively. “I’m just going to strip off these beautiful clothes you bought me and crawl right into your big, bad bed. Would you like to come with me?”

  “Over and over again, doll,” he said, grabbing her hand. “Let’s go, I’m getting a love jones just thinking about it.”

  Miss Ella appeared to be out, which was a good thing. As nice as she seemed, Gina couldn’t help feeling slightly shady parading past Doug’s parental figure, as though he should somehow be sneaking her in by the back entrance. But then hadn’t all her lovers been covert, always afraid of making the wrong impression, of losing her impartiality? Comparatively, it was so much easier to be with Doug. He was so out of her workaday sphere she could be herself. That is, as much as she allowed herself to be.

  “Take a load off,” he said once they reached his flat. He tossed his keys to the table and went to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “No, nothing,” she said, already slipping out of her sweater. By the time Doug returned, beer in hand, she was standing naked next to the bed.

  “Hi,” she said, kicking off her shoes. “Or would you like me to leave them on?”

  His gaze took a leisurely stroll up and down her body. “You’re gorgeous, you know? Like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

  She turned to her side, crooking her finger. “Come here.”

  He took a long pull on the beer then set it on the night table. “I’m here.”

  “So you are.” Gina reached up and slipped her hands inside his jacket to slide it off, his tie following. He shrugged out of his holster, locking his pistol into a gun safe in the night table, then kicking off his shoes, stripping off the rest of his clothes until he was as naked as she. All at once Gina held her breath.

  Could a single human being really possess all that is physically perfect? Or did love overshadow every imperfection? It was a postulate that could be argued ad infinitum, but to Gina, the seeing was hard to dismiss. As he stood there in the bright afternoon light, she took in his spiky blond hair, his Nordic features, his broad shoulders and arms thick with muscles, his perfect pecs, strong back, ridged abs and that ass! Good Lord! What an ass. And then there was the memory of those legs twining around hers in sleep. She felt a bit giddy. Damn, even his toes are perfect. In fact, he was quite simply the finest specimen of male pulchritude she’d ever seen.

  And he loved her. My God. She looked up at him. How perfect is this?

  “You’re staring at me,” he said.

  “I am. Because you’re gorgeous too. The most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”

  A bloom spread over his face. “Gorgeous is for chicks, doll.”

  “Not manly men? Well, how about ripped. Smokin’. Hot.”

  Red seeped down to his chest. “I’m nothing special.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. Gina wrapped her arms around his waist. “Isn’t it always the special ones who say
that?” She pushed up on her toes and kissed him.

  He gathered her up in his arms and took her to the big iron bed, kissing her mouth, her neck, her breasts, trailing down her belly to the join of her legs where he feasted on her until her breath came in gasps and her groans turned to sighs. When she rolled over, he put a pillow under her belly and made love to her bottom, licking every crevice and curve, biting and sucking until he branded her as his own. Then, tilting her a bit, he held her legs together with his as he sank his cock deep into her pussy. She raised her body up and latched on to the iron bar, her heavy breasts slapping against her chest with each thrust, her head thrown back as he nipped and nuzzled her neck, the friction of the sheet against her pussy sending her spiraling over the edge again. Which launched him as well, his come filling her, spilling over her brim. When they stilled, she curled against him and they slept.

  It was more of the same as afternoon gave way to evening, sleeping and fucking at intervals. Once they got up and took a shower, shared a bottle of seltzer, cold chicken, biscuits and an apple, laughing hysterically about something nonsensical. A little while after he was awakened by her mouth on him. When she caught him watching her, she had them shift places, and with her on the bottom and he on the top, she squirted her chest with thick heaps of lotion then, holding the heavy mounds together, he slipped his cock in between and fucked her breasts, shooting his come into her waiting mouth.

  After nightfall, she woke up to see him standing by the window, looking out over the city, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the distance lighting the way to Philadelphia. She went to the window and put her hand to the glass. It was cold against her palm, as cold as the jelly he was slathering between her buttocks, in contrast to the warmth of his cock when he slipped it into her anus. She braced her hands against either side of the window and before the city and the night he eased in and out, in and out, until he spent himself into her, until she cried out his name with her release. He carried her back to the bed and they cleansed each other with soft soapy cloths and kisses before he fell asleep on her thigh, her fingers tangled in his hair.