“Come on in.”
She took a step back so he could enter, and he gave her a quick once-over. She was wearing a pair of smiley face pajama bottoms with a matching T-shirt. Her hair was a wild mess, as if she dragged her fingers through it repeatedly.
He closed and locked the door. “Are you okay?”
“I’ve been better. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. After I talked to you, I turned it back to vibrate only.” Jen moved across the room and sat. “How are you?”
“About the same,” he admitted.
She nibbled on her thumbnail. In all the time they’d spent together, he’d never seen Jen bite her nails. When she caught him watching her, she folded her hands together instead.
He sat down and immediately Bo jumped up next to him. The dog didn’t like to be left out. “Jen, we need to talk.”
“I know,” she whispered as her face dropped toward the floor. “But first I need to tell you I’m sorry.”
Brett touched her face and nudged her chin up. “For what?” The only people he blamed for the situation were Phillip Young and whoever else worked for Ted Smith.
“The story in today’s news, of course.”
“Talk to me.” He needed to know what he was dealing with. “Is any of it true?”
Jen sighed and sank back against the sofa cushions. “Yes and no.”
He’d hoped for a resounding no but hadn’t expected it. Carl and Dad were right. Smith’s camp wouldn’t have released such intel if they weren’t confident it was true. “Start with what they got right.”
“The man mentioned in the article, Dominic Russo, is my biological father. I wasn’t trying to hide him from you. I never think of the man, except when I get those family medical history questionnaires at a doctor’s office.” She paused and cleared her throat. “My biological mother, Tina Russo, died in a car accident when I was eight. She and my mom, the woman you met, were first cousins. Dominic was arrested about three years after the accident. He knew enough to give the authorities Mom’s name as my next living relative. Mom and Dad took me in immediately, and as soon as they could, they adopted me.”
“Russo was arrested for murder?” Brett had all the details from the article memorized.
“We were never close, even before my mother’s death. At some point, he and two other men started holding up banks. I guess they did it while I was at school. I don’t really know. Anyway, during their last attempt, a security guard inside the bank intervened, and Dominic shot him. They’d never hurt anyone before that day, so I think he panicked.” She shrugged and reached over to pet Bo. “After he went to jail, I sent him letters for about a year. He never responded to any of them, so I stopped. As far as I know, he’s still in prison.”
He knew some people had terrible childhoods. Brett had never realized Jen was one. Despite the rotten parent she’d been born to, she didn’t sound bitter or sad. Unsure of an appropriate response to the story she’d shared, he said, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. From the moment I walked in the house, Mom and Dad treated me the same way they did their biological children. Kristen and Keith have always treated me as a sister. Regardless of what my DNA says, the four of them are my immediate family.”
Not all children in a situation like Jen’s got a chance at a loving family. She’d been lucky. “I’m glad you have them.”
“Then you believe I wasn’t trying to hide the truth from you?” she asked, sounding uncertain.
Brett cupped her face in his hands so she couldn’t look away. “Affirmative.” What the media and Carl believed would be another story, but he’d worry about it later. “What about the rest?”
“The part about me having a run-in with the police is mostly exaggerated.”
Either you’d gotten in trouble with the cops or you hadn’t. But he wouldn’t jump to any conclusion. He’d hear Jen out. “How?”
She blew out a deep breath. “It happened about six months before Dominic was arrested. We’d moved to another new town, and I really wanted friends. There was this group at school. They were the cool kids. Everyone wanted to hang around with them.”
He knew the type. Every school had them.
“In order to be in their group, you had to pass their tests,” she said.
Jen reached out again to pet Bo. He noticed since arriving she hadn’t touched him once. Usually when they sat like this, she’d lean her head on his shoulder or take his hand. Not tonight.
“There was another girl, Laura, who wanted to be part of their group too. Our test was to spray paint the shed behind her aunt’s restaurant. One night we did it. Neither of us knew there were cameras outside. They captured us both on video. Laura’s aunt, who happened to be married to the chief of police, called the authorities. They took both of us to the station in a police car and gave us a long lecture. Then I sat there until Dominic came and picked me up. I sat there for several hours,” Jen said. “Thankfully, Laura’s aunt didn’t press any charges. I think she only called the police because she wanted to scare us. Make sure we never did something so stupid again. As a punishment, we had to help her repaint the shed.”
“Yeah, I’d call that a definite exaggeration and not something the press should’ve printed.” A new burst of anger exploded inside him. It was bad enough to drag up parts of her past that were true, but making a situation sound worse than it really had been and putting her reputation in question was unacceptable. “Other than the phone calls and the media outside, has anyone bothered you anywhere else?”
“Reporters were outside work again. And there were twice as many reporters when I got home then there are now.”
Tomorrow they’d be back at her office and the number outside her house would double again. The media would get all they could from this story before leaving her alone.
“Brett, I’m sorry about all this.” Finally she reached over and took his hands. “Even I know this can’t be good for your campaign.”
“It’s not your fault.”
He had the truth. Now he and Carl could develop a strategy to handle it.
“Your campaign is important. Do whatever you need to.” Her voice cracked on her last sentence.
“I plan to.”
He pulled out his cell phone and called Carl. The man answered on the second ring despite the time. “I’ll be at your office in about ninety minutes. Have Lily met us there as soon as she can.” He’d need his press secretary too.
Carl demanded answers, and Brett gave him the condensed version. When they got to Carl’s office, he’d give him everything. “See you soon.”
He didn’t wait for a response before cutting the connection and calling Dad. His father answered faster than Carl had.
“Dad, I’m meeting Carl in about ninety minutes. Can you come?”
And what did he plan to do, she wondered as she watched him make another phone call? After greeting his dad, he stood and walked away as he spoke. She followed him with her eyes. His facial expressions let her know he didn’t like whatever his father was saying.
Brett raked a hand through his hair. “Enough. I’ll see you soon.” His voice reached her from across the room.
He shoved the device back into his pocket and looked toward the ceiling before rejoining her.
“More bad news?” she asked.
“Difference of opinion. It’s not the first time Dad and I don’t agree. I guarantee it won’t be the last.”
“You’re meeting Carl and your dad tonight?”
“It can’t wait.”
He didn’t seem in any rush to share his plan. If his plan included saying goodbye, she wished he’d get it over with and leave. “It’s getting late, and you have a bit of a drive.” She stood. “I’ll make you a coffee for the road so you don’t fall asleep.”
“I know you’ve got work tomorrow, but I’d like you to come to my meeting with Carl tonight.”
His words kept her from walking away.
Brett’s request made sense. He wanted h
er to share the story she’d told him and answer any questions Carl or his dad might have. “After seeing the media gathered outside the office today, I told my boss I’d be working from home tomorrow.” She’d hoped by Monday the media would lose interest in her again. Of course that had been before she saw the headlines tonight.
“Good. As soon as you pack a bag, we can drive into Boston together. After the meeting, we can either stay at a hotel in the city or drive back to my house. By then the media probably hanging around my place will have given up for the night at least.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? If you really think I have to go, give me the address, and I’ll meet you there. After it’s over, I can drive home.”
She didn’t want to face Brett’s dad, but she’d suffer through the meeting if it would help him. Staying at Brett’s house or in a hotel with him was something else. If he planned to put distance between them, having her stay at his home wasn’t the way to go about it.
He stood and advanced on her. “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?” he asked, but didn’t give her a chance to answer. “And yeah, I need you there tonight. You might not be the one running for office, but we need to face this problem together.”
“Together?” It didn’t sound like he planned to walk away, but she didn’t want to read too much into his statement either.
Brett put his hands on her waist and pulled her a little closer. “Isn’t it what couples do? They work together? I don’t have a lot of experience with relationships, but my parents always work as a unit.”
Her parents did as well. “Yes, but I thought you’d find it easier to cut ties with me. You could go on record saying you didn’t know about my past, which is the truth, and move on. If you did, the voters might not hold all this against you in November.”
“Is that what you want?” He sounded concerned. “I know your involvement with me has turned into a major headache for you. Given time, things will die down.”
She could say yes and possibly help save both his reputation and his chance of winning. A better person would do just that and ask him to leave. She wasn’t a better person. “No, of course not. But I—” Jen wasn’t sure what she planned to say, and Brett didn’t give her a chance anyway.
“Good. Because if I had to choose between a seat in the Senate and you, I’d pick you every time.”
Her mouth opened but no words came out. His admission had robbed her of any intelligent thoughts. Before any came to her, he continued. “I love you.”
Jen snapped her mouth shut, both stunned and elated by his words. “You… I….” She’d known he cared about her, but hadn’t expected his feelings ran as deep as hers yet.
“This is the point when you tell me you love me too,” Brett said before she could gather her thoughts enough to answer him.
Tonight the guy was a little too sure of himself. “Oh, really? You know what they say about assuming things, Buster.”
“We’re back to Buster again, are we? I still need to come up with a good nickname for you. I’ll work on it.” He didn’t seem fazed by her comment. “And yeah, you love me. If you didn’t, you would’ve kicked my ass to the curb the second the media started circling around. You’re not the attention-seeking type.”
He had an excellent point, and one she couldn’t argue with. “At least on this, you’re 100 percent right.” She didn’t want to stroke his ego too much. “Honestly, I was half in love with you before we met at Ambrosia.”
“Same here.” He sealed his confession with a kiss.
Chapter Seventeen
Brett pulled into a spot and turned off the engine, not surprised to see Dad’s car already parked further down the row. Except for his car and Dad’s, this level of the garage remained empty. “Relax. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
She glanced down at her lap where she was busy picking her nails apart. “Easy for you to say. Carl works for you and this is your dad.”
“You’ve met them both.” If they were about to face a room of reporters, he’d understand her apprehension. Considering they were only meeting with Carl and Dad, her unease seemed unwarranted. “What are you worried they’ll do?” he asked.
“Blame me for this disaster.” She reached in her purse and pulled out her lipstick. “Not believe me.” Jen tossed the tube back without opening it. “Try to change your mind about not dumping me.”
“Neither is happening. I won’t let it.”
She offered him a weak smile. “Let’s go, I guess. If we keep sitting here, I’m only going to tear off the rest of my nails.”
The elevator doors opened, and they stepped out. “You should leave some stuff at my house,” he said. He’d planned on telling her that and giving her a house key soon anyway; doing so now provided her with a momentary distraction. “Then you won’t have to pack every time you plan to spend the night. I’ve got plenty of empty drawers you can take over. And I had a house key made for you.”
“I will. You should do the same at my house,” she said, her voice not much above a whisper as they approached the reception desk.
Once again Dee, Carl’s assistant, was seated there instead of the receptionist. Considering the hour, he hadn’t expected anyone to be here but Carl and Dad and eventually his press secretary. He should’ve known Carl would call his personal assistant in to work. It seemed no matter the time or day, the woman was at the office ready to do Carl’s bidding.
“Hi,” Brett said, feeling guilty about calling the meeting so late and forcing her to come in.
If Dee was bothered by the hour, she didn’t let on. Instead she smiled and greeted them both. “Carl is in his office waiting,” she said. “He wanted me to put in a food order once you arrived. What would you like?”
He felt bad enough without forcing Carl’s assistant to get him food. Besides, they’d gone through the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant on the way here. “Thanks, but we ate.”
“I have to go over anyway. Do either of you want coffee?” Dee asked.
Jen reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. “Actually, I would love another.” She held out a ten-dollar bill, but Dee didn’t accept it.
“Don’t worry about it. The office has an account next door,” Dee said, looking at him. “Can I get you one, Mr. Sherbrooke?”
“Sure.” As long as she wasn’t making a special trip just for him, he’d have her grab him a coffee too.
When Brett and Jen entered the office, both Carl and Dad looked their way. They wore matching surprised expressions. He hadn’t told either Jen would be joining them. Dad shook off his surprise first and stood.
“I wish it was under different circumstances, but it’s nice to see you again,” Dad said. He gestured toward the chair he’d pulled out. “Please have a seat.”
While Jen got settled and exchanged greetings with Carl, Dad stepped over to him. “You’re able to answer the question I posed earlier,” he said.
His dad wasn’t asking, but merely stating a fact. Brett answered him anyway. “Affirmative.”
Dad gave him a curt nod as a response and then sat again. “We better get to work,” he said.
Carl took the words as his cue to get the meeting underway even though Lily wasn’t there yet. “I need to know everything, Brett. I can’t come up with a good defense if I don’t know all the specifics,” he said, before he looked toward Jen. “I’m sure you’ve seen what the media is claiming. I need you to be honest with me. Jennifer, is Dominic Russo your father, and have you had problems with the law?”
Brett gripped her hand on the table and gave it a squeeze.
“Unfortunately, yes, Russo is my biological father,” she said.
She didn’t give either Carl or his dad a chance to question her. Instead she pressed on with the full story. And now, like he had earlier that night, he sent up a little thank-you she’d had the Wallaces to take her in and give her a loving family.
When she finished, both men asked her several questions about Domi
nic and her relationship with him.
“What about the other claim?” Carl asked, switching topics. “If you’ve ever had problems with the police or have ever been arrested, even if it’s for something you did when you were seventeen, we need to know.”
“I’ve never even gotten a speeding ticket.”
Carl frowned. “I thought I stressed how important complete honesty was today. Jennifer, men like Phillip Young don’t get their facts wrong,” he said, and Brett considered the consequences of firing the man and walking out.
“Mr. Filmore, I am being honest with you. I have never been arrested.” Jen’s voice contained a hard edge he’d never heard before. She might have been nervous about the meeting, but she wasn’t going to let Carl push her around. “If you give me a chance, I’ll explain what incident the media must be referring to.”
“I apologize. Please proceed.”
The same hard edge remained in Jen’s voice as shared the same story she’d told him.
“Not that it matters, but either Smith’s team twisted the facts or Russo left some out when he shared them,” Carl said once Jen finished.
“I’m surprised he even talked to anyone, or that he even remembers it happening.” Jen said.
He hadn’t thought about how the media got the intel. He hadn’t cared. Jen raised a good point. Few people other than her and Dominic knew about the spray painting incident, so the relative mentioned in the article had to be her biological father.
Carl nodded. “I don’t know why, but he did. I got confirmation before you arrived.”
The why behind Dominic Russo’s actions were irrelevant. “We need a strategy. Thoughts?”
Dad and Carl exchanged a glance. His dad seemed to shake his head at Carl but otherwise kept silent.
“Jennifer, would you mind giving us a few minutes alone?” Carl asked.
“Whatever you have to say, you can do so with Jen here.” Brett didn’t intend to keep secrets from her.
The Billionaire's Homecoming Page 19