“What’s his name?”
“Toby.”
“Toby, huh?”
“Yeah, and he’s really cute. He looks like that guy who starred in Thor. What’s his name? Chris…”
“Hemsworth?”
“Yeah. And he’s big like him too. And tall. Really tall. Perfect for a tall girl like you.”
“Toby, the blond giant. So where did you have in mind?” Ronnie asked as she carried the phone and her camera, over to one of the three bedrooms, which she’d converted into a studio. She sat in front of her computer to download the photos from the camera.
“There is this really nice bar and lounge downtown. It’s classy too. Plays live jazz music. We can go there, have a nice dinner, and you can get to know Toby.”
Ronnie nodded. “Okay. Sounds like a plan.”
~*~*~*~
“What do you think about Barnes’ announcement today?” David asked Zachary Buchanan, clinking the ice cubes in his drink.
Zachary shook his head. “It took me totally by surprise. I think we need to check out the legitimacy of those signatures. Where did he get all those so fast?”
Zachary Buchanan and David were best friends. The two had practically grown up together by virtue of being sons of neighbors, close friends and allies, Darrell Jones and Mark Buchanan. Mark was a philanthropist, businessman, and in later years a politician. Zach and David had attended the same elementary and high school until David had been abruptly transferred. Zach felt so strongly about David’s role in politics he had suspended his work as a property management consultant to be a part of his campaign.
The two were dining at Jazzed, long heralded as Chicago’s leading jazz venue. David found that while the food was nothing special, what he enjoyed about the dive was the pleasant staff, the drinks, and the musical acts. While his preference was for soul music, he also enjoyed jazz and had even joined one of the visiting acts once or twice on his saxophone.
“You know what amazes me the most? Barnes endorsed me as the candidate to take over his seat in front of a room of two-hundred people and three months later holds a press conference to announce he’s running for re-election. Whatever happened to a man’s word being his bond?”
“It’s not personal, David. He just lost the congressional primary election. He doesn’t want to be left out in the cold, so he’s trying to take back his seat. He only handed on the baton to you because he thought he was moving on to greater things. It’s just politics.”
David took a sip of his drink.
“That’s the problem, Zach. A move like that may seem like just politics. To me, though, it speaks about the lack of integrity. When I first met Barnes ten years ago, he seemed like a decent enough sort of guy. Since he became representative, I’ve seen him renege on his word time and time again. Is that what politics does to people? Suppose I end up like that? Makes me wonder if I really know what I’m getting myself into.”
“I get scared when you make statements like that, David.”
“Politics is a nasty business.”
“It is people who corrupt things, not the other way around. Daniel was a politician, remember? That didn’t stop him from being godly. In fact, he was an example of a godly man in a corrupt place among corrupt people. He was committed to doing what was right no matter who he upset as long as he pleased God. That’s you. And if we don’t have men like you who will push policies to benefit people, men who won’t be tainted by corruption, men who will stand up for the right no matter what it costs him, then where will we be?”
David ran a hand over his short, curly hair.
“Zach, everyone starts out full of those types of ideals and then somewhere along the road something happens. Standing up for the right no matter what it costs can be hard, really hard. I don’t know if I’m cut out for that life.”
“You are. I know you. I know what a principled person you are. That’s not going to change.”
“Maybe not overnight, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
David met Zachary’s concerned sapphire blue eyes with his serious brown ones.
“I just wonder sometimes if I really want to do this to myself. My life is great right now. I’m doing two things I love most, practicing law, well sometimes anyway, and teaching law. What can politics give me that I don’t already have? Fame? I don’t want it. Fortune? I’ve already got it. Power? I’ve got power. Why just the other day I got over six-hundred lawyers to commit to pro bono work in their communities. Isn’t that power?”
Zachary gave an irreverent snort.
“Don’t get cocky now. That’s not how I heard it.”
David raised a brow.
“The way I heard it the reason they signed on was because their CEO visited each branch, gave a presentation to associates on the social ills in their communities and stressed that their help was desperately needed to make a difference. The added benefit, of course, was that it would be counted the same way as billable hours.”
“How did you hear about that?” David asked.
“My cousin, Julianne, works for Jones Law Boston, remember? She was very impressed. Said it was the first time in the five years she’d worked there that the CEO had a meeting with all the attorneys. She asked me if you were single.”
David allowed a half-smile.
“This is why you need to be in politics. You can’t waste that kind of charisma.” Zach smirked. “Whatever happened to your telling me, ‘Zach, I’m going to lay down the law. They have to do pro bono work or else’.”
“I decided to use the carrot approach. A smart lady suggested that it might work better than the stick in this case.”
“Linette?”
“Who?”
“The smart lady.”
“Oh. No.”
“I’ve noticed that she’s been missing from a lot of the functions you’ve attended lately. Don’t tell me you’ve grown bored with her already.”
“Bored is such an obnoxious word.”
“I’m beginning to think you are the problem.”
“I’m beginning to think you’re right.”
“She’s very charming.”
“Indeed. Do you want to date her?”
“Being someone’s second choice isn’t as appealing at first blush as you’d think,” said Zach in a droll manner.
“I don’t think you’re her type anyhow.”
“The party president recently told me to encourage you to get married. He said that for him you’re the preferred nominee, but it didn’t look good for the party nominee to be a bachelor.”
“You told him to mind his own business, I hope,” David said gruffly.
Zach shrugged.
“To get back to what we were discussing, though. Everyone has doubts about entering politics at one time or another, but you need to understand that this is not just about you. It transcends you and what you want. It’s about this district, this state, I dare say this country. We need more men like you in the Senate right now – men who will stand up for truth. When your mom died, it created a void, and it has not yet been filled.”
David was about to protest, but Zach raised a hand.
“Yes, I know. Physically it was filled, but socially it wasn’t. Hugh Barnes didn’t care about this district like she did. He didn’t bring the love of the people she did. You will. There is no one in the party right now better suited for this role than you. You have done so much work as a community organizer. I have no doubt you will win the primary. There are so many people and organizations rallying behind you. At least try it for the next two years. When elections are called again you can decide if you want to continue, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”
Zach paused and took a swig of beer.
David thought about Zach’s words. They made sense. And that was the reason he’d entered the race in the first place because the Sixteenth District spanned all the areas he was working on to socially reform. Neighborhoods that were poor, crime-riddled, disadvant
aged. Neighborhoods he cared about.
Zachary pressed on.
“One of my favorite quotes is by Edmund Burke, and it says, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ I feel like right now evil is flourishing in our nation because too many good men and women are doing nothing. Don’t be one of those people, David.”
David raised a brow.
“Nice speech. Are you sure you don’t want to throw your hat in the ring?”
Zach laughed. “I don’t have your charisma or your eloquence.”
David grinned back. “You were quite eloquent just now.”
He stopped a passing waiter and asked him to refresh his drink. The bar was dimly lit and almost full as usual. That night’s musical act had just taken a break. All that could be heard now were the sounds of cutlery and utensils and conversation punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter.
“Seriously, though, you know the issues that are on peoples’ minds. You do pro bono work, you volunteer at the community centers. You are on the school board and serve on the zoning board. Fundraising is going to be a cinch for you. People will be standing in line with their checkbooks.”
“Take your hand off me!”
David’s head shot around at the sound of the voice. Even above the noise in the bar, he heard it, and it was coming from behind him.
He spotted the voice’s owner immediately. Ronnie Dickson was sitting at a table with another female and two men.
She appeared to be directing her loud outburst at the man seated next to her.
Instantly, every muscle in David’s body tensed.
Far from removing his hand, David observed the man draw even closer to Ronnie. David didn’t know who the man was. He might be a boyfriend or even a husband, but the way Ronnie recoiled suggested that the movement was unwelcomed, and that was all that mattered to him.
He got up to head in their direction.
Chapter 5
“David, what are you doing?” Zachary asked, his eyes darting between David and the scene unfolding across the room.
“I know her. She works at Jones Law,” David muttered.
“Let’s call the police then. Don’t get involved, David. It’s none of your business.”
“Weren’t you just telling me how evil flourishes when good men do nothing,” he said, not taking his eyes off the scene. “Well, I’m going over there to do something.”
David quickly walked across the room and in no time had covered the distance between the tables.
As he approached, he heard the man say to Ronnie, “You could be a little friendlier to someone who just bought you dinner.”
The other man at the table said helplessly, “Toby…come on.”
“No, Matt. Shut up. All I asked for was one little kiss. Is that too much to ask?”
The man who was called Toby moved in closer to Ronnie.
David was now standing right beside him. He tapped him on the shoulder.
“Huh?” Toby glanced up at him in surprise.
“Hey, buddy, I’m getting the distinct impression this lady no longer wants your company. I think it’s time for you to leave.”
There was a twenty-second delay before the signal from the man’s ears reached his brain.
“Why, don’t you mind your own business?” he roared, turning his body away from Ronnie and towards David.
“This is my business. She works for me,” David replied with an easy manner.
The man swore and stood abruptly. One of the ladies screamed. David looked up at him. The man was practically a giant. He loomed over David and at 6’ 3” it was not a sensation he was used to. He wasn’t just tall he was also thick and muscular. David thought vaguely that he’d probably have made a great offensive lineman.
Toby shoved David’s shoulder and seemed slightly surprised when David hardly moved.
“So what are you, her pimp?” he spat out, “’cause if you are, you should be aware that I bought her dinner so that at least entitles me to a couple kisses!”
“How about I pay you for the dinner. We’ll call it even,” David said calmly, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a wallet. Without looking, he pulled out two one-hundred dollar notes.
“I don’t need your money, punk.” The man swore again. “This is your last chance to go away and mind your own business before I knock your head off.”
David sighed, replacing the money and sliding the wallet back into his pocket. He really did not want to get into a bar fight, but at the same time, he couldn’t just leave Ronnie to the mercy of this Toby, whoever he was to her.
“I’m not going anywhere,” David said with quiet firmness.
Toby snarled and lunged for him. David side-stepped and the man stumbled and fell against a nearby booth causing the occupants to exclaim in alarm. A minute later, he pushed himself off the booth, swung around with surprising speed for someone so big, and threw a punch at David’s face. David dodged it, and Toby made another swipe. This time David blocked it with his left arm and clipped Toby’s chin with a quick sharp jab. The man rocked backward holding his face and stumbled against a recently vacated table, knocking a glass to the ground.
David knew he could sidestep Toby all night until he wearied himself out. But he’d had a long day, and he wasn’t in the mood for putting on a show.
“You’re creating quite the scene. I don’t want to hurt you. Step aside and allow the lady to leave.”
The man lunged for David with renewed rage.
David quickly shifted, but this time, as Toby stumbled, David swiftly brought down his elbow on his back. Toby lost his balance and dropped to the ground on all fours.
The man was dazed. He shook his head a few times and tried to stand.
“Stay down,” David warned.
Toby stood unsteadily.
David sighed, ducked the blow intended for the side of his head, and delivered a swift punch to the man’s windpipe. As Toby clutched his throat, David served his stomach a solid blow. The man doubled over in pain, fell to the ground, and then curled into a ball on his side, moaning.
David turned to Ronnie. “Come. Let’s go,” he said briskly.
She scrambled out of the booth and, to his surprise, the lady with her, who he now recognized as the marketing officer, Anne Hirsch, said angry words to her date and vacated the booth as well.
As David prepared to leave, he realized that a small crowd of patrons had gathered and all eyes were turned on them. David groaned. Just what he needed to add to his bio. A bar fight.
When they got outside, he turned to Ronnie.
“What just happened in there?”
“I believe you just got into a fight with my date, Mr. Jones.”
He looked to the heavens.
“Before that. I recall you screaming for help.”
“I did not…” Ronnie began.
“He tried to kiss her,” Anne Hirsh said.
“Was that your boyfriend?” David asked Ronnie.
“Of course not. I don’t even know him.”
“Do you generally have dinner with guys you don’t know?”
“It’s called going on a date, Mr. Jones.” she retorted saucily.
David’s eyes skimmed Ronnie’s form, taking note of the sparkling, thin-strapped, black dress which showcased a lean, toned, athletic figure and a dangling ponytail that emphasized high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, and plump, sensuous lips.
“I didn’t plan on getting into a fight tonight,” he said in an accusatory tone.
She folded her arms across her chest and straightened her back.
“Are you blaming me for your actions, Mr. Jones?”
David expelled a quick, short puff of air.
“Let us walk you ladies to your cars,” he said.
“We didn’t drive,” Ronnie interjected. “We came with our dates. One of whom is now immobilized I think.”
“I’ll take you home, then,” David said decisively. “Where d
o you two live?”
Anne spoke up first. She gave an address in Schaumburg.
“I can take her home, Dave,” Zachary volunteered. “That’s closer to my side.”
“Uh…I don’t accept rides from strangers,” Anne said.
David was about to remind Miss Hirsch that at least one of the men she and Ronnie had dined with had been a stranger. Then he wondered why he even cared.
“Ladies, this is Zachary Buchanan, a very good friend of mine. Zachary, this is Ronnie Dickson, and Anne Hirsch, both of whom work for Jones Law. I can vouch for Zach, Anne. No need to worry. He wouldn’t harm a fly. Would you Zach?”
Zach threw a disapproving frown at David.
“No, I’m no Mike Tyson like this guy.”
David ignored him and glanced at Ronnie.
“Where do you live?”
“River North. But I can take a cab, Mr. Jones. I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
He gave a humorless laugh. “We’re way past that.”
He turned to the others.
“Ronnie lives en route to my home. So, Zach, you take Anne home. I’ll take Ronnie.”
Zach and Anne bid them goodnight, and he and Ronnie began to walk towards his black SUV as the other two walked in the opposite direction.
“You know what, Mr. Jones? Since I’m so much trouble, I should take a cab,” she said.
“You’re not taking a cab,’ he replied disarming his vehicle with a tap of the key fob. He opened the door for her and with a sweeping gesture said, “Please. I insist.”
“I barely know you,” she said. “And it’s late.”
David smiled ironically. “Now you display caution. Interesting. Well, your companion has abandoned you. So unless you want to remain alone in a dark parking lot, I’d suggest you get in. Believe me, I won’t lay a hand on you.”
Ronnie blinked rapidly, squared her shoulders and, without another word, ignored the hand David offered and climbed into the vehicle.
In the car, she fixed her gaze outside of the window. They traveled that way for a few miles, and then David said, “Do you mind if I turn on the radio?”
She shrugged but didn’t look at him.
He pushed a button and the radio came alive, set to his usual station.
A Case For Love (Royals Series Book 3) Page 4