by Imani King
Chapter 13
She sat at the table, eyes wide, still people watching. There was a place card in the seat beside her that read Carson Weeks. She hoped that before the dinner was over, she’d have more than just a fancy card to remember him by. The speeches were getting long, especially without a companion for company. She stared at her glittery nails, courtesy of Ella, and wished Ella was the one with her right now. You can’t beat a true friend. Sticks with you, through thick and thin, never lets you down. I wish I could text her right now.
“And that is why I am honored to introduce to you, the founder of this program to help promote racial diversity in theater by creating a scholarship program,” she heard. Her ears pricked up. “Carson Weeks.”
The audience applauded enthusiastically as Carson strode onto the stage. “Thank you, so much, everyone. Please sit. I want to tell you all how much working with Randall Wilson, the director of The Tempest, and seeing the audition process for that play, which will be an entirely African American cast, has opened my eyes to how much major talent is out there.”
The applause interrupted him. “Talent deserves support,” he continued. “And though I don’t have much of the first, I can provide the second.” Oh man, he’s adorable, thought Jayne. I guess this was the business he had to finalize instead of picking me up. I guess it was worth it. More than worth it. He’s worth it. “The real stars are the people who are pushing though barriers, and believing in the reality of their dreams. And I hope you will make this journey with me to help and support those who have been under-represented in this beautiful art. Long live theater!” He pushed a fist in the air and the crowd went mad with applause. Jayne watched him stroll casually, confidently down the stairs toward their table, toward her. He smiled at her, again a little vulnerable. She beamed back at him as he took his place.
“You look amazing,” he whispered, squeezing her hand quickly under the table. “Just gorgeous. You look like Ariel, except real.”
“Thank you!” She whispered back. “That was an incredible thing you did.”
“Well it’s important to me. What’s money if you can’t use it to make a more beautiful world? Just like you artists are?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise. I’m so sorry to have not been there to pick you up, though.”
“That’s not a problem. You had a pretty good excuse.”
“I was hoping you’d see it that way.” His blue eyes crinkled, catching her heart as he smiled.
“But what made you take this step?”
“I’m doing this because I am falling for you, but I am falling for you because I believe in you,” Carson said, looking surprisingly shy. “You’ve done so much, and worked so hard. You’re the embodiment of what I believe in, and I… I believe in what I love.”
She was stunned. This gorgeous man, who could have any woman he wanted, was falling in love with her? Little Jayne Massie, from Nowheresville? Still, she had worked hard to make herself where she was. If there was a testament to believing in your dreams, to working hard every day to make something happen in your own life, Jayne was it. No matter what success she had gotten or not gotten, the main thing that drove her was doing the work. The joy was in the work. The parsing out of the words, the coming together of the ideas, the interplay of the patterns. And that was what Carson could see. The things that were hers.
“But it’s also true that I think you’re beautiful,” he admitted. “I can’t lie about that. Ever since the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I wanted you. What I didn’t know was how you would change me. How you would inspire me. Just make me want to be a better man, every day.”
“How could you be better?” Jayne asked, guilelessly. “You’re already perfect.”
Carson looked embarrassed and then momentarily hid his face in his hands, then looked up at her through his fingers, the smile returning. But she had to remember that he was still a young man, mid-twenties. Such a person could be vulnerable. “Well if anyone thinks so,” he said, “I am glad that it’s you.”
Chapter 14
In the limo outside her apartment, she sat in the car with him, neither one wanting to end the evening. She had his jacket wrapped around her shoulders, like a hug.
“Jayne,” he said, “Thank you for coming with me tonight. It meant a lot to me.”
“It was my pleasure,” she said shyly, looking up at him. Don’t stare at his lips, she told herself. But she couldn’t help it. This time he didn’t shy away. He slipped a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to meet hers.
He leaned in, and touched his lips to hers, at first tentatively, and then with more passion. She felt like she were floating on air, as his hand slid to the back of her neck, touching her ear, the kisses impossibly soft, breathless, communicating. His tongue and hers began to touch as well, questioning, claiming. She melted in his arms, mesmerized by his touch, his yearning. She pulled away just to look at him, to take him in, his beautiful eyes, his strong jaw, his cheekbones, his smile. His lips, oh his lips. Impossible to resist.
Wilbur must be getting a little tired, thought Jayne. “Is Wilbur ok?” she whispered.
“You’re so considerate,” he said, though his shoulders shook a little with laughter. “Perhaps he is. I guess it’s a bit odd for him to just wait knowing we are back here. But I just don’t want to leave you. Thing is, I don’t want to ask to come in, and I don’t want to rush things by inviting you back too soon. It’s a catch-22.”
“I get it. I feel the same way,” she said, kissing him again. “This could be something right?”
“This could definitely be something. Something I will treasure. And I want to do it right.” He leaned back. “I should let you go,” he said, but at the same time his hand reached to grab hers.
She interlaced her fingers with his, and he brought her hand up to his lips, kissing it softly. “You have a wonderful night, Jayne Massie.”
“You too, Mr. Carson Weeks.” He grinned at her.
“When will I see you again? Meet for breakfast tomorrow?”
“Really? I’d love that.”
“I’ll send Wilbur for you,” he smiled. “Around 10am? You can come to my place.”
“Sounds incredible.” Jayne kissed him one last time and then they walked out of the car so that Carson could see her safely inside.
“Goodnight,” he murmured, kissing her on the cheek.
“Goodnight.” She flitted into the apartment, feeling she was almost becoming the fairy, Ariel. But would Ariel cause as storms for her? A sudden shiver came over her, and she realized she was still wrapped in his jacket. He hadn’t said anything to her, even though he must have felt the chill.
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Scandalous: The Senator’s Secret Bride
CHAPTER ONE
“How did you talk me into working for the Reynolds campaign again? I’m not this type of woman!” I laughed out loud as I followed Kelly Hernandez, one of the best campaign managers in DC. Connected, brilliant, and beautiful, Kelly had managed to pull me away from my steady job at The Washington Foundation for Internships—and onto the campaign trail. She grabbed my hand and pulled me up to the line in front of Rye, one of the hippest bars in the city. And the place where all the most connected politicians came to unwind.
“Because you are a brand new outreach director for the Reynolds campaign in Virginia! The only Independent who stands a chance against Janice Howell!” I laughed and followed Kelly into the bar, her flouncing pink skirt leading me like a beacon into a new life.
“Damn, I’m never here for happy hour. Shit’s crowded, Kell.”
“That’s because of the news. People are hearing about this last minute addition to the Virginia race, a
nd the town is all abuzz. We’ll grab a table and maybe meet someone who knows something about what Greg Reynolds is doing. He is our brand new boss.” She grabbed me by the suit jacket and pulled me to a table near the window, motioning wildly for a server. As with every movement she made, Kelly was immediately noticed. A server came our way and threw two drink menus on the table before trying to run off to another customer.
“We’ll have two blackberry GNTs. Thank you,” Kelly shouted, reaching out to tap the server on the arm. He nodded, annoyed, and went off behind a busy bar lined with blue and khaki-clad lobbyists and perhaps even a congressman or two.
“Don’t you already know all the secrets there are in this city?”
“Well, the ones worth knowing, my dear Sonia.” She looked over my gray linen summer suit and gently tugged on my sleeve again. “You know, darling, on the campaign trail, you might need some new threads.” I laughed. She was never one to hesitate when it came to telling me about fashion. “I can call Carolina for a suit or two. Even a gala gown.”
“Kell, the last thing on my mind right now is my wardrobe. I just ran out of my office in the middle of the day—”
“Darling, it’s 5:30 in the afternoon. It’s hardly the middle of the day. Besides, your work days are about to get a whole lot longer, and a whole lot more interesting.” All around us, the bar was abuzz with chatter. I couldn’t make out what was being said, but I did hear the name “Reynolds” every few words, just as Kelly had predicted.
“I hear Reynolds has some kind of vendetta against Janice Howell. He’s desperate not to see her win. That much is clear from what he’s told me. It’s not just the politics with him, which is so curious. He really thinks she’s malicious, and that his bid is the only moral thing he can do. He’s a billionaire from his family name, of course, and no one in this town knows of him. There’s barely a picture of him on the internet. Unknown. But my connections tell me he can win, and we’re going to help him do it.”
“Oh my god, Kelly, what have I gotten myself into?” I wondered just how glad my boss would be if I waltzed back to the Washington Foundation that moment and went right back up to my hot, dark office.
“You’ve gotten yourself into an exciting election season.” The bored-looking waiter delivered our drinks, and I immediately started sipping, savoring the bubbles of the tonic and the slight sweetness of blackberries mixed with mint. The Southernness of DC sometimes amused me, even though I’d been raised as a Southern girl myself. The alcohol began its work in my body, loosening my muscles and taking away some of the anxiety I felt about the whole leaving-my-job situation. It wasn’t a thing I did. None of it was a thing I did — only for Kelly, the one politico I’d loved working with when we were both fresh, green, and canvassing for Obama’s first election. “Now just sip your drink, darling, and let all of your problems fade away. Tomorrow, we tackle the Reynolds campaign and meet with him in person. And while you’re sipping, listen to the golden gossip that’s falling all around us. It’s gold for the job we’re about to do… and that’s getting this good man in office.”
I did as Kelly said, angling my body toward the bar so that I could hear more of the conversations drifting around us. I nursed my drink, downing it a bit faster than usual.
I hear he’s the silent owner of Reynolds Metals. You know, the tin foil people. He had a billion dollar deal and…
Kelly winked at me. She’d heard the same thing. She waved at the waiter and he brought us another round of GNTs. I hastily finished my first, the alcohol buzzing in my body and seeming to heighten my senses. It was incredible, being here with this truly exciting, brilliant woman on the eve of our big break so late in the campaign season.
Janice Howell isn’t pleased. In fact, she’s fucking livid. There’s some kind of past there, and she knows that he can…
Yeah, she’s a beast alright, but she has the ear of the Minority Whip, and she gets shit done in the Republican Party when no one else…
“It’s all around you darling, the rich backstory that will make this campaign so special. I’d never in a million years thought that I’d get to work on something as exciting as this. And I was so surprised when Reynolds called me. I’ve worked on senate campaigns, but none as high profile as his. And none as contentious.” I sipped the sweet drink, probably far faster than I should have, especially for a lightweight drinker like I was. But it felt good. And Kelly was right. Reynolds and Howell were the talk of the town, and in a swing state like Virginia, the campaign was bound to get heated. The bodies at the bar were all leaning into each other, mouths whispering in ears, with occasional furtive glances thrown over their shoulders. Save for one.
Curious. A man sitting by himself at the end of the bar, just staring into his drink. He had salt-and-pepper hair, broad shoulders, and a straight, firm jawline. A shock ran through my system. Why was such a handsome man sitting by himself, and just staring into his drink? There was no reason for it. Damn, I was even beginning to think like Kelly, and I’d only just signed on. A thrill ran through me as I watched him from afar. He turned, as if he could that someone was watching him. His midnight blue eyes cut through the crowd, focusing on me for one thrilling moment. First I’d quit my job, and then a man—a gorgeous man— had noticed me. I gulped and looked back down at my drink. When I looked up the man was looking at the bartender again.
“Fine, Kelly. You had me sold the minute you walked in today. You know I live for this.” My eyes darted over to the man in the corner again. Just what was he thinking when everyone else in here was talking about the Reynolds and Howell rivalry? Maybe he was one of those rare tourists that wandered into Rye and got lost in the politico crowd. Those eyes though… I hadn’t felt anything like that for years.
“I did. I did know it. I’ve been waiting for something like this.” The waiter cleared our drinks and brought us another round. I was beginning to feel lightheaded and pushed away the third GNT, running my fingers over the cool, water condensing on the glass. The bar was growing more and more crowded, and Kelly got up to stand at the bar, pulling me along with her. I gripped my drink and followed, lost in the swarm of gossip and pondering. The buzz in the air was nothing like what I felt at the Washington Foundation, not even during our own gala season. Yes, this is what I lived for. It was what I’d been waiting for. I glanced again at the man sitting at the end of the bar, taking another sip of my drink. Kelly had already inserted herself into conversation with two politicos who had no idea how important she was. She could put on the good girl glitz in a moment, and she already had them hooked. She’d have the whole campaign figured out by morning, and she’d probably have Janice Howell in her grip.
I set my drink down and walked towards the bathroom, flicking my eyes toward the man. His deep, midnight-blue eyes caught mine for a moment, and I felt that shock again. I put my hand over my heart and walked along to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. Those eyes… something in them was deeply sad. But beautiful, just so beautiful. I fell against the wall and pulled my fingers through my hair, the black curls an unruly mass in my fingers.
Talk to him. Go talk to him. There’s something about him…
My heart raced. This was definitely not what I’d come here for. I’d come to celebrate my new position with Kelly, and I’d come here to have a couple of drinks after the craziest decision of my adult life. Kelly, of course, was here for the gossip. There was plenty of that to go around. I couldn’t pretend I knew what I was doing when it came to listening to gossip. But hell, maybe this man was hiding something important.
Or maybe it’s just because you haven’t had a date in six months, Sonia. Maybe it’s because every guy you go out with is far more interested in himself than in anything you have to say. Maybe it’s because you haven’t gotten laid in a year. Sonia, the good girl with no time for a man.
“Oh hell no, body, not now. I ain’t got time for you to act up and get all attracted to some man based on one glance.” Quickly, I looked at myself in the
mirror. My deep brown skin was as flawless as ever — a trait I inherited from my beautiful mother — and there was still a twinkle in my eye. Even if my suit was boring, the whole curly-haired, round-faced thing always worked for me. Even in my least confident moments, I thought I was pretty cute. And hell, if I could just chat with a man… a real man for a moment. I’d be on the campaign trail for months, and right now, I could use a bit of a attention.
“I said, hell no, Sonia. A man isn’t part of your plan. Your plan is the campaign trail to the White House in 2020, and you can’t have any silly man messing that up for you.”
Well, a one night stand isn’t exactly going to mess everything up, now is it? And a conversation surely wouldn’t. Not that you’d have a one night stand. Of course not. Not a good girl like you.