“What did you find?” Evangeline asks, and Hunter jumps up, grabbing her arm.
“We need to go.”
“But we just got here?”
My brother points at the laptop. “I might be breaking some laws.”
“Got it.” Evangeline hugs Saylor. “Love you. Talk to you later.”
The couple leaves without so much as a glance back, but I’m not hurt. Hunter upholds the law, not breaks it.
But I’d like to think that special circumstances call for special actions.
“Awesome!” Saylor grins as she sits down in Hunter’s empty chair. “Rebelling against the Sith Lord—that’s how I’ll think of Tripp from now on.”
Yeah, my wife puts it in a much better perspective.
Brooks leans over. “Your wife is hot.”
“Your perving is not.” I shove him a little. “What happened to the uptight prude?”
“Fuck you, Hayden.”
Saylor simply looks at both of us, her chin in her hands. “Is that how y’all say I love you?”
“Hardly,” I mutter, grabbing Brooks in a headlock and rubbing the top of his head with my knuckles while he’s caught off guard. “This is the official language of brotherly love.”
She giggles and Brooks shoves at me, digging his fingers into my side. I let go of him.
“Are you going to take screen shots and email them to the ethics committee or not?” I ask sternly. “We don’t have all day, Brooksy.”
He gives me this die now look while he attempts to fix his hair. “That was the plan until you regressed to your twelve-year-old self.”
I fully expect Saylor to start asking more questions about us, but instead she asks, “What did you find?”
“That Senator Sterling had blackmailed the fire inspector as well as made some shady deals with even shadier people to plant small explosives inside space heaters so that it was obviously arson. But not enough arson to do real damage, if that makes sense.”
“Actually, it does. There have been some cases where an entire building or house is destroyed cosmetically but not structurally. They use insurance to repair as little as possible, then pocket the rest before selling the property.”
“That’s horrible.” Saylor wrinkles her nose. “But where does Hayden fit in with all of this? Why would Tripp—er Sith Lord—need me to spy on your family?”
“Because Sterling’s gearing up to run for president next year and he needs Dad to either get out of his way or endorse him due to his popularity in the South. Neither of those things would happen unless he was blackmailed or defeated by Jones.”
“Who’s Jones?” Saylor asks.
“Republican running against my dad,” I explain.
“Oh.”
“Either way, these emails all lead to one thing. Ethics breach.” Brooks leans back and puts his hands behind his head. “Crowdy, the chair of the ethics committee, is going to love grilling him.”
“But won’t you get in trouble for doing this?” Saylor asks, biting at her bottom lip. “And won’t he find a way to play the victim? Say that the Walkers were out to get him and even turned his own child against him?”
“She’s right,” Brooks agrees. “He’s not stupid and knows how to spin things, but I can still send this anonymously. Untraceable.”
“Then it’s settled. We go to him with our information, give him the chance to leave us the hell alone…or else Anonymous broadcasts his not-so-private emails to the world.”
—
Later that evening, after making love to Saylor, I pull her into the shower to give her extra attention.
“I never knew showering with a friend could be so much fun.”
I point the loofah at her. “The only friend you’re showering with is me.”
“You spoil all my fun.” She steps under the shower head and rinses off, giving me an up close and personal view of soap suds sliding off her perfect breasts and mostly flat stomach. I never knew that I could feel simultaneously possessive, choked up, and horny until this moment.
“Hayden?”
“Yes?” I join her under the spray of water, shielding her face so that water doesn’t bounce off of me and into her eyes.
“I’m a little scared.”
“Don’t be. I got you.”
“I’m not scared for me; I’m scared for you. Firefighting is what makes you you, and I don’t want that taken away because of me or some stupid man who wants to be president.”
“He’ll listen to us, sunshine. We have proof.”
“But you said that you’ll only send the emails to the ethics committee, not your bosses, if he doesn’t listen.”
I close my eyes for a moment. “I know, but to win a war for the greater good, sometimes you have to lose the battle.”
“Wise, you are.”
“In love, I am.”
Chapter 26
Saylor
I feel weirdly calm as I wait with Hayden to speak to Tripp. Then again, I’m exhausted from the eight-hour drive from Charlotte to Washington, D.C. I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have taken as long if Hayden hadn’t stopped as often as he did, but he was being considerate of my bladder.
Apparently, mine has shrunk to the size of an ant.
“Senator Sterling will see you now,” the receptionist says. She has dark hair and big brown eyes. For a moment, I wonder if she’s one of my half sisters, too. I’ll never know, because I gave myself firm instructions to not Google his family until everything was settled.
“Go down the hallway and it’s the second door on the right,” she adds.
“Thank you,” Hayden says. He places his hand on my lower back. I like the feel of it there. Supportive and loving.
“Will you do the talking, or should I?” I ask.
He pauses at the door. “Sunshine, you should take the lead. You have the proof. I’ll be right by your side. The Finn to your Rey, should you need me.”
I have to swallow down the tears. “Stop being so romantic.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says in that coastal drawl that I love.
“And stop being so charming.”
Instead of answering, he winks at me and opens the door.
Tripp rises from his desk, all smiles like a snake oil salesman. “To what do I owe the honor of my daughter and son-in-law visiting me today?”
This is not how I expected him to receive us. I thought for sure he’d be pissed or irritated. But then I take a look around the room and realize that we’re not alone.
Several advisers are seated at a conference table.
“This was supposed to be a private meeting.”
“My advisers and I have no secrets.”
Hayden keeps his hand on my back, his thumb caressing me. “Then they know all about the emails you sent via your private server,” he says, sliding his gaze to me. “We’re here to chat with you about that.”
Although Hayden thinks I need to be Rey right now, with Finn at my back, I don’t. I grab Hayden’s hand, tugging a little, and he steps beside me.
“Why didn’t you say so?” Tripp ushers everyone but us out of his office, keeping his winning smile until he closes the door. “Have you no shame?”
“Nope,” I reply.
“You should be ashamed because of what you’ve done,” Tripp insists. “The people you’ve aligned with are scum.”
“Like knows like,” Hayden says. Then he holds up the briefcase he’s been carrying. “We have hard copies of emails from you to one Lyle Jossen. Wilma—”
As Hayden lists the details, I take the briefcase and open it, grabbing the manila folder that holds the papers. “You can read for yourself.”
Tripp refuses to look at them. “You can’t prove anything. My account was hacked and I have the emails to prove it.”
Ice-cold fear shoots through me. Does he know about Hayden’s brother’s involvement?
“I’m sure the ethics committee can take a look at everything…unless you’re willing to never con
tact Saylor again.”
“And clear Hayden’s name,” I add.
“I don’t think so.”
The file slips through my fingers, landing on the floor. “What did you say?”
“I think I’ll take my chances against a daughter who’s out for vengeance since I defunded her animal shelter and the son of a man who has actively spoken ill of me ever since he was elected to office.”
He’s threatening my animal shelter? “But you can’t. We have proof,” I cry out, lunging to grab his arm.
“Saylor, no.” Hayden grabs me, then turns to Tripp. “Guess Anonymous will have to do the work for us.”
“You owe me, Saylor. Millions of dollars.”
That stops me short. “I don’t owe you anything.”
He laughs softly. “But you do. Your animal shelter was nothing but a resting place for my money and now time’s up. I demand payment in full.”
“I don’t understand.” I look to Hayden for help, but he’s just as confused as I am.
The door opens behind us.
“Am I too late?”
“Momma.” I can’t turn around fast enough.
Giving Hayden an approving look, she steps in front of both of us. For the first time since I met Tripp, he looks worried.
“Shall I tell the press how young I really was when you seduced me?”
“The age of consent is sixteen—”
“I was fifteen, you were twenty-two, and we both knew it was illegal. We never should have been together. Never should have hooked up at your engagement party to celebrate AGM signing me to a two-year contract.” She glances at me. “Your father is responsible for my big break into modeling, but he is not responsible for my career after that.”
“I never wanted anything serious with you. You knew that,” Tripp points out.
“Neither of us wanted anything serious, but that is beside the point.” She places her hands on her hips. “You had your chance to make things right with Saylor, but just like always, you saw opportunity instead of love.
“As for the millions she owes you…we’ll call that eighteen years’ worth of child support you should have ponied up before now. I can’t believe you used her animal shelter like an offshore account. How dare you take something that brought her joy and try to destroy it? How dare you threaten her husband’s livelihood?
“Once again, you were going to leave a young girl all alone,” she adds, her voice full of disgust. “I didn’t expect you to marry me, but I sure as hell expected you to be the man you conned everyone else into believing you cared.”
Tripp’s dark gaze goes right to me, and I shrink back before standing tall. No way will he intimidate me. I am Taylor Reynolds’s daughter, after all.
Hayden’s hand reaches around to cover my stomach. “She’s not alone. She has me.”
“Damn right she does.” She points at Hayden, at his hand on my belly, and his protective stance around me. “That is what love looks like. That is what you gave up for all of this. Hope you’re happy, Tripp.”
“I am,” he says evenly.
“Then may you rot in hell, you perv. But before we go.” She steps closer to him and whispers in his ear for a good thirty seconds.
He goes deathly white. “I understand. Consider it done.”
“Wonderful!” Clapping her hands, she turns around and shoos us outside. “I’m starving. How about you kids?”
She doesn’t really expect us to answer, so we follow her out into the hallway.
“What did you say to him?” I finally ask.
“Oh, a little of this and a little of that.” She smiles at me, but the little laugh lines that normally appear when she’s genuinely happy don’t show up. “Saylor, there are some secrets that must be kept at all costs until the time is right.”
“And back there was the right time?” I press, wanting to know more—wanting to know exactly what she said to change his mind.
Hayden opens another door that leads to the front entrance. “I think we’re better off not knowing, sunshine.”
“You’re married to a very smart man,” she says. “When’s the baby due?”
“March,” I reply automatically, then slap my hand over my mouth for a moment. “How did you know?”
“A mother always knows.”
Since I’ve always known what Padme is up to, I know she’s right on this one.
“How did you know we were here? There…you know what I mean,” I ask as we step into the bright light of day.
I take a deep breath. This is what freedom smells like, I think, because my father can no longer hurt Hayden or try to use me in order to achieve anything.
“Not that I’m ungrateful. I am. You were…you were an avenging angel in there. Totally a Molly Weasley defending her offspring,” I quickly add.
“Why, Saylor Dean Walker, that is the nicest comparison ever.”
“Glad someone got it, because I didn’t,” Hayden mutters.
“Don’t worry, we’ll have a Harry Potter marathon.” I lean up to whisper in his ear. “A naked Harry Potter marathon.”
His eyes widen in appreciation and anticipation, and I start to feel all seductively powerful. Pretty sure it’s the pregnancy hormones. I’m either really sad, happy, or horny, sometimes all at once.
“Anyway, some friends helped me out.” My mom winks at us, but I’m still confused.
“What friends of yours would know where we are?”
The driver opens the door.
“You’re joking,” Hayden says, pulling up short.
“Thank you so much, Senator and Mrs. Walker, for getting me here so quickly,” my mom says as she gets inside.
“How many times do I have to tell you, Taylor, that it’s Bishop and Georgiana,” my mother-in-law says with a smile.
When Hayden and I stand there, gobsmacked, Taylor raises a brow at us. “You act like you’ve never seen in-laws working together for the benefit of their children.”
“And grandchild,” Hayden’s mother says.
Finally, we unfreeze as one and climb inside with them.
“This time we’ll take the plane home,” Hayden’s dad says. “Much better than a rental for the mother of my grandchild.”
“We didn’t want to be obvious when we drove here,” Hayden points out.
His dad smiles. “You weren’t, but as soon as the first security camera got a glimpse of you two, the press got wind of it.”
“Can’t anyone keep their mouth shut?” Hayden mutters.
“Gossip, not politics, is what makes the world go round,” my mom says, then turns to Hayden’s parents. “I think these two need a proper honeymoon. Would you allow me to offer the use of my jet?”
We look at each other questioningly and I know what he’s thinking. He’s suspended and I haven’t taken a real vacation in the past four years.
“Say yes,” I order.
“Anything for you.”
My mom and Georgiana sigh. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see his dad smiling.
“I love you, Hayden.”
“I love you, too, Saylor.”
TWO WEEKS LATER
I’m lying out by a private pool. The view of the Indian Ocean is amazing from our deck. Since we’ve arrived, Hayden and I have done nothing but make love, sleep, and eat.
“How does swimming rank on your list of vacation activities?” I ask.
“Number four of my favorite things to do.”
I tilt my head to one side, pushing the brim of my hat out of the way. “Not sure how I feel about your list.”
He pushes up out of the pool and walks to me, water dripping off his muscular body. “Only with you, Mrs. Walker,” he says, leaning over to kiss my belly.
His phone buzzes, but he continues kissing me, his hands gliding up to cup my breasts. He pulls the skimpy material to one side, baring my breast.
“Back to number one on my list.” He covers my nipple with his mouth and starts to suck. I arch up, my fingers furrowing
in his hair.
“Number one is the best,” I agree.
This time his stupid phone rings and he actually stops what he’s doing to me.
“I have to take this. Should be an update on my suspension.”
I pull him to me, kissing his sexy mouth. “Answer it and be quick.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He jogs over to his phone. “Walker.”
Please let it be good news, I ask in silent prayer. Please. Please. Please.
“That’s amazing. Yeah, I can come back next week. Tuesday. I’ll be there. Thank you.” His boyish grin is contagious as he looks at me. “I’ve been reinstated and not only that, I’ve been found innocent. The charges were dropped. The fire inspector lost his license.”
It doesn’t escape my notice that he doesn’t mention Tripp, which means that he won’t suffer any kind of repercussions, but I won’t let that dampen the mood.
“Oh my gosh! That’s the best news ever.”
His gaze drops to my belly. “I can think of even better news.”
Getting out of my chair, I untie my bikini top and let it drop, my breasts lightly bouncing as I cross the small distance between us. “Why don’t we celebrate?”
He sets his phone down and takes me in his arms. “I love the way you think.”
Epilogue: Hayden
SIX YEARS LATER
It’s Halloween, Saylor’s favorite time of year because it means that she can dress as anything she wants. Usually, that means a Star Wars theme, but this year she’s gone with the sexy witch look.
Okay, so maybe I’m the only one finding her green face and cleavage sexy, but what can I say? Saylor is the very definition of what I find attractive.
Deacon and Hollis come running out of the house, with Glamma Taylor as well as their Nana and Poppa on their heels. The twins, all of five years old, are practically bouncing off the walls.
“Candy!” Hollis shouts, swinging her plastic pumpkin around her head and nearly hitting her brother with it. “We get all the candy!”
She’s dressed as a stormtrooper princess, while Deacon, my serious son, tugs at his beekeeper outfit.
“I can’t see.”
I pull the mesh back from his face and stick it on top of his head. “Better?”
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