***
That night, Lily knocked on Jack’s door, grinning as she examined the patterns in the wood. It was a smile that had rarely left her face all day. Though she’d talked to Jack several times that day, the thought of seeing him in person again made her grin even brighter.
When Jack opened the door, he smiled as well. “Look who’s here. You told me you couldn’t talk anymore because you were driving.”
“I was driving and now I can talk.”
“You left out the part that you were driving to see me. Come on in,” he said, ushering her inside.
After he closed the door behind him, he turned and took her hand. “To what do I owe this visit?”
“I wanted to see you,” she said, placing her purse on the long side table.
“I wanted to see you, too,” he said as he brushed her hair to the side. “But I thought we were going to lay low for a while.”
“Of course, we don’t want to be seen together too much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But you said in your statement today you were going to work hard for my election. I thought about it, and you gave us a wonderful excuse.”
“What does that have to do with you being here right now?” he asked with a raised brow.
“I’m here to talk about my campaign,” she said and crushed her mouth to his.
Their kiss was hard and needy as if they both were trying to show the range of emotions they’d had that day. Fear, sadness, and joy rang through them, culminating into pure physical need. Lily pressed her body against his, which she thought might get her a quick trip to his bedroom, but instead he wasted no time on a proper location. He lifted her by the hips and placed her on the side table, hitting a giant vase in the process. They both broke away to look at the vase as it wobbled and clattered back to its place.
“Oops.” Lily giggled. “Sorry.”
“I’m not sorry at all,” he quipped.
Her eyes gazed first at his chest and then lower, to the obvious bulge in his jeans. As she looked back up at him again, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He groaned when they made contact. He kissed her again as his hands wandered up and down her pant legs and then unbuttoned her blouse. She shivered in anticipation, but she really didn’t want to wait. When he ran his thumb across her nipple, she moved her hips against his, finding him equally ready.
“Should we go to your bedroom?” she murmured.
His head now nestled in her breasts, it took a moment for him to respond. “Do we have to?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Not at all.” She laughed, scooting back on the narrow table. She’d be more comfortable in his bed, but she’d do anything for this man.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
On election night in early November, there wasn’t a parking space to be had within blocks of the Sonoma Democratic headquarters. Jack had arranged to meet his parents in front of the building, and he checked his watch as the people streamed by him—all with smiles. He knew many of the faces who said or stopped for a short chat. Some of those smiles had a slight knowing look to them. Though it hadn’t been gossiped publicly yet, the Democratic inner circle had become suspicious there was something more to his “friendship” with Lily.
When he spotted his parents, Natasha kissed Jack’s cheek. “Evening, Jack. This looks to be a wonderful turnout for Lily.”
“It is.” He smiled.
George patted him on the back. “Well, if the polls are right she’s won by a landslide.” He gave him an approving nod. “Good for you.”
Jack shook his head. “In the end, I didn’t have much to do with it. I just got out of her way.” He gestured toward the door. “Let’s go in.”
The hallways of the building had a few people milling about, but as they entered the large conference space the number of bodies was oppressive. People were crammed so tightly it was difficult to move. Jack’s height allowed him to survey the room, and he quickly spotted the tight spots around the buffet tables and open bars with bottles of champagne on ice waiting for the media to call the race for Lily.
The tightest throng was around Lily as she greeted her supporters. He hoped she would look up and see him, but her focus was on her well-wishers. She shook hands, kissed cheeks, patted backs, but mostly gave hugs to all the people who’d helped her along the way.
A voice from the crowd stopped his observations. “Senator Bengston!” it called.
Jack looked over to see one of his own donors coming straight toward him. She was an elderly retiree who dabbled in politics and golf. Only a minute into the conversation he realized what he should’ve thought of long ago. It was going to be a long night of lots tedious conversations and little time with Lily. Wanting an out, he quickly introduced her to his parents. When he was free from her, he looked about the room again trying to plot out the easiest path to Lily. Soon a familiar face caught his eye.
Walking toward the exit was Lily’s mother, Martha, with Luke in tow behind. Luke was the first to speak. He grinned and called out Jack’s name.
“Hey,” Jack said in return. “I forgot I’d get to see you here.”
“They’re making me go home,” Luke grumbled.
“It’s already late on a school night,” said Martha in a reminding tone. “There will be plenty of other times to celebrate. Remember you get to miss school and go to her swearing-in in Washington, DC.”
“I know.” Luke frowned at the room. “It’s too crowded in here anyway.” He turned to Jack and smiled again. “Can you come over this weekend?”
“We’ll see,” Jack said, tousling Luke’s hair. “I’ll try. Your mom is going to be busy for a while.”
“Well, just come over to see me,” said Luke.
“I’d like that,” said Jack. He smiled at Martha. “Evening, Martha. I’d like to introduce you and Luke to my parents.”
Hearing they were being called, his parents begged off their conversation and turned to around to see Martha. Natasha extended her hand and smiled. “Hello, you must be Lily’s mother. I’m Natasha. I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
Martha shook her hand and smiled. “I feel the same way. Please call me Martha. My husband will be excited to meet you as well.” She pointed in the direction of Lily. “He’s somewhere in the crowd, though.”
“This is my husband, George,” Natasha said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
After George and Martha spoke for a moment, he bent down and shook Luke’s hand. “And you must be the famous Luke. I hear you’re a great soccer player.”
“Not really,” said Luke with a shy smile. “But Jack has been teaching me.”
“I know he loves doing it,” said Natasha, looking down at the boy.
As George and Natasha spoke with Luke, Martha patted Jack’s arm. “Lily will be so happy to see you.”
“I don’t know about that,” he said, raising his head above the crowd. “She’s busy tonight.”
“Just give her some time. She’ll see you.”
Jack nodded, though he wasn’t hopeful. After a few more minutes of conversation, Martha nudged Luke out the door and onto bed. Jack and his parents then fanned the room for the next hour. The event was raucous and the mood happy, but Jack became dour. Though he’d talked with Lily throughout the day, he’d hope to be able to have a word with her that night. When it was announced that the media had called the race for her and she was indeed a new Congresswoman, Jack had wanted to be by her side. Instead he was stuck in a corner with an annoying real estate lobbyist, while she shared the joy with her father, Jordan, and the rest of her staff.
A little after nine, Jack felt a tap on his shoulder. He broke away from his talk with a local mayor and turned to his father.
“We’re heading out.” George smiled. “It took a while, but we were able to get in to congratulate Lily. She asked where you were.”
“Go see her,” his mother urged.
“I will…” Jack muttered with a half-hearted glance at the room. “But it’s her night to
shine.”
After his parents left the room, Jack continued working the crowd and waited for the right moment to talk to Lily. She was always swamped, though, and he didn’t want to barge in. When he became tired, he decided maybe he should just leave. He’d see her in the morning.
Wanting the most discreet exit, Jack found a side door only the caterers were using. A voice of reason in head told him he was being a little childish, and he hesitated for a moment, thinking maybe he should turn around. Then a familiar, but distorted voice called from behind him, “Where in the hell are you going?”
He turned on his heel and saw Lily with both hands on her hips. He smiled, “You’re busy, Babe. I was going to catch up with you later.”
Her expression changed from playfully mad to genuinely hurt, and her raspy voice cracked as she asked, “You were really leaving?”
“Well, there are a lot of people and I…”
Lily pursed her lips and shook her head in dismay. Without another word, she grabbed Jack’s hand, opened the nearest door, and dragged him inside. He heard the click of a lock. When she flipped on the lights, Jack’s eyes adjusted to the harsh fluorescent glare. He looked around the small, tiled space and laughed. “Why are we in the handicap bathroom?”
“It was the closest room where we can talk in private.”
“What’s a good liberal like you using the handicap bathroom when you’re not handicapped?”
She finally cracked a smile. “If someone needs it, they’ll knock.”
He pulled her close and asked, “And what happens when someone discovers the congresswoman-elect has been alone in close quarters with me of all people—instead of joining her party?”
Her eyes twinkled, and she patted his tie. “I think for many of them their suspicions would be confirmed.”
“I think so, too.” He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Congratulations, Babe. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered before kissing him so hard he was taken aback.
After she pulled away, he was going to tease her, but he held back when he saw the distraught look on her face. “What?” he said.
“You have to be honest with me.”
“Of course.”
“You’re happy for me, but are you happy?”
“Sure,” he said, wondering why he would be unhappy.
“You don’t regret anything?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, when I didn’t see you all night and then Jordan spotted you leaving, I was worried that you were upset.”
“Oh, Babe.” He smiled and smoothed her hair. “I was only upset I couldn’t talk to you. I was jealous of everyone around you, not jealous of you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Something then clicked for him. “I know I’m a competitive asshole, but not with you. I don’t operate that way with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when we first met?”
“Yeah…”
“Did I tell you what I did or who I was?”
“No.”
“Exactly. I didn’t. Normally, if I met a woman I liked, I would’ve. It would’ve been all about me, but I didn’t with you. I didn’t want to be that guy with you.”
“That was smart because I wouldn’t have wanted to talk with that guy.” She kissed him and murmured, “And I certainly wouldn’t have fallen in love with him.”
He smiled and kissed her with all his heart. When he pulled away, he chuckled. “What would you have said if I’d introduced myself as Senator John Bengston?”
“I don’t know…” She giggled. “Probably introduce myself as Supervisor Ursula Robles and ask why you were hitting on me in a coffee shop, but you never took my damn calls.”
***
Six months later, it was a bright, spring day as Jack sat in the back of a cab from Dulles Airport to Washington, DC. He’d become a frequent flyer to DC since Lily came to office in January. While it seemed like she’d been at home just as much as she’d been gone, it was easier for them to have private time together in DC. When she was in California, she spent as much time as she could with Luke. Jack didn’t mind, but he also wanted time alone with her. He knew there was a solution to the problem that didn’t involve constant trips to DC. It was a solution he’d been eager for. As the cab sped through Virginia on its way to the Capitol, he pulled out his phone and called the number he’d only recently become familiar with.
“Well … hello,” answered the snarky male voice.
“Hello, Jordan,” said Jack with a smile. “I’m guessing she’s not around.”
“Nope. She’s at a meeting. She’s right on schedule so far today.”
“Excellent. Is she in a better mood? She was in a horrible mood when I got off the phone with her this morning.”
“Oh no. She’s a bitch on wheels right now. She’s thinking she’s spending a whole weekend in DC without you or her family. She’s miserable.”
“Then she’ll be surprised.”
“Yes, she will. Speaking of surprises … did you decide to let her pick it out?”
“No, I picked it out,” Jack said, eyeing his briefcase which held the precious cargo.
Jordan’s voice then became a southern falsetto, “And did you buy a great big one, Rhett?”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s a line from Gone with the Wind,” said Jordan, returning to his normal speaking voice.
“Oh. Never saw it.”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t say that. It speaks poorly of your education.”
“Yeah, right.”
“So I’ll call you when I know she starts her run, okay?”
“Great.” Jack grinned. “I’ll be waiting.
***
A few hours later, Lily readjusted her earbud as she ran down the National Mall. It was her favorite place to run—flat, spacious, with wonderful things to see and too many to ever recognize her. When she’d run in the morning, the place was quiet, and the few runners, walkers, and Capitol groundskeepers paid her no mind. Regardless of hour, the music in her ears helped organize her thoughts and busy life. As she turned the corner at the Washington Monument, she headed toward the tidal basin to enjoy the cherry blossoms which were in full bloom.
Though she was present in the world, she was detached from it as she ran by the soft pink flowers near the Jefferson Memorial. When another runner came up to her side, she ignored the person as she always did. She sensed a man next to her, but she didn’t want to be rude and look at him, though she thought it was weird he hadn’t passed her yet. A minute passed, and she became annoyed he was still right beside her, so she flashed him a look.
“Jack,” she exclaimed with an abrupt stop. “Oh my God!”
“Hey, Babe. How are you?” he asked with a smile.
Removing her earbuds, she said, “Well, I’m great now. But why are you here? You told me you couldn’t come this weekend.”
“I missed you,” he said putting his arm around her. “You sounded sad when we talked last night, so I rearranged things.”
“Oh, Sweetie,” she murmured. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me.”
“So where were you when we talked this morning?”
“At SFO.”
“But you left me a voicemail an hour ago.”
“Yeah, I was here when I called.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
He smirked as if he was holding something back. “I came to surprise you.” Glancing at the flowering trees, he said, “It would be a shame to waste a spring day without you.”
“Oh, sweetheart …. but who told you I’d be on a run? And where I was going?”
“Jordan? Really? That’s weird.” She couldn’t remember if she’d ever given Jack Jordan’s number.
“Let’s finish your run, okay?”
“Great. Let’s loop around the tidal basin then back to my apartment.”
“Sure,” he said and
joined her as she began to run.
“I can’t get over the fact you’re here,” she said.
“Should I leave?” He chuckled.
“No. No.” She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss without breaking her stride. “I’m so glad you’re here. I have to work this weekend, but it will be more fun with you there.”
“I need to work, too, but at least we’ll be together.”
“That makes everything better.”
After they completed the lap around the tidal basin, Jack said, “If you’re up for it, let’s run around the White House.”
“Okay. That’s not far.”
They talked as they ran north to the White House, and after they rounded its perimeter, Lily expected that they would continue east toward Capitol Hill. When Jack veered left as if he was going to run through Lafayette Park, Lily interrupted their conversation. “Hey, Jack. We go this way,” she said with a nod to the right.
“Not today,” he said with a smile and continued to run.
“Huh?” she said, but she still followed him through the small park. “This leads to downtown. There’s no place to run, and the streets are too crowded.”
“Don’t worry. We’re not going there.”
“We need to turn around then.”
“Nope. We’re going right over there,” he said, pointing to an Italian-Renaissance building.
“The Hay-Adams?” Lily laughed. “We’re not really dressed for a nice hotel. If you need water, let’s just buy a bottle on the street.”
He smiled. “They won’t care how we’re dressed. We’re staying there.”
“What?!”
“You heard me.”
“Why? What’s going on?” She stopped running and raised up her empty hands. “I don’t even have my phone with me. I can’t just go off like this. Jordan expects me back.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
Her mouth dropped open as she put the clues together. “You already talked to him?”
“I’ve got everything taken care of. You’ll see,” he said without looking back.
Lily smiled in happy suspicion as to what might be happening. Her heart leapt at the thought, but then she doubted herself. She ran after him, staring at the ornate building ahead of them. Would this be the location Jack chose?
More Than Rivals Page 18