Governor Rossi slipped into his father’s chair as if he owned it. Miles’ throat burned at the sight. “What can I do for you, Governor?”
“You can zip up your pants and calm down, for one thing.”
Miles clenched his fingers into fists, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.
“Just because you showed some indiscretion with a notorious woman doesn’t mean you throw out half your staff. Coy’s family is miffed at you and frankly, son, so am I.”
“Let’s get one thing straight here, Governor. I’m not, nor will I ever be, your son. There are only two people in the world who call me that and you are not one of them.”
“I think you’re forgetting who you’re talking to, McAlister. I made you who you are today.”
“Actually, Governor, the man whose chair you’re sitting in made me who I am today. So did my mother, my family, and the people of Chances Inlet.”
The governor shot to his feet. “I gave you a job and inroads to some of the most powerful people in this state—in the country, in fact.”
“Yes, sir, you did, and I worked my ass off to do the job justice. I didn’t do it so that I can be your puppet on a string, however.”
Governor Rossi actually laughed. “Oh, so now you think you’re better than me, is that it? You’re so rich with integrity? We all start out that way, McAlister, before politics jades us. Then we learn to play the game. Politics isn’t pretty and even squeaky clean Boy Scouts like you will have to wallow in the muck to get anything accomplished.”
“There’s ‘wallowing in the muck’ and there’s playing dirty, Governor. I can do one, but I refuse to do the other.”
The governor narrowed his eyes at Miles. “You’re playing with fire, McAlister. I can destroy you just as easily as I made you. Don’t ask me for any more political favors. You’re on your own in this election. And should you find yourself actually winning, you’re going to discover you crossed the wrong man.” He stalked over to the door.
“One more thing, Governor,” Miles said quietly as he unlocked the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a file folder. “I have to ask you if you have any knowledge into the case against my former opponent?”
Governor Rossi stopped in his tracks, his face dark red as he turned to face Miles. “Just what the hell are you accusing me of?”
Miles studied his former boss carefully. Bob Rossi knew exactly what he had done.
“I have sworn testimony from two individuals stating you orchestrated the entire thing, including the man’s indictment.”
“You son of a bitch!”
“I can ‘wallow in the muck’ with the best of them, Governor. After all, I had an adept teacher.”
“What are you going to do with that?”
Miles sucked in a deep breath. “Leave me alone and these will never see the light of day.” He meant it, too. While Bob Rossi would use the evidence to curry political favor, Miles just wanted the man out of his life.
The governor swore under his breath before turning to leave.
“One more thing,” Miles called after him. “I’m giving a copy of this to Greer. Treat her right or this goes public. Understand?”
“You two would have had it all.” He shook his head in frustration. “You’re both ungrateful and I’m glad to be rid of you.”
The slamming door shook the small office. Miles sank down into his father’s chair and rested his head back against the soft leather. Closing his eyes, he said a silent prayer of thanks for everything his father had taught him.
* * *
“She’ll be okay, won’t she?” Patricia asked. Her head was nestled on Lamar’s bare shoulder. The two of them were lying in her bed watching the late-night newscast with details of Leonard Dykstrom’s arrest.
Lamar gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Lori’s pretty tough. Agent Kovaluk was very protective of her, though. I don’t think he’ll let anything happen to her.”
“He did seem to care about her to some extent.”
“Mmm. He’s got a decent reputation and his mother is a federal judge, so there’s always some help there.”
Patricia rolled onto his chest. “You checked the agent out?”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “I wasn’t just going to let her go with anybody.”
Smiling, she leaned down to press her lips to his.
“You don’t think Lori and Agent Kovaluk were ever, you know, an item?”
Lamar’s rich laugh bubbled up from his chest. “Your son already covered that this morning. I thought I might have to break up a fight between an armed federal agent and a congressional candidate. I’m telling you, Tricia, I don’t think this town could take any more publicity this summer.”
Patricia rested her head on his chest. “I must have been very preoccupied not to have seen Miles and Lori’s affair. I never saw that one coming.”
“I doubt they did, either.” Lamar chuckled. “I’m sure neither one of them counted on falling in love.”
She straightened her arms so she was looking down on him from above. “In love? Lori admitted to me she had feelings for him, but what made you suspect she loved him?”
He sobered up and traced a finger over her shoulder. “Lori told him so, right there in my office. Right before she demanded the interview with Tanya to set the record straight.”
Stunned, Patricia rolled on her back and propped herself up against the headboard. “She did it for him. Oh, the poor girl. Miles is determined never to love again.”
“Someone should tell him that love doesn’t work that way,” he murmured as his hand found her breast beneath the sheet.
“You’re absolutely right. They don’t call this town the Home of Second Chances for nothing. Miles is just avoiding the obvious. It’ll have to be up to the women in this family to make him see reason.”
His hand stilled and he looked over at her with his solemn eyes. A slow smile spread over his face. “I almost feel sorry for the guy, except that he was such a pain in the ass all those months.”
“Good.” She leaned over and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. “My son deserves as much happiness as we have. We just need to see that he makes it a priority.”
“He’s a good man, Tricia. But he’s also a McAlister. And I know firsthand how difficult it is to convince one of their kind to let go and fall in love.” He had the audacity to wink at her.
Patricia harrumphed at him. “Oh, yeah? Well, I’m his mother. There’s no end to what I would do to make my children happy.”
Lamar laughed as his lips nuzzled her neck. “How ’bout I make you happy, hmm?”
And he proceeded to. Thoroughly.
* * *
“Sissy, will Tessa go to Oregon with us, too?”
Lori looked across the hotel suite at Ian, seated on the floor with Tessa curled up on his lanky legs. It was late in the evening and both boy and dog were dozing off and on. The dog had always been a favorite of his when he came to visit her at her apartment. Ian had talked her and Diesel into caring for the stray. It was Ian who named the dog after a horse he’d ridden once when Lori had taken him riding in Central Park. He loved animals and they seemed to love him back.
“Tessa goes wherever you go from now on, Ian.” She walked over and ruffled his wavy brown hair. “I told you I was just keeping an eye on her for you.”
“She’ll have fun with the other animals on the farm,” Bruce said. Lori smiled gratefully at her stepfather, who had taken Ian under his wing since they arrived in New York five hours ago. The FBI was footing the bill for Lori, Ian, and her parents to stay in a boutique hotel on the West Side. All she had to do was testify against Leonard Dykstrom and his wife, sending them both to prison for the rest of their natural lives. She shivered at the thought.
“How you holding up, honey?” Her mother wrapped an arm over her shoulders.
“I’m fine. I’m so happy you both came with me. I wasn’t looking forward to doing this alone.”
“You’re not alone, Lori. You never were,” her mother said. She nodded at Ian and Bruce. “He’s going to be a lot of responsibility.”
“I know. But he’s a sweet kid. He won’t be any trouble, I promise.”
“It’s not him I’m worried about. It’s you. Having another person to take care of can tie you down.”
Lori studied her mother. “I told you, I’m through with thinking the grass is greener everywhere else. Oregon, the inn, and the farm are everything I need. Ian and I will be content.”
“And Miles McAlister, how does he fit in?”
Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of Miles’ name. He’d honored her wish—just as she knew he would—and stayed away from the sheriff’s office and the media circus that surrounded her trip out of Chances Inlet. Matthew had also honored his word by letting her say good-bye to Cassidy, Ginger, and Patricia. She’d vowed to keep in touch with all three of them. Her mother had invited them all out to her B and B and Patricia promised to visit soon. Ironically, the last sight Lori had seen as they pulled out of town was a McALISTER FOR CONGRESS sign. Lori had said a silent prayer that Miles would be able to restore his campaign and achieve his dream.
“He doesn’t,” she told her mother.
“Because he’s running for Congress?” Her mother had that determined look that said she wasn’t going to be satisfied until she got all the answers. As a teenager, Lori had hated that look. Tonight, she was grateful to have her mother looking at her at all. “You’re not the one who’s guilty here. Leonard and Carole are. As far as everyone else is concerned, you did the right thing by thinking of Ian before everyone else. He should be proud to have a woman like you love him.”
Lori kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks for defending me, Mom.” It was easier to let her mom think what she did rather than tell the truth: Miles didn’t love her and he never would. Still, she had no regrets. She just had to convince the tears threatening at the backs of her eyes.
“I found rainbow sprinkles,” Matthew called as he entered the suite.
“Yay,” Ian and Bruce cheered.
Her mother began dishing out the vanilla ice cream she’d ordered from room service in hopes it would cheer Ian up. He hadn’t once asked about his parents, but Lori knew her mother wanted to keep him distracted. Unfortunately, Ian didn’t eat ice cream without rainbow sprinkles. Matt had saved the evening by locating some at the corner bodega.
“You bought two containers?” Lori asked.
Matthew shrugged. “Hey, he’s a growing boy. I didn’t know how much he’d eat.” He checked his phone. “I’ve got to stop by the Bureau and brief the agent in charge. Do you have everything you need?”
She watched as Ian shoveled more sprinkles than ice cream into his mouth. “We do now.”
Lori walked him to the door.
“Try and get some rest. Tomorrow could be a long day.”
“Thanks for everything, Matthew. I mean it.”
He eyed her critically. “You know, I can find a reason to go back to Chances Inlet and rough the guy up.”
“What guy?”
“McAlister. The candidate.”
She felt her cheeks grow warm. “You’re very sweet, but it’s totally not necessary.”
“Mmm. The guy’s an idiot. But then most politicians are these days.”
“Hey! Don’t say that about Miles. He’s one of the good guys.”
“You sure about that? Because a good guy wouldn’t have let you go.”
Lori couldn’t find the words to answer him because her mouth was suddenly dry.
Matthew leaned over and kissed her softly on the cheek. “You’re one of a kind, Mal—I mean, Lori. Remember that.” With that he was gone.
“Sissy, is my mouth purple?” Ian called to her.
Lori pushed away from the door, refusing to let Matthew’s words get to her. She’d won. Ian was safe and Leonard Dykstrom would face the penalty for his crimes. So what if she’d left her heart in a small town in coastal North Carolina? She could be like Miles and live a perfectly normal life without it.
“Hey, save some for me!”
TWENTY-FOUR
A crisp, November breeze blew off the Atlantic Ocean, ruffling Miles’ hair as he hurried through the torpedo factory’s door. Little girls were clambering into the dance studio for a ballet class, all of them dressed in red, white, or blue leotards. Ginger grinned at him as she hustled the girls inside.
“We have a theme going today in your honor. It was actually Emily’s idea. Although she was disappointed that members of Congress don’t actually wear tiaras.” She kissed him on the cheek. “The kids are so excited to share in your special day.”
“I’m pretty sure they’re just excited because Election Day is a school holiday,” he said as he waved to his niece, who was in fact wearing a patriotic crown.
“Okay, maybe a little of that, too.” Ginger winked at him. “I’ll see you at Dresden House later.”
He watched for a moment as the little girls followed Ginger into the studio. His brother’s fiancée was right: It was a special day for Miles. One he’d been waiting for most of his life. Despite a bumpy start to the campaign, the pollsters predicted he would beat Faye Rich by a nine-point margin. He was actually going to be a United States Congressman just as he’d planned all those years ago. It was heady stuff.
Still, Miles was battling a sense of hollowness that had been dogging him most of the campaign. He told himself it was because his father wasn’t here to share in his accomplishment. It was a feeling he was going to have to get used to apparently.
Cassidy poked her head out of the campaign office. “Hey there, Congressman-elect. A reporter from one of the Wilmington television stations would like a quote. Are you available?” She gave him a cheeky smile and Miles couldn’t help returning it.
The campaign office was bustling despite the fact it was nearly five o’clock on Election Day. Cassidy had brought along a crew from college to help with the last-minute campaigning and the room had a festive vibe going. Miles pulled off his jacket and gave it to Bernice.
Greer handed him a cell phone. “This is the fun part, Miles. You did it. Enjoy these interviews.”
Bernice smiled broadly as she passed him a sheet of talking points. Spurred on by everyone’s enthusiasm, Miles took the call. Surely this feeling of melancholy would go away when he stepped into his new role.
Hours later, surrounded by friends and family celebrating his victory at Dresden House, Miles still felt disconnected and out of sorts, however. A band was playing on the patio and a stream of well-wishers queued up beside him for a handshake and a selfie. Keeping a smile plastered on his face, Miles worked the room before seeking some sanctuary in the area of the big house his family was occupying.
“Congratulations, Miles.” Will Connelly, sporting a splint on his wrist after a punishing victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, clapped him on the back. “You did what you said you would do. Not that any of us ever doubted it. You’d just better not become a Redskins fan like all those other politicians, you hear me?”
His brother, Ryan, sporting his own splint after a mishap at second base late in the season, draped an arm over Miles’ shoulder. “The same goes with baseball. I can’t have you cheering for those Nationals when your brother plays for the opposing team.”
“Pish-posh,” Bernice interjected. “When are you boys going to learn? Miles McAlister is his own man. He’ll cheer for whichever team he wants to.”
Miles leaned over and grabbed Bernice in a bear hug. “You sure you don’t want to come to Washington and run my office?”
She shook her head. “And give up my bridge club? No, I’ve had my fun. I’ll hold down the fort in the district office, thank you ve
ry much. But I still want invites to the inaugural balls. I’ve already got my dress picked out.”
His sister, Elle, grinned as she linked an arm through his. “So when do I get my in-depth interview with America’s hottest new Congressman?”
Gavin snorted. “Hey, there’s only room in this family for one Cosmo Bachelor of the Month and I’m not giving up the title.”
“And here I thought you were embarrassed by that distinction,” Ginger teased as the rest of the family laughed.
Pretending to ignore them all, Gavin pulled the wrapper off a cupcake he was carrying. He took a bite before making a face.
“Man, I miss Lori’s cupcakes,” his brother complained.
The unsettled feeling intensified. Miles had worked hard to keep thoughts of Lori contained to late at night when he was alone in his bed. Otherwise, he’d be distracted all day wondering what she was doing and how she was faring. Of course, everyone in town knew the answers to those questions. Cassidy and his mother frequently reported she was successfully working as the chef and manager of her mother’s restaurant on the Oregon coast. She’d navigated the trial and the media with grace and humility. By all accounts she was content with her old life—enjoying it even.
So why then couldn’t Miles enjoy his? Especially now that he’d gotten all he ever wanted.
“Miles.” Greer grabbed his arm. “This is it. Faye is on the phone. She’s calling to congratulate you. Do you want it on speaker?”
“No.” Despite being beholden to the people of Chances Inlet, there were still some conversations he wanted to keep private. This was one of them. He took the phone from Greer and headed to the small butler’s pantry, where he and Faye had first spoken all those weeks ago.
“How are you, Faye?” he asked when he’d closed the door behind him.
Faye sighed. “I’m in need of a spa vacation that starts with a two-hour bubble bath.”
Miles chuckled at her candor. “Would you believe me if I said the same thing? Substituting the bubble bath for a few beers, of course.”
She laughed out loud. “I’d say we both deserved it. But in all seriousness, congratulations, young man. If I hadn’t voted for myself, I would have definitely voted for you. I’m happy to have you representing me and our community, Miles. I know you’ll do us proud.”
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