by Carsen Taite
“Youth. I remember when idealism spurred us to action that actually helped people instead of flipping off the establishment.”
“Now you sound like a little old woman yelling at people to get off her lawn.”
Emily laughed. “You know, you’re right.” She glanced at the door and back at Stevie. “I need to talk to some people before I can share specifics, but I promise you that, as much as it pains me, I will absolutely go to bat for your guy if he comes through.” She stood. “Go ahead and look through the discovery and I’ll get back to you soon.”
Saying she had another court appearance that afternoon, Emily walked her out of the suite. As they waited for the elevator, Emily said, “Fishbowl had some nice pics of you at Addison Riley’s wedding.”
Stevie feigned a smile. “It was a beautiful evening.”
“Have you and Senator Mitchell been dating long?”
“Who said we’re dating? Maybe we both just happened to be invited.”
“Maybe.”
The elevator dinged. Stevie willed the door to open quickly. She didn’t want to stick around to hear Emily gossip about her and Meredith. She stepped into the car, but before the doors could close, Emily said, “Did you know the Mitchell Foundation is a client of Folsom Enterprises?”
Stevie stuck her hand in the doors to stop them from closing. “Half of Washington is a client of Folsom. What are you implying?”
Emily shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Seriously, Em, if you have something to say, spit it out.”
Emily sighed. “Really, it’s nothing. Just a weird coincidence.”
“Don’t you have enough on your plate without trying to stir things up?”
“I guess. How about you get your client to talk to us and then I’ll be too occupied to get in your other business?”
Emily laughed, but Stevie scanned her face carefully for any sign she’d been serious about implying the Mitchell Foundation might have anything to do with the investigation into Folsom Enterprises. Emily didn’t give off vibes either way. The offhand mention of Meredith struck Stevie as odd, but for all she knew Emily was as much of a DC gossip hound as Hannah was. Finally deciding she was making too much of it, she got back on the elevator, determined to spend the rest of the day focused on her work. If only Emily hadn’t brought up Meredith, because now that she had, Meredith’s deep brown eyes and extra kissable lips were all she could think about.
Chapter Six
The car had barely stopped when Meredith opened the door. Erica whipped her head around, but Meredith waved her off with a grin. “I got this. You just make sure you don’t get any parking tickets that will haunt my future.”
Unlike the night of the wedding, when she’d been in a hurry, Meredith took her time observing her surroundings. Stevie’s neighborhood was decidedly different from her own, but in a pleasant way. Instead of crowded, bustling city streets, the lanes were lined with sprawling lawns and giant trees. Stevie’s house was a quaint craftsman with a wraparound porch complete with a swing, and as Meredith walked to the front door, she imagined sipping lemonade while rocking back and forth on a leisurely Sunday morning.
As if. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a day off, and even her social engagements were usually tailored around some chance to make a new connection or be seen. But not tonight. Tonight she planned to have a quiet, private evening with Stevie without interference from her twenty-four seven career.
Stevie answered on the first knock, and Meredith’s pulse quickened at the sight of her.
“Come in.” She stood back and held open the door, and then peered out and waved at Erica. “Can I get you something to drink? I’m sorry. I’m running a few minutes behind.”
She shook her head when Stevie pointed at a bottle of wine on the kitchen counter. “I’m good. Would it be easier if I waited in the car?”
“Maybe for you, but I don’t mind the company if you don’t mind waiting.” She motioned for Meredith to follow her, and a moment later they were in what had to be Stevie’s bedroom. “You didn’t mention where we were headed tonight. Do I look okay? I have a jacket that goes with this.”
Meredith took in the sleeveless, royal blue sheath dress and fought back the urge to tell Stevie it would be a shame to cover her shoulders. “You look fantastic, but you’ll need a jacket for outside. It’s pretty brisk.”
Stevie grinned at the compliment. “Thanks. I get so tired of wearing lawyer drag. It’s nice to be able to dress up for someone who isn’t wearing an orange jumpsuit.”
“I remember those days.”
“I keep forgetting you were an AUSA.”
“It seems like a long time ago.”
“Do you ever miss it?”
“Sometimes, but I think it’s like how sometimes you think you miss things because all you remember are the good parts. I felt like I was helping people then, but I feel like what I do now has a much bigger impact. Does that make sense?”
“It does.” Stevie slipped an arm into her jacket, and Meredith impulsively reached for the other arm to help her slip it on. For a second, they were standing crazy close, and Meredith flashed back on their walk after the night at the Quarry House. The impulse to kiss Stevie was even stronger now. Did Stevie feel the same way? She looked into her eyes.
“How long does Erica wait before she decides your plans have changed?” Stevie’s voice was husky with desire.
“She’s never left me stranded.”
“She must be a very patient woman.”
“She may be, but I don’t think I am.” Meredith stepped closer until she could feel the heat rising from Stevie’s body and the whisper of arousal swirling around her head. She was used to taking what she wanted, but she didn’t want to take this; she wanted it to be offered. Stevie didn’t disappoint. She reached out and curved her fingers around Meredith’s neck and pulled her close until their lips met. Soft touches gave way to a firm press, and Meredith lingered in the warmth of her, not wanting the moment to end.
When they finally broke, her thoughts blurred, and everything about her carefully planned evening faded into the wonder of Stevie’s touch. “That was amazing,” she murmured.
“Yes, yes, it was.”
“I’d like to do it again.”
“If you think I’m going to protest, you’ll get no argument from me.”
Meredith hesitated. She could send Erica away and spend the evening here, tucked away from the world and any worries her handlers might have about whether Stevie was a worthy date. The idea was tempting, but she was determined not to let the voices of Jen and the rest of her newly formed Mitchell for President committee get in her head. There would be plenty of time for that once she officially entered the race. She held out her hand. “Then let’s make a plan to come back here after dinner.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Stevie’s expression, but she reached for Meredith’s hand and squeezed. “It’s a deal.”
When they climbed into the car, Stevie made a point of saying hi to Erica and asking her how her evening was going. Meredith noted the exchange and filed it away under things she liked about Stevie. The list was growing.
When Erica pulled away from the curb, Stevie asked. “What’s the plan?”
“Dinner at one of my favorite places.”
“Chili Bowl?”
Meredith laughed. “Okay, second favorite.”
“And you’re not going to tell me until we get there?”
“We’ll be there soon. I swear.” A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of their destination. Erica slowed to bypass the valet, drove around the corner, and idled in front of a side door. “We’re here.”
“Really?” Stevie pointed at the door. “Is this one of those places where you need a secret knock to get in?”
“No, but you do need to know people to use this entrance. Sometimes the day job comes in handy.” Meredith sent a quick text, climbed out of the car, and held the door for Stevie.
An elderly woman greeted them on the other side of the door and pulled Meredith into a hug. “It’s been too long.”
“I know,” Meredith replied, stepping back to introduce Stevie. “Ellie, meet Stevie Palmer. I promised her a quiet evening and the best dinner in DC.”
Ellie grabbed both of Stevie’s hands and smiled. “I’ve got you covered on both fronts.” She led them both down a darkened hallway. “I hope you like ribs,” she tossed over her shoulder, continuing ahead at a brisk pace without waiting for an answer.
“This seems very House of Cards,” Stevie said.
Meredith laughed. “I know. Trust me, I’ve been enjoying the barbecue here for longer than that show’s been streaming, but I swear every time I watched it, I wind up craving a plate of ribs. Ellie’s got the best barbecue in the country.”
“And you’ve sampled all of it?”
“A good portion.” Meredith patted her stomach. “And sometimes way too much at once.”
“You don’t look like a woman who indulges herself all that often.”
Meredith heard the playful tease in Stevie’s tone, and she felt a flush of attraction. Conscious that Ellie was getting farther and farther ahead of them and would hunt them down if they lingered too long, she merely said, “Let’s just say that I save my indulgences for special occasions.”
Stevie reached for her hand. “I’ll keep an eye out for one of those then.”
Stevie’s lips curled into a flirty smile, and for a second, Meredith forgot all about Ellie and barbecue and anything that wasn’t Stevie, but before she could come up with some teasing banter of her own, a loud voice interrupted the moment.
“Are you girls interested in eating or only making eyes at one another?”
Meredith spotted a slight wince from Stevie and steered her toward the table Ellie had picked out for them in a secluded corner of the restaurant, far from the main dining room.
Ellie grabbed the menus off the table and tucked them under her arm. “Neither one of you look like you’re eating enough to survive. I’ll bring some of everything,” Ellie announced, scurrying off before Meredith could protest.
“She’s bossy, but I like her,” Stevie said.
“She’s a DC institution.”
“Oh, I’m aware, but I’ve only ever been in the front room of this place, and I’ve never met her. They say she never leaves the kitchen.” Stevie motioned to the walls of the cubby where they were seated. “So, what’s with all the secrecy? Now that you’re all over the news, you don’t want to be seen with me in public?”
Meredith thought she read some hurt beneath the lightly delivered question. “Actually, I figured you would prefer it this way. You mentioned something before about not caring for the press, and I’ve had a hard time shaking them lately. Besides, I wanted to talk to you about something and I wasn’t keen on having the whole world listening in.”
Stevie nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate the gesture. I’m a firm believer in the First Amendment, but I did have a pretty bad run-in with a reporter once who thought getting a scoop was way more important than getting the truth. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done before the actual facts were printed.”
“The Wallace case. I remember reading about it. You know that reporter is now part of the White House press corps?”
Stevie cocked her head. “Either you have a truly excellent memory or you’ve done some research.”
Meredith met Stevie’s gaze and didn’t look away. No use hiding the truth. “I do have an excellent memory, but I’d be lying if I said I remember much about the case, but Jen is a stickler for making sure—”
“You gals better eat up.” Ellie reappeared with a tray stacked with food and a pitcher of tea. “It’s going to be a brutal winter, and in my experience, skinny people are the first to catch colds.” She arranged their plates and pointed out the various dishes before smoothing her hands on her apron and backing away. “No one will disturb you over here, but if you need something, knock on that wall and I’ll be here in a flash.”
Meredith looked up from the food to find Stevie staring at her with a frown. “What’s wrong? You don’t like barbecue?”
“You were saying that Jen is a stickler for…but you didn’t finish your sentence.”
Meredith waved her fork. “Oh, nothing.”
“I’m thinking it wasn’t nothing. In fact, I’m thinking you were about to say that Jen is a stickler for running background checks on the people you…see on a regular basis.”
Meredith set the fork down and crossed her hands on the table. Obviously, they were going to need to clear the air before they could move on to dinner or anything else. “Yes, Jen insists on running background checks on anyone I’m dating. Especially if I happen to like the person and plan on seeing them more.”
Stevie’s frown receded slightly. “I’m not really happy about the background check, but I am interested in this plan you have to see more of this person you like.”
“Me too. But first I need to tell her something. Something I hope doesn’t send her running for the hills.”
“Why don’t you test it out on me and see how it goes.”
“Great plan.” Meredith paused for a moment. She’d been so anxious to tell Stevie about her plans to enter the race, but now that she was on the verge of doing so, she was apprehensive about how her announcement would be received. She supposed the answer was caught up in why she wanted to tell her in the first place. Was it about testing the waters with someone outside her close-knit circle of family, friends, and colleagues, or was it that she wanted to see how Stevie would react as a potential girlfriend to the circus her life was about to become? And as for that circus, was it a smart decision to bring someone else into it? Wouldn’t it be better just to shrug off any personal connections and enter the race unencumbered by personal obligations that might fracture her focus?
Oh, for God’s sake, it wasn’t like she was asking Stevie to marry her. They’d barely started dating, and once she started her run, they’d hardly ever see each other. Just tell her and let life happen.
“I’m filing the paperwork on Monday.” She blurted out the words. “I’m running for president.”
* * *
Stevie fixed a smile on her face because she assumed that was the reaction Meredith expected, but a flood of emotions coursed through her at the announcement: surprise, excitement, disappointment. Hell, she might at this very moment be sitting across the table from the next president of the United States with only a platter of barbecue ribs between them.
But there was a lot more between them than that. Meredith Mitchell was from a completely different world. Meredith had a family who loved and supported her, loads of money, and power and influence to change the world. She, on the other hand, had left what family she had far behind after they’d rejected who she was. Everything she had, she’d had to claw out of circumstance, and any power or influence she had was negligible at best. Meredith Mitchell was about to be in the spotlight, every minute detail of her life examined under a microscope, and those details would necessarily include everyone she knew.
Stevie stared at the plate of food and her gut churned. She’d worked hard since leaving the house she grew up in to surround herself with chosen family who loved and respected her for who she was, not who they wanted her to be. Was her comfort all about to come tumbling down?
“Are you going to say something or just leave me hanging?”
“I’m not sure what to say.”
“Hmm. Not a good sign. You’re the first person I’ve told outside of my family, and it’s not going real well. Maybe I should rethink this whole running for the highest office in the land thing.”
Stevie heard the levity in Meredith’s voice and she wanted to join in to stave off the feeling of dread that was threatening to consume her. She forced a laugh. “Sorry, I think you took me by surprise.”
“No doubt. I’ll have to work on that.” Meredith pointed at the food. “How ab
out we eat first, and then talk?”
“Sure,” Stevie answered. She reached for a rib and then set her fork down. “Nope. Can’t do it. Have to talk first.”
Meredith sat back in her chair. “Okay, let’s hear it. I’ve got a thick skin, so don’t hold back. Tell me all the reasons why you think I’m not qualified.”
“Oh, you’re plenty qualified. That’s not even an issue.”
“Okay.” Meredith drew out the word. “Personally, I have reservations about getting involved so late in the race, but my statistician brother pointed out that Ronald Reagan got into his first presidential race with less than a year to go, and Bill Clinton didn’t have much more than that.”
Stevie shook her head. “Look, it’s not about whether you’re qualified or the timing. You’ve got people to figure all that stuff out for you, and I’m sure they know what they’re doing.”
“Then what is it?”
What was it? Stevie grasped at the onslaught of thoughts flooding her brain, looking for just the right words to convey exactly what she was feeling, but blindsided was all she could come up with and that didn’t seem fair to say out loud. Meredith was excited—as she should be. She was about to step into the national arena in an attempt to become the first female president. If she won, she’d make history. Stevie had no desire to throw cold water on her aspirations, but the last thing she wanted to do was be caught up in the glare of public attention that would surround Meredith’s candidacy, and there was no way around it if she kept seeing her.
“I’m so happy for you. This is a big step, and I have no doubt you’ll make an amazing candidate. You’re smart, articulate, and savvy. The party, hell, the country would be lucky to have you.”
“Thanks, yet I hear a big ‘but.’”