Politically Incorrect (33 page)

Everything about this guy sent me into a murderous rage. He was easy on the eyes, which explained why I agreed to go out on a date with him in the first place. His dark black hair and ocean water eyes were a tantalizing combination. However, I would never forget his arrogant, self-righteous indignation. It infuriated me to think he’d pulled that shit on other women. And I’d have laid money down most of them would’ve fallen prey to his high and mighty shit.

“Thank you,” I said, neglecting to return the compliment. No need to fuel his ego further.

His cocky grin faltered a bit, but one look at Harper and it returned in full force. “Hi,” he greeted Harper. “I’m
Doctor
Jack Gamble.” Harper accepted his handshake and I almost snorted. Jack appeared in pain by Harper’s strong grip.

“Guy Harper.”

“Pleasure.” He turned back to me. “So, Elizabeth, what brings you to Texas? The last time I saw you, you said you were heading back to Washington.”

Really, douchebag? You’re going to try to make conversation with me?

I swirled my finger around the rim of my wine glass. “I’m running Congressman William Baxter’s campaign for Senate,” I bragged.

“Is that so? So, do you always go on dates when you come to Dallas?”

Harper pretended to cough, but I could see those damn eyes of his dancing. Bastard.

I laughed, almost sick at Jack’s insinuations. “Harper’s one of Congressman Baxter’s
major
contributors.”

Maybe I glossed over my relationship with Harper, but this douchebag didn’t need to know any more about my life than he already did. Although, by the look on Harper’s face, I might’ve said the wrong thing. What did he expect? For me to proclaim he’s my lover?

“I see.” Jack tucked his hands into his pockets. “So, are you seeing anyone?”

My eyes bulged out of their sockets, and I damn near choked on my own saliva. Was this guy really trying to proposition me after how I left his ass the last time?

“I...ah…”

Harper leaned forward, waiting for me to complete my sentence. Jack’s mouth twisted in a smirk, his perfectly plucked eyebrows raised in anticipation.

“I stay rather busy.” That wasn’t a lie.

Harper fell back against the seat in a huff. Jack nodded. “Same here. Speaking of which, I should head over to meet my party. I’ve kept them waiting long enough.”

“What? No busty blonde bimbo on your arm tonight?” I spat. Call me bitter, but I couldn’t let him walk away without taking a jab at him.

Jack’s teeth clamped together and his blue-green eyes flashed red. “I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, I apologize. I’m simply curious about your dating life since you’re so interested in mine.”

“I’ll have you know the last blonde bimbo I went on a date with was you,” he seethed.

I snorted. “I hardly classify as a bimbo according to what you said the last time we met. Besides, I know how to eat with a fork and don’t require my tits to carry my leftovers for later.”

Harper barked in laughter. I gave Jack a wink and waved him off. “Now, go on to your party. I’m sure they’re dying to be entertained by your small penis...I mean mind.”

“You’re a bitch, lady.”

“And you’re a douchebag. Are we done stating the obvious?”

Jack stormed off and I dropped back into my seat, laughing with Harper. “God, that felt good!”

“Tell me what you really think of him.”

“Does twatnugget cover it?”

Harper banged his fist on the table, rolling in laughter. “Damn, Bet. That’s cold. Who is he, anyway?”

“Remember that night you called me to meet Liam?”

Harper stared at me for a moment, then twisted his head around to the direction Jack trampled off to, and then back to me. “That’s the guy? The one who thought you needed work done?”

“That’s him. Asswipe!”

“That guy’s got some balls.” Harper tossed his napkin on the table and waved to the waiter.

I shrugged and finished off my wine. “More than likely he gave them to himself.”

“Oh, you’re cold, Bet.”

I tossed my hair back. “Just honest.”

Moments later Harper paid the check, and I slid out of the booth, antsy to get back to Liam. There was a shower calling my name.

I leaned forward to grab my clutch and pea coat. From the corner of my eye, I caught the profile of the last person I’d expected to see ─ Bonnie Keating. She was engaged in conversation with someone and it appeared quite animated.

Already riled up from taunting the douchebag, I decided to kick the hornet’s nest for a little fun.

“Hey.” I nudged Harper. “Check it out. It’s Keating.”

He took my jacket from me, helping me into it. “Hmm. So it is.”

I straightened my pea coat along my hips and buttoned the center button. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to say hi.”

“Haven’t we had enough impromptu meetings for one night?”

I patted his shoulder. “Don’t be such a pansy. This’ll be fun.” I marched in the direction of Keating, my chest puffed with pride. When I came close enough to see her dinner partner, I stopped, all my haughtiness knocked out of me.

Dark eyes met mine and a twisted smirk disfigured Victor Knolls’ face.

What the hell was he doing with Keating?

My confusion had to be written all over my face. At least I assumed it was, because when I turned to see if Harper was witnessing the same thing, I found he’d stopped dead in his tracks and his face had paled.

At least I wasn’t the only one who found this disturbing.

Unable to stop myself, I descended on Keating and Knolls. “Governor Keating,” I greeted her.

Two large men, whom I’d expected, since the governor would be a fool to go anywhere without her security detail, jumped up and headed toward me. Keating waved them back, inclining her head to me. Her bright green eyes glistened in the light. She tilted her head so that her crooked nose made her small eyes seem even beadier. “Why, Ms. McNeal. How ya doing?” She lifted her hand for a lady-like shake.

“Well, thank you,” I responded out of habit. “And you?”

“Good, good.” She extended a hand toward her dinner partner. “You know my old friend, Victor Knolls, yes?” He rushed his fingers through his almost transparent hair.

“Yes, ma’am. How are you Victor?”

A wicked smile burned across his cheeks. “Fantastic.”

Harper managed to pull himself out of his stunned state and joined me. “Good evening, Governor.”

“Guy Harper, what a pleasant surprise.” Her tone was so candy coated I was getting cavities just being near her. She looked out past us then focused in on Harper. “Would you care to join us for dinner?”

“Thank you, ma’am, but we just finished,” I answered. “I only wanted to stop by and wish you well on this weekend’s debate.”

Bonnie’s gray bob bounced when she laughed. “Thank you, Ms. McNeal. The same to Congressman Baxter.”

I nodded once. “I’ll make sure to pass the message along.”

Victor sort of snorted and coughed at the same time.

Bonnie cut him a stern look. He straightened right up.

There went my warning bells. My head whirled with the possibilities of what these two were up to. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

The Governor turned her smile back to me. “The Congressman has his interview with Masters tomorrow, yes?”

I shook my head. “Not until Thursday evening. How about you?” Not that I wasn’t well aware she’d just finished hers. Corgin Masters was a well-known journalist and debate mediator. It was customary for him to perform a live interview with each candidate individually before the big debate. Usually he liked conducting them back to back, on the same day if possible, but I worked it so he couldn’t interview Liam until the night before the debate. That way Liam would be fresh on everyone’s mind. All part of my strategy.

“Actually, I just finished.” She signaled the waiter. “So, I’m treating myself to good food and old friends.”

Victor shifted in his seat and that’s when I noticed a large envelope tucked under his leg. Just as I suspected. He had dirt. But what kind of dirt was the question.

While she was Liam’s opponent, Bonnie Keating was still the Governor of Texas. I had to maintain a certain level of respect, even for her sleazy dinner companion, no matter how much I wanted to question what was in the package.

“How wonderful. I’ll have to catch the highlights later.”

“You should.”

“We’ll let you get back to your dinner. Have a wonderful evening, Governor.”

“The same to you, Ms. McNeal.”

I could’ve sworn I heard Victor snicker, “You’re gonna need it,” but I wasn’t sure, so I left it alone.

Harper placed his hand at the middle of my back. He bid his goodbyes, practically shoving me away from the table in the process.

“Hope you enjoy your evening,” Victor called out after us. A laugh came from their table and my stomach dropped. Something big was heading our way, and I needed to act fast.

Out of their sight, I rummaged around in my clutch for my cell phone. I had to call Liam. For all I knew, they’d discovered Liam and me and were about to expose us. We had to be ready for anything, because mark my words, it was coming.

I dialed his number.

All I got was his voicemail. Three tries, still no answer.

I tried Scout. No answer.

Aaron. No answer.

What the hell was the point in having a bunch of employees at my whim if they weren’t actually at my whim?

The whole drive back to Harper’s ranch, I tried calling. Nothing but voicemails. I was physically ill by the time we pulled into the drive of Lone Star Ranch. Nothing Harper said could calm me down. And that nagging exploded into full consternation when we found Scout and Aaron’s rental parked in front of the house.

I flew out of the car, barely giving Harper a chance to put it into park. No matter how hard I ran, my legs couldn’t move fast enough. I managed my way through the yard and the front door, not giving Ivory a chance to perform his duties.

Inside the house, I skidded to a stop at the sight of Liam sitting in the great room. His head was down, his long fingers carded through his hair. Aaron sat next to him and Scout was crouched in front of him.

“Liam,” I gasped.

He rolled his head in my direction, the brims of his eyes red and his face taut. Aaron and Scout both looked at me, worry coloring their expressions.

The pit in my stomach expanded from a hill to a full blown mountain. “What happened?” I demanded.

Aaron stood up and turned to face me. “There’s been a…” he wrinkled his brow, “development.”

“What kind of a development? Why didn’t any of you answer your damn phones? Why didn’t you call me?” My voice rose several octaves, causing me to cringe.

Scout straightened up. She grabbed a familiar envelope from the ottoman, and maneuvered around to me. “Sit down, Elizabeth.” She presented me with the envelope. “We need to talk.”

Frozen, I stared at the impeding package like it might bite me. Victor had been here.

Shit! This didn’t bode well. Not well at all.

“You’re going to want to sit down for this,” Aaron repeated Scout’s initial request.

I slid my fingers into the envelope, ignoring everyone. All I could imagine were pictures of Liam and me inside that package. He’d yet to say a word. All he’d done since I walked in was tug at his hair.

My heart sank inside my chest as I pulled a stack of photographs from the package.

They were right.

I needed to sit down.

So I did.

I fell into the wing-backed chair and sifted through the pictures. However, not a single one of them were of me. They were of Liam with some busty older woman. She had legs that went for days and tits that would’ve made Dr. Douchebag proud. She literally would have made the perfect political trophy wife for Liam with her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and pearls. If Liam were ten to fifteen years older, that is.