Politically Incorrect (35 page)

And poor Kristin. The media was practically camped outside her doorstep wanting to know how she felt about all this. I had to admit she handled herself with poise and grace. My only issue with Kristin, however, was when she proclaimed she and Liam were never a couple, that he was only her best friend. True, they’d never professed to being together before, but now with such allegations hanging over Liam, the media had a good ol’ time stressing the Baxter/Page connection. Kristin meant well, but that didn’t keep me from wanting to strangle her for not doing as Scout and I both advised her. Simply say ─ no comment.

“After he’s shown a blatant disrespect for authority, how are we to trust him to put the welfare of the country before his own selfish needs?” squawked the overly polished male news anchor in his gray suit and bright colored plaid shirt.

“I think you’re confusing the issues here,” another journalist defended.

“I don’t think so. Even if he didn’t have sex with Mrs. Cole, he still lacked respect for the sanctity of her marriage. I mean, look at the way he’s looking at her.” They flashed a picture of Liam and Anita laughing together.

I threw the remote across the couch. “Oh, c’mon. They’re friends, you moron! You can’t tell me you don’t have any female friends.” I pounded my fist on the coffee table, rattling my tea cup on its coaster.

“They do appear to be rather cozy, and since Mrs. Cole refuses to respond...” I tuned out the rest of what the reporter was saying.

I fell back in the seat frustrated, crushing my palms to my eye sockets. Unfortunately politician promises are a dime a dozen and really weren’t worth that dime. Congressman Marcos backed out of speaking on Liam’s behalf when General Cole refused to make a statement. Everyone on the other side of the fence was silent, which left Liam exposed. After thinking about it, I was sure Victor and Keating were betting on their silence. The General didn’t want his good name dragged through the mud. Not if he ever intended on running for office. If he supported Liam now and we lost, the General would lose clout. I couldn’t say if I were his advisor, I wouldn’t have suggested the same thing. It simply sucked for us.

“You can’t tell me that something didn’t happen between Congressman Baxter and Anita Cole. I don’t buy it for a second,” the belittling reporter insisted.

I couldn’t take any more of that reporter’s nasally voice. I stretched across the sofa for the remote and shut off the television. The silence of the house engulfed me. Lord only knew where Harper was. I figured he was in his room, asleep. Not everyone was saddled with a brain like mine that refused to rest.

However, it was possible Harper was nowhere in the house. Since the story broke, he’d avoided me like the plague. It hurt being ostracize by him that way, but at the same time I understood. He believed I concealed information from him, which I had. But for a reason.

For my own selfish reasons.

But I tried to make it up to him. After the story broke, I sought to talk to him. Every attempt I made was met with cold silence and contempt. I even offered to leave the ranch and stay at a hotel. He balked at the idea, claiming I was imagining things and we were fine.

Fine.

Right. How tenth grade emo girl of him.

I circled the ring around my index finger while reaching for my tea cup. The liquid had cooled considerably since I made it, but it still warmed my body as I swallowed. There was so much I needed to do before Liam’s interview with Corgin Masters and I had no idea where to start. Too many personal things rattled around in my head. Like my lack of communication with Liam. We’d spoken for business purposes only, but even that was nominal. Not hearing his laugh or seeing him smile was killing me, but it was for the betterment of the campaign.

My stomach grumbled as my tea hit it. It made me feel a little queasy, but then again, I hadn’t eaten anything in a while. So, I scrambled off the sofa and hiked my way to the kitchen. As I rummaged through the fridge, I heard the doorbell ring. Ivory was on duty, so I let him handle whoever was there and found a bowl of fruit to nibble on.

I hopped up on the counter with the bowl beside me and tossed a pineapple chunk into my mouth. As I chewed the juicy fruit, Ivory entered the room. “Ms. McNeal. You have a visitor,” he announced.

A little perturbed that I didn’t get more than a bite, especially since my stomach was really gurgling now, I shoved the fruit back into the fridge and followed Ivory down the hall to the great room. On the sofa sat a beautiful Hispanic woman with long, flowing chestnut hair. She stood the instant she saw me. “Ms. McNeal.” She stepped forward with her hand extended out to me.

I nodded and accepted her handshake. “What can I do for you, Ms…”

“Herbert. Mariah Herbert with the Dallas Morning News.”

Dammit! Ivory let the media in.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Herbert. How may I help you?”

Mariah, all legs and well-tailored suit, walked over to her briefcase and pulled out a folder. She handed it to me with a flick of her wrist. “I’m here to talk to you about these.”

I took the folder from her hand, but didn’t open it. “I’m afraid you missed the scoop. Congressman Baxter and Anita Cole are friends. Nothing more.”

Mariah twisted her lips into a dangerous smirk. “Please look inside the folder, Ms. McNeal.”

My already nauseated stomach was rolling now. I flipped open the folder and damn near tossed my cookies. Page after page revealed distorted photographs of Liam kissing me in my office. The faces were clear, but not much else. The slats from my window blinds covered a lot. “Where did you get these?”

Mariah’s chest puffed with pride. “An anonymous source.”

“Victor Knolls?” I snapped.

“I can’t say, ma’am.”

I slapped the folder shut. “What do you want?”

“An exclusive, of course.”

I flattened the folder against my chest, crossing my arms over it. “There’s no exclusive, because there’s nothing here.”

Mariah bobbed her head from side to side. “I beg to differ. You and the Congressman are rather, shall we say,
friendly
in those pictures. Some might even say intimate.”

I raked my nails over my forehead. Any moment I’d lose that little piece of pineapple I’d eaten. All I wanted was to scream at this woman to get the hell out. Instead, I did what any good campaign manager would do. I plastered a smile to my face, pointed to the folder against my chest. “I’m keeping these.”

“That’s fine. I have copies.” Mariah gave me a wink. “Loads of copies.”

“I’m sure you do. When’s your article due?”

Mariah beamed with excitement. She thought she had me. “Two for the evening edition deadline.”

That at least bought me some time. Immediately, my mind started whirling with everything I needed to accomplish before the story hit. Scout and I had our work cut out for us on this one, but we had time to get ahead of it.

I nodded. “Thank you for stopping by.”

The cocky grin Mariah wore disappeared. “What about my exclusive?”

“I already told you, there’s not going to be one.”

Mariah ripped her bag up from the floor in a snit. “You’re going to wish you’d given me an exclusive, lady,” she chuckled mirthlessly. “I would’ve done right by you.”

“Doubtful, but thank you for stopping by.”

Ivory appeared and escorted Mariah out of the house. As soon as I heard the front door shut, I had my phone in my hand and called Scout. “Whitaker, here.”

“Scout. Grab Aaron and Liam and get over here now,” I rushed.

“Whoa! Slow down. What’s going on?”

“Our problems just got bigger.”

“How much bigger?”

“John Edwards big.”

“Oh, shit!”

“More like, Oh, fuck.”

I could hear Scout slap her forehead through the phone. “Please tell me this is a joke.”

“I wish I could.”

“God dammit,” she hissed. “Okay, we’re on our way.”

We hung up and I rushed to the den to start my battle plan.

My worst fears had come to life. Liam and I were exposed.

I might’ve thought things were bad with Anita Cole, but I was wrong.

The media was camped out everywhere. They wanted a glimpse of Liam and me together. The wolves were on the prowl and we were their prey. To make matters worse, Keating released a new promo where she bashed Liam for his affinity toward older women. I cringed every time she mentioned my age or commented on how he had turned his back on the military that had given so much to him. There wasn’t a more patriotic person on the planet than William Baxter and she was shredding that part of his identity to bits all in the name of politics.

I hated her for it and I hated myself, because if the roles were reversed, I’d have done the same thing to her.

In the middle of Liam’s hotel room, I stood in front of him straightening his tie. It saddened me to see he’d chosen a plain black tie for today’s interview. I’d bitched at him for so long about his ties that seeing him wear an “Elizabeth approved” one was disheartening. Hell, I didn’t even realize he had a sedated colored tie.

“You’re going to do great,” I encouraged him. “Just remember what I told you. Don’t deny being with me. Be honest. People trust you. Remind them why.”

“Please come with us,” Liam pleaded.

I brushed my hands down the front of his jacket over his hard chest and attempted a smile. “I don’t want your interview to turn into a circus. If I go, that’s what’ll happen.”

“All they want to know about is us. Let’s give them that.” He had a good point, but what I didn’t want to tell him was I didn’t feel strong enough to handle being in the spotlight. I was used to being in the shadows, pulling the strings. All of this made me feel out of control. I needed to regroup before facing the media with him.

I splayed my fingers across his square jaw. “When the time is right.” I pushed up on the tips of my toes and placed a warm kiss to his lips. “But for now, I need you on your A-game. Go in there and wow Masters.”

Liam rested his forehead against mine. A solemnness hung between us that twisted my weak stomach.

“You hate me for all of this, don’t you?”

I pulled back and ran my fingers through his hair. “You listen to me, I don’t hate you. This isn’t your fault.”

“I promised to protect you and I didn’t.”

I traced the line of his eyebrows with my thumbs. “But you are. By listening to me and handling things the right way, you’re protecting us both.”

He grabbed both of my wrists, planting kisses at my pulse points. “It doesn’t feel that way to me.”

I closed my eyes, relishing the feel of his mouth on my skin. We were pushing a week without any physical connection and being this close to him, touching him, immersed in his warmth and scent, had my blood sizzling with want.

Liam dropped his head to my ear and whispered, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Slowly, he traced the shell of my ear with his tongue.

My body hummed with pent up energy. “You have to leave soon. We can’t.”

“I want you,” he breathed. “I need you.”

I peered up into those dark chocolate eyes, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth. He had me and he knew it.

Taking me by the hand, Liam walked me into the bedroom of the hotel suite. A large, fluffy bed covered in white cotton linens sat in the center of the room. All of the shades were drawn, granting the space ample privacy.

Liam pulled me into his arms and crushed his lips to mine. As he plunged his tongue into my mouth, a little whimper escaped my chest. He eagerly caressed my tongue, holding my face between his large hands. Step by step, I allowed him to direct me toward the bed. Every ounce of passion that had burned between us over the last several months, every moment we’d been apart over all the crap we were dealing with, was now manifested in this one glorious kiss.

“Liam,” I breathed his name.

“Tell me you want me, too, baby,” he murmured against my lips.

“I do,” I professed. “More than you could ever imagine.”

Liam lifted me from the floor and placed me gently on the bed. In no time he had me stripped naked and spread out before him. He tilted his head and smiled.