Page 31 of Tips and Trysts

“I want to stay,” I assure her, saying more than I need to. “I want to talk about…”

Cora raises her shoulder. “I’ll see you at the Halcyon.”

I nod before I rise to my feet.

I’ve already made an ass of myself in front of Cora Flores, but nothing stings quite like going to my father when he calls me.

Ten

EVERETT

“I resent the wayyou’re reacting. If you were in my shoes, you would have done the same thing.”

Even as I say the words, I don’t believe them. My stomach is tight, borderline painful. I lied to Cora. I lied, and apparently, she hates lying like I hate foie gras, which—for the record—I hate with my full chest.

I want to fuck you.

Semantically, it’s not a complete lie. It’s a…limited description. A teaser for the truth, really.

“You didn’t see the look on her face,” I continue, shifting onto my side and sliding my hand under the pillow. “She would hate me if she found out I’ve pretended to dislike her for seven months.”

I thought saying it aloud would help, but I know I’m politicking the words.Pretended to dislike heris a fancy way of saying,I lied.

Sighing, I roll onto my back again and drag my hand through my hair while staring at the ceiling. “I can’t take it back. I already told her I want to fuck her, so that’s how I have to play it now.”

Strategy. Again, it’s all about strategy, which doesn’t faze me. Four generations of Logan men before me were successful civil servants and not a single one of those shitbags deserved their jobs. We’re wily. Being a strategist is in my blood.

I glance to the side. “Don’t give me that face. I’ll win her. I’ve never lostanything. The last thing I lost was my goddamn virginity.” I bite down on the end of my thumbnail, pensive. “And yes, I know the fundamental issue of me running for office and her being a camgirl isn’t going away, but you know what else isn’t going away?How badly I want her. So, spare me the sanctimonious bullshit. I want Cora and I’ll get Cora. If you’re not on board, you can leave.”

Pierre cocks his head to the side, sending one of his floppy ears swinging. He’s eight months old and in this gangly phase I didn’t know golden retrievers went through. His legs are too long for his body and his paws look colossal compared to his tiny, furry head. But the judgment in his eyes? Definitely not eight months old. He’s eyeing me with the wisdom of five generations of dogs—and if we’re being honest, I don’t need this shit.

“This is where you’re supposed to tell me to stop at nothing.”

The puppy just cocks his head in the other direction.

“Dalton and Lander are better hype men than you,” I inform Pierre, who lets out a pointed exhale before pawing at my pectoral. “Stop it,” I order, brushing his oversized paw away from my bare chest. “I can meet her demands.”

He sits back on his hind legs, expectant like a working dog.

“I can meet most of them,” I clarify. “Is that skepticism? Please. I can absolutely win over a woman who once threw a drink in my face and then told me to fuck it.”

Pierre’s tail doesn’t wag like it usually does when he’s excited, which tells me he’s not convinced.

“My face,” I explain. “She told me to fuck my own face, not the drink… You know what? Forget it. You’ll understand in a few years.”

His sigh speaks volumes, but I take the high road and ignore him.

I roll off the opposite side of the bed and stand before stretching. I didn’t sleep much. I’ve been considering Cora’s demands, and to say I was intimidated by her list would be a gross understatement, and I, frankly, do not understate things.

The first: You have to beg for forgiveness.

The second: You have to become a customer.

The third: You can never, ever tell a lie in my presence.

The first two are simple.

Beg. Classic Cora. She wants a sincere and humble apology, and I can certainly give it to her. I can give her the best apology she’s ever heard. Beg? Easy. My father once made me apologize to a campaign donor after I walked out while he was showing pictures of a big game hunt in Kenya. I was so convincing that my father doubled his fund that night.

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