Page 71 of False Evidence

“It’s none of Drake’s damn business who I’m involved with.” JT crossed to the door.

Behind him, his father’s voice rose. “It’s awfully convenient that she glommed on to you. Hire an investigator. She needs to be vetted.”

Oh, hell no.

“And for god’s sake, wear a fucking condom. I don’t care if she says she’s on the pill. Women lie.”

The last words were practically a shout. JT yanked open the door and came face-to-face with Alexandra, whose hand was frozen in the air, as if she were about to knock.

Her face was deathly pale. She cleared her throat. “Y-your stepmother asked me to get you and the senator. Dinner is about to be served.”

“Thank you.” He had no doubt the final words had been loud and clear in the hall, but how much more had she overheard?

“I…I um…I think I’ll get going. I’m not hungry, and I promised my parents I’d call.”

“Lex—”

“Enjoy your evening.” She ran her hand over her dress. “I—I wasn’t sure what the dress code would be. Better that I go.”

Shit. She’d heardeverything.

She headed down the hall and he followed her into the break room with the line of lockers.

“Lex. My dad is an asshole.”

“Better not let the people in the main room hear you say that.”

“Half of them know it too. He’s a good senator. And usually a good man, but he’s…got plans for me and forgets that I have my own mind.”

She unlocked a locker and pulled out her purse. “Tell your stepmom the elf costume is here.”

She tossed him the key. It bounced off his chest and hit the floor.

She headed for the door.

“Lex. Wait.”

“I’m not sitting at a table and eating with him and smiling like I didn’t hear him spew some awful things. Does his wife know his thoughts on women and lies?” She hiked her purse onto her shoulder and stepped into the hall. “You’re better off without an unpolished, too smart, gold digger like me. I might make you look bad. Or intimidate people who aren’t put off by my cheap clothes and bad makeup.”

He followed her into the corridor. “Why are you mad atme?I didn’t say any of that shit.”

“Listen. I just came here to get laid. I didn’t know that would require a private investigator to dig into my life. Or that I’d have to take a pee test to prove I’m on birth control. For the record, I hardly ever try to entrap wealthy men whose names I don’t even know.”

Her voice carried in the corridor, and JT had no doubt the caterers were getting an earful, which made him smile. He was years out from throwing his hat in the political ring, and even if he weren’t, there was no scandal here. His dad had been an ass, but this was a family matter.

She exited the building and crossed the parking lot. “Stop following me.”

“Then stop walking away from me.”

She neared a Honda Civic that was made in the mid-eighties, with a paint job that had seen better days. “Don’t bother giving me your father’s opinion of my car. I can guess exactly what he’d say.” She swiped at an eye, then unlocked the driver’s door. Under her breath, she said, “I can’t believe I wasted my gas budget on this.”

She pulled on the door handle, but his hand pressed on the window and roof, holding it closed as his body pressed to her back. “Lex. I am not my father. Please. Give me a chance.”

“Why does he hate me? What did I do to him?”

“He’s mad because I fired Spaulding over his and Drake’s objections. That’s why he wanted to talk to me alone.”

“Youwhat?”

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