Page 29 of Where There's Smoke

“You wish.”

“Fuck you, Cameron.” She shot me a playful scowl, then pulled open one of the cartons.

The scent of fried chicken made my mouth water. I hadn’t been able to stomach the mere thought of food for the last few hours, andnowI was fucking hungry.

Anthony, however, wasn’t nearly as envious of Ranya’s hard-earned cache of food. He pocketed his phone and pushed himself away from the table on which he’d been leaning. “I’m going to go have a cigarette. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Ranya gestured at him with a piece of chicken. “That’s a disgusting habit, you know.” The comment might have been offensive from anyone else, but she had just enough of a mischievous sparkle in her eye, it was obviously intended in good humor.

“Uh-huh.” Anthony pulled his cigarettes out of his pocket. “And you’re eating the fried remains of a dead bird, so I’d say we’re even.”

“You’ve got me there,” she said with an unrepentant shrug and took a bite.

Anthony chuckled, but I thought he might have shuddered too. Then, cigarettes in hand, he left the room. The door shut with a heavythudand an emphaticclick, and I exhaled hard.

I settled into a chair.

Ranya’s eyebrow rose.

I cocked my head. “What?”

“What?”

“I asked you first.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She held out the box of chicken strips. “Want some?”

“God, yes.” I took one, holding it carefully to keep from burning my fingers. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.” She dipped another chicken strip into the tiny container of ranch sauce. “So how much do you know about this guy?” She nodded in the direction Anthony had gone as she took a bite of the chicken strip.

Leaning forward to get some of the sweet and sour sauce, I shrugged. “Not much. Roger swears by him as a campaign manager, but that’s about it.”

“Do you know if he’s…”

I threw her a sidelong glance. “Single?”

“Well, that, but I was going to say gay.”

“Gay? Not that I know of. Why?”

“Um, because he’s obviously got a thing for you.”

I stared at her. “What are you talking about?”

She rolled her eyes. “Dude, are you that clueless?”

“Apparently so. He’s just putting up with me because he’s getting paid to manage my campaign, though. I don’t think the man even likes me.”

Shaking her head, she laughed. “Jesse, honey, does he have to push you into the sandbox to get your attention?” She gestured down the hall. “If he was into me, he’d be yanking my pigtails.”

“Oh come on.” I waved a hand. “No way. Besides, it’s not like I’d even register on his radar.” I held up my left hand and pointed at my wedding ring. “That usually tells people I’m not available, you know.”

“Maybe so, but he’s pegging my gaydar something fierce, and he wants you. Just because you’re not on the menu doesn’t mean he can’t look.” Leaning in closer, she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “And you didn’t see him drooling over you during that press conference a few weeks ago.”

“What?” I laughed. “No way.”

“Trust me on this one.” She grinned. “I know what I saw. And that man?” She gestured at the door, her bracelets emphasizing the sharp motion. “One look at you and he’s got floaty hearts above his head.”

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