Page 31 of Where There's Smoke

“You’re the one who wants to be governor,” I said.

“Damn it.” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “If I’d known there was actualworkinvolved…”

Simone laughed. “Well, it keeps you busy and out of trouble. Anyway, I’m going to bed. Good night.”

“Good night,” Jesse and I both said.

And with that, Simone left us to our papers and schedules. No kiss good night. NoI love you. More sparks had flown between my cold fish of a collegeroommate and me when one of us said we were turning in for the night. Ever since those two had started raising my suspicions, I’d tried to brush it off as nothing, but something didn’t add up. I probably wouldn’t have noticed with any other couple. Married life was hardly sparks and fireworks after a few years, but the difference between their public appearance and private life was so pronounced it stood out. More and more, their happy front read like the all too perfect alibi of someone with a guilty conscience.

I thumbed the edge of a spiral notebook. “The two of you seem pretty happy together.”

Jesse smiled, but it was that damned podium smile. “Yeah, we are.”

“Are you?”

The smile faded, and he eyed me suspiciously. “I beg your pardon?”

“Are you two as solid as you look?” I inclined my head.Yes, Jesse, I’m direct. Get used to it.“As solid as you’re appearing in front of the public and cameras?”

He fidgeted. “Does it matter?”

“Your marriage is all over the public’s radar as a reason to elect you over Casey. I’m running you on a platform that includes being a solid family man. So yes, it does matter. At least tell me so I know enough to do damage control if something comes out.”

A humorless laugh brought a vague flicker of life to Jesse’s expression. “Right,” he said, more to himself than me. “If something comes out.”

“Meaning?”

He looked disinterestedly at a speech for some event or another, probably as a reason not to look right at me. “Do you really expect us to be swooning and fawning all over each other every moment of the day?” he asked dryly. “You do know we’ve been married for a while, right?”

“Of course I don’t expect that. I just can’t help noticing you two only swoon and fawn over each other when there’s a camera pointed your direction.”

“So you’re an expert in how couples behave on and off camera now?”

“I’ve been around Hollywood and politics enough to know an act when I see one.”

Jesse glared at me, but then he tore his gaze away and pushed the speech aside on the table. Second after second crept by, and he didn’t offer a defense. Not even a diversion or change of subject.

I swallowed. “Just tell me what I’m up against here.”

He wrung his hands and fixed his gaze on them instead of me. After a long moment, he took a deep breath and finally faced me. “All right, look. Things haven’t been good for…a long time.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Define ‘haven’t been good.’ And while you’re at it, ‘long time.’”

He shifted his eyes downward again. “Once the election’s over, we’re getting a divorce.”

My lips parted. I’d sensed trouble in paradise, but a planned impending divorce? Oh no. No. No. Not good. Not when his rock-solid happy marriage was part of his damned platform.

I forced my voice to stay neutral. “You can’t be serious.”

Jesse sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I am.”

“Fuck,” I muttered. “And yet the two of you went on the goddamned front page as being a happy—”

“What do you want me to do about it?” he snapped. “It’s done.”

“As is the marriage that’s the fucking backbone of your public image,” I threw back.

He put up his hands. “What the fuck do I do, then?”

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