Page 7 of Where There's Smoke

“Likewise.” He quickly shook my hand. “Listen, I don’t want to keep you too long, but we need to discuss your campaign.” Icicles hung off every word, and I wondered how hard my uncle had twisted this guy’s arm to get him on board.

“Yeah. All right.” I gestured toward the French doors on one side of the kitchen. “Why don’t we move this outside onto the veranda?”

“Sure.” He offered a tight-lipped smile. “Do you mind if I smoke out there?”

“No, go right ahead. There’s an ashtray on the table. Can I get you something to drink?” My mind tried to go blank, momentarily forgetting the name of every beverage in the goddamned house, but I recovered. “Coffee? Wine? Iced tea?”

“Iced tea is fine, thank you.”

“I’ll get it,” Ranya said.

“Thank you,” I said. “We’re good here, so when you’re done, go ahead and take the rest of the evening off.”

She smiled. “Sounds good to me. Anthony, let me take you outside, and then I’ll get you two some drinks.”

She led Anthony out to the veranda, and once he was out of earshot, I leaned against the counter and rubbed my neck with both hands.

Quiet footsteps approached from the other room.

“You okay?” Simone touched my arm.

Still rubbing my neck, I exhaled. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Is it that horrible, posing with me?”

I looked at her, and we both laughed halfheartedly.

“You know what I mean,” I said.

“Yeah, I know.” She sighed. “If we never have to do that again, it’ll be too soon.”

“Yeah, well.” I scowled. “I doubt it’ll be the last time.”

“A girl can dream.”

I released a breath. “I’m sorry about this, Simone.”

“Don’t be,” she whispered. “Roger’s right. We need to do it, and it’s not forever.” Before I could reply, she glanced out at the veranda and smirked. “Speaking of whom, your uncle certainly did pick a looker to run your campaign.”

“Don’t remind me,” I muttered.

“At least promise me you’ll ogle him while you’re out there.”

I glared at her.

Simone laughed and nudged my arm. “Just relax and go talk to him.”

“I’ll go talk to him, but that first part? Gonna have to take a rain check.”

Worry creased her forehead, so I smiled as much as I could with the queasiness still roiling around in my gut.

She returned it, and for the first time today, fatigue showed in the weakness of her smile and heaviness of her eyes.

I cocked my head. “You okay?”

She dropped her gaze and folded her arms across her chest. “I’m fine.” Her eyes flicked up, and she looked at me through her lashes. “What about you?”

“Fine. I’m fine.”

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