Page 16 of Senator

“That sounds incredible. Hopefully, I’ll be able to roll out of here by the end of the weekend.”

* * *

“God, this is the life,”Tara said as she relaxed back in her lounge chair.

She wore dark gold-rimmed shades that matched the beading on her bikini, giving her the look of a world-traveling goddess. The golden hue of her skin made me envious and wish I could tan as beautifully as she could without burning.

“No kidding. Now the only thing missing is a hot cabana boy to wait on us,” I said and then sipped my cocktail.

Thoughts of Veer wearing a tight pair of board shorts and serving me drinks popped into my mind. That would be the perfect addition to the day.

“Stop thinking of my almost-brother as if he were some edible candy. That’s gross.” Samina came to sit at the bottom of my deck chair and handed me a bottle of sunscreen. “Put this on before you burn. You, my dear, aren’t blessed with the golden complexions Tara and I are.”

Sam’s soft pink-and-blue long-sleeved chiffon cover-up showed the slight swell of her pregnant belly underneath. No one would know her little secret unless they were looking. She was so beautiful. I’d told her pregnancy made her glow and it was true.

“Yes, ma’am.” I took the container, squeezed out a quarter-sized amount, and began to rub the protective lotion onto my arms and legs. “Fantasizing about the man I’m with is a huge difference from you banging my brother every chance you get and not hiding the fact. At least Veer and I keep it under the radar.”

“What? Wait.” Tara coughed and sat up, taking off her glasses. “I thought you were seeing Kevin. Did you guys break up? Someone tell me when you and Veer George started bumping uglies? I’ve been out of the country, but I would have heard any gossip about the governor of Texas and the junior senator from Texas.”

“Yeah, about that. You see. We umm…” It had been so long since Tara and I had gotten together that she’d never learned about the change in Veer’s and my relationship status.

“The reason you haven’t heard about it—” Sam pushed my legs to the side and then shimmied her body into the minuscule space next to me, “—is because the two dummies have it under wraps. Kevin is the cover for their illicit affair.”

“Sam, there are at least four other loungers for you to use. We don’t have to share one as if we were little kids who can’t be without each other.”

“You’re comfy.” She rested her head on her hand and leaned against my thighs.

I rolled my eyes. “Veer and I weren’t supposed to happen.”

“I knew you’d end up jumping each other one day. There was always this undercurrent of sexual tension with you two.” Tara set her glasses back on her face and then took a sip of her drink.

I frowned. Was everyone around me aware that we’d had the hots for each other for years? I guessed so if Tara picked up on it.

“Anyway,” I interjected, “now that we’re together, we have to protect our careers.”

Tara nodded. “I get it. If you want the Republican nomination in four years, you can’t be seen as a liberal. And coming out with Veer as your man will cost you dearly, no matter your conservative voting record.”

I stared at her. She’d hit the nail on the head with minimal information.

“Don’t look at me like that. Why do you think I haven’t gotten into anything serious with any of the guys I’ve dated over the last few years? I’m a human rights attorney with many liberal ties. Any man who gets involved with me will have to be someone who can handle my agenda and my ability to get into politically costly situations.”

“Or maybe it has to do with the fact you’re still in love with my brother,” Sam said, not looking in Tara’s direction, but smiling like the Cheshire cat. “For the record, he’s not over you, either.”

“Sam, I know you mean well, but you have to stop meddling. Ashur and I are ancient history. I gave up that dream years ago.” Tara clenched her jaw and gazed out into the distance. “All I can hope for is that we can be in the same room without it filling with tension. So far, we’re failing miserably.”

Something besides the media fallout from the last week was happening.

“What’s going on, Tara?” I asked and looked at Sam, who shrugged her shoulders. “We’re here for you. Did you and Ashur hook up and it went badly?”

Tara set her cocktail down. “God no, nothing like that.”

“Then what?” Sam probed.

“I suggest you ask Veer. He knows all about it.” Tara released a deep sigh. “Can we please forget about everything else and veg? The next few days are going to be my only free weekend for months. You see, my law partner decided to become a senator and left me with ten years’ worth of cases.”

“Sorry, not sorry,” Sam retorted. “I have enough on my plate with members of the Senate.”

“On second thought, I’d rather deal with the Clint Bassetts of the world than deal with members of Congress. I say, more power to the both of you.” Tara lifted her glass toward Sam and me with a grin, then almost immediately her smile disappeared. She slipped to sitting, and her relaxed demeanor turned tense.

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