Page 19 of Senator

For weeks, both Sam and I were walking zombies, going to class, work, and then back home to study. We’d shut ourselves in our apartment. The only visitor we had was Devin. He’d come to see Sam every chance he’d gotten to keep her strong. My poor brother had had no clue that I needed comfort too.

“You’re right. Veer meant something to me from the first time I met him.” I took a seat on the cooler and Kevin joined me.

“If it makes you feel better—” he nudged my elbow, “—he had the hots for you back then too.”

I scrunched my face. “Right, I buy that.”

“You learn a lot about a man when you’re stuck in a foreign country for months on end. He had it bad for you, but he knew as well as you did that you ran in different circles that could never mix. He was a liberal even then, and we were in the middle of combat.”

“Apparently it didn’t stop us in the long run.”

“It was bound to happen. And Vegas provided the perfect opportunity to act on your attraction.”

“How did you figure out it was Vegas?”

I’d never told Kevin when my affair with Veer had started. I’d only said to him that Veer and I hooked up whenever I was in town.

He scoffed. “You may be the child prodigy, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look back and see when the vibe between the two of you changed from innocent flirtation to a constant emission of lust.”

“Hey, it’s all your fault. If you hadn’t left me at your swank hotel to go do grown-up stuff in your family’s oil biz, I wouldn’t have drunk too much and ended up in this predicament.”

Kevin snorted. “You two would have ended up jumping each other sooner or later. Sam and I had a bet when it would happen. We’d only hoped it wouldn’t be while you were with other people.”

“I am with someone else—you,” I pointed out.

“We aren’t the same thing, and you know it.”

“I know.” A wave of sadness flooded down on me. “Kev, what are we going to do?”

“I don’t have much choice in the matter. I was willing to come out, but I couldn’t be the only one risking everything. You, on the other hand, will lose the nomination but gain the man you love.”

“How do I give up everything I’ve worked for since I was a child? It’s within my grasp. I have to wait four more years, and I know I’ll become the first female to win the White House.”

“He’s more than worth risking it. I’ve gone to combat with him. I’ve never known a man who does the right thing even when it costs him like Veer George. He’s perfect for you. Well, with the exception of his liberal-leaning tendencies.”

“There is that one negative.” I couldn’t help but laugh. However, the amusement died quickly. “I feel like no matter what I do I’m fucked.”

“True, true. But there is only one choice where you’ll get fucked on the regular and like it.”

I shook my head. “You are so wrong.”

“Hey just telling you how I see it.”

“Come on, before they send out a search party.” I stood and brushed my summer dress down.

Kevin rose and turned toward the cooler. “It would be for the alcohol, not us.”

At that moment, Tyler’s shout came from the area along the river. “Jaci, you promised to keep the drinks flowing. You’re failing miserably.”

Kevin picked up the cooler. “It’s a wonder you didn’t strangle him in vitro. I have no idea how he keeps the world from seeing this goofball instead of the staunch Southern member of the United States House of Representatives.”

“We all have our facades.” I saw Veer come toward us. “Why don’t you head down? I want to talk to V.” I said that loudly enough for Veer to hear me.

Kevin nodded to Veer as he passed him and murmured, “Glad it’s you in trouble and not me.”

As Veer approached, my heartbeat accelerated, and a flood of desire pooled between my legs. He’d changed into casual khaki shorts and a light blue cotton button-down that accentuated the muscular build of his arms. Lust filled his gaze, and the thought of taking him back to the house and having my wicked way with him had my body heating.

“Stop staring at me like that or I’m taking you inside to make good on the dirty thoughts running through your mind.”

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