Page 20 of Senator

“I don’t see a problem with your idea.” I set my fingers on his shoulder and stood on tiptoes.

“Are you sure you want to miss the s’mores?” He gave me a sly grin. “Tyler has a bag of giant marshmallows and three bars of Ghirardelli dark chocolate waiting for you.”

My weakness was the ooey gooey goodness of melted chocolate and marshmallows sandwiched between graham crackers. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thankfully, I had a willpower of iron otherwise I wouldn’t be able to fit through a door.

“That’s mean. How can I choose?”

He slipped his hands around my waist and pulled me against him. He grazed his stubble against my jaw.

“It’s easy. What do you want more, sex or chocolate?”

“Can I have both?” I asked, a bit too breathless.

Before he could respond, I heard Samina shout, “Get a room. There are innocent eyes here.”

Both Veer and I laughed and then I said, “She’s one to talk with the number of times I’ve caught Dev and her in the middle of something. At least we aren’t groping each other.”

It felt so good not to hide what Veer and I had. On this estate, we were safe. I wasn’t the Republican senator, and Veer wasn’t the governor. We were a couple. Well, at least for this weekend.

I stepped out of his hold and offered him my hand. “Come with me.”

He slid his palm over mine, and we walked toward the pool house. No one would disturb us there.

“Want to tell me why I’m in trouble? It can’t be our activities of the morning. If I recall, you came three times.”

I licked my lips, and a quiver shot into my core.

“No, it’s not about your sexual prowess.”

“Then what?” He opened the gate leading to the walkway.

“Why did you invite Ashur when I specifically told you that Tara was coming down? This weekend was supposed be stress free for Tara. She’s tense and no way near relaxed. After the way President Edgar turned her efforts into something to investigate, she needs a break.”

“Jaci, there are things in play that make it necessary for Tara and Ashur to get over their issues. Their future rides on it.”

I gave Veer the side eye. “Care to explain that statement?”

“Nope. It’s between them. Come on.” Veer wrapped his arm around the back of my waist and opened the front door leading to a small living room.

I stopped walking, slipping out of his hold. “If it is between them, then why are you involved?”

“Jaci, let it go.” He stared with his “I am boss, you are little woman” glare.

I cocked a hand on my hip. “Would you let it go if I were keeping something from you?”

“Aren’t you?” He folded his arms, continuing to hold my annoyed gaze.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“Aren’t you just waiting for the right time to announce your engagement to Kevin?”

“Nothing is set. You should know as well as I do that the press likes to sensationalize things.”

“He is your significant other, for all purposes.” The bitterness in his voice made my heart ache.

“No, he is not,” I countered. “We’re friends. Nothing more. You’re the man I want.”

“Does he know this? I know when a man is in love with you. I see it every time I look in the mirror. So, cut the bullshit.”