Page 29 of Capitally Engaged

“No, to telling you what’s going on. Yes, to the kissing,” I answered, throwing all caution to the wind.

Whether I could thank the adrenaline of spotting Peggy in the crowd or the feeling of a live wire lighting up my body when Preston’s lips met mine, any residual effects of the wine fled. Preston slid his arm from my grip, wrapping it around my lower back. He arched my hips into his as he deepened the kiss.

My shoulders dug into the wall behind me, even as he supported us with the hand above my head as he leaned in. I moved my hands up his chest, looping one around his neck to return the pressure, while the other tangled in his hair. Our mouths moved together, fiery and tender all at once, as we mapped each other’s lips. Preston groaned into my mouth, which I took as an invitation to tangle my tongue with his.

Then, two things happened almost simultaneously. First, the service elevator to my left chimed. The doors rattled open, revealing our tender embrace in a private spot at a very public event. Second, my stomach cramped threateningly, letting me know punishment lingered only moments away.

Preston stepped back when the elevator doors opened, running his hand across his mouth. A Library of Congress employee stood there looking amused. I slid to the side, out from between Preston and the wall, straightening my dress.

“I, uh, I need to go. You should find Laurel and Caitlin. I’ll see you back at your place. Later.”

I turned and nodded at the employee with as much dignity as I could and started walking toward the edge of the room, searching for the bathroom I noted when we walked in.

“Jax, wait,” Preston called from behind me, but I slipped into a group of visitors exiting the reading room, dodging this way and that to cut through the crowd, leaving him behind.

I locked the stall door behind me and put my face in my hands.What thehellwas that?

Chapter

Twelve

Preston

I ran my hand through my hair as I searched the crowded room for any signs of brown hair and a royal blue dress. I absentmindedly raised my hand to my lips again, reliving the best kiss of my life. Damn that elevator. But also, where did shego?

I pulled out my phone and dialed Jax’s number when I heard my name called from behind me. Laurel and Caitlin made their way toward me as Jax’s voicemail clicked on. “Leave a message at the beep. Or you know, text me. It’s not the ’90s.”

I suppressed a growl as the couple reached me.

“Where did you guys go?” Laurel asked. “I thought maybe you left.”

“We went through the reading room, and then... Have you guys seen Jax?”

Laurel looked at me like I was an easily spooked cat. “No, like I just said, we weren’t sure where you went or if you were still here.”

I nodded. “Right. I lost track of Jax a minute ago. She told me she’d see me back at home, but I feel weird leaving her here.”

Laurel shrugged. “I get the vibes Jax has been taking care of herself for a long time. If she tells you to leave, I think you can leave. And you know, with your arrangement, I don’t actually think it’s a trap.”

Caitlin laughed. “Women,” I muttered, lifting my phone to call her again. Voicemail. Damn it.

“Are you okay?” Laurel asked, that look of concern in her eyes again.

“Yeah, I’m fine. We were just... and then she was... and now I can’t...” I couldn’t seem to complete a thought. Jax’s mouth and then sudden absence of her entire being scrambled my brain.

“We’ll keep an eye out for her until we leave and let you know if we see her. Maybe you should go home and see if she somehow beat you there?” Caitlin suggested, her look mirroring Laurel’s. I must be giving off a real wild energy.

I nodded. “Okay, yeah, that’s a good plan.” This place was too big and had too many stairwells to the exit. I could stay here and wait for her, and still miss her leaving.

I walked down to the coat check, still swiveling my head, keeping an eye out for Jax. I handed over my number, trying to see if I could recognize Jax’s coat next to where the clerk grabbed mine. This was late-winter in DC though. The coatroom was full of a hundred black pea coats and nothing stood out.

I called Jax again as I left the building, with no answer. At the edge of the steps leading down to First Street, the Capitol lit up across from me, I stopped to decide whether I wanted to take a car home or burn off some energy with a walk. My phone vibrated in my hand, interrupting my pondering, and I saw a text from Jax. I jabbed at the phone to open it.

Jax

Oh my god, Brandt, I’m fine. Just needed a bathroom ASAP and am not sure how long I’ll be here. I’ll see you at your place.

I stared at the phone, wondering why she hadn’t said so earlier. Considering how we met, and that we lived together, it wasn’t like I didn’t know about her digestive trouble.

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