Page 80 of Not the Plan

A signature guffaw knocked the smile off his face, calling his attention back to his boss. Again, he was at the small table in Julian’s office. Again, forced to sit in on Julian’s phone conversations. On rare occasions, there was some substance, but often, it was blather. He was pretty sure Julian needed someone—anyone—to think what he was saying or doing was important. It made Karim hate him as much as he felt sorry for him.

I get it, Julian, trust me, I do. How desperate you get when your wife doesn’t pay attention to you anymore. Been there, done that. But come on, you know I have a thousand other things to do.

Julian’s conversation hinted at this personal project. He hadn’t chosen to share any details, and direct questioning had been metwith indirect answers and smarmy grins Karim wanted to smack off his face. He was on the phone with another senator, bragging about how his new strategy would change a lot of minds during the full majority meeting the next day.

“Trust me. The tide is turning…Yes, you’re right, I have said that in the past. But if I’m saying it again, it’s because I know I’m right. Just do us both a favor and pay close attention tomorrow,” Julian said.

Karim rolled his eyes. He’d gotten the same line earlier in the day. Seeking more pleasant thoughts, he returned to Isadora, to the second passionate weekend he’d enjoyed, where there had been little rest. The sex was amazing, but the sharing, the understanding about what he did and what it meant to him, the interest in who he was as a person, was so much more. A lot more than he’d expected when he’d stuffed the last duffel bag into the trunk of his car back home.

Smart, funny, beautiful. And sexy as hell…I could fall hard—Everything stopped. His breath, his fingers, his mind.“Fall”? No. There’s no falling. I’m nowhere near ready.

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It was standing-room only when Karim walked into the War Room Tuesday morning. He’d had to stifle a laugh when he’d learned the dramatic nickname of the large conference room behind the senate chamber. But entering, with it as full and buzzing as it was, he got it.

The enormous table in the middle of the room was the same deep burgundy as the wainscoting. Contrasted with the plush navy carpeting and the solemn paintings of previous presidents pro tempore, there was a seriousness about the room that was absent everywhere else except the senate chamber itself.

The seat reserved for his boss was empty, of course. His ego required making an entrance. Karim leaned against the wall, between two other aides, typing away on their phones. Peter had also yet to arrive, along with two other senators who spent time with Julian, his “crew.”

Guess they’re all gonna “roll up” together.He flipped open the file he’d brought with him. The most important thing on his agenda for that day, an amendment to be tacked on to Peter’s supplemental health insurance bill. It would codify habits that had already been taken concerning timelines for committee planning and extraordinary meetings like the one that day. It had full support, but Julian had insisted that all his colleagues sign off on it; Karim was to take care of it that afternoon. As it was the first document he’d prepared since being admitted to the California State Bar, he wanted to be sure it was perfect.

He was halfway through when one of his new favorite sounds reached his ears. Isadora was coming down the hall, laughing. He ducked his head down into the file, in case the heat creeping up his neck was bringing blotches too. She crossed the threshold, and his nostrils flared, his anticipation shifting into hostility. She was laughing with another aide, a guy, one who Karim thought was nice and had no problems with.

You’re being ridiculous;she has to talk to other men.Stifling the same reaction he’d had in the rotunda the previous week, he glared at the paper in his hands.She does not belong to you, and even if she was your girlfriend or something, what the hell kind of antiquated caveman shit is this?He reminded himself of what had happened after the flash of jealousy in the rotunda. She’d reached out, wanting him. He hid behind the file again, to cover a wicked smile.

Julian and his posse arrived with dopey grins, making too much noise. Karim shifted his facial expression into neutral, scanning the room for Isadora out of the corner of his eye. She was near the refreshment table, prepared with coffee and pastries.

Excellent.Please stay there, beautiful. Need an excuse to get closer to you.

Daniel called the meeting to order and reminded everyone why they were there. They had all worked hard the previous session, and even the years before, at crafting the legislation that eventually became California’s single-payer health insurance program. He thanked everyone again for their hard work and reminded them of how much had also been done by their colleaguesin the assembly and in the executive branch. He then expressed his surprise at the impetus to make any changes so quickly to what they had crafted concerning the delivery of healthcare to Californians, but he gave the floor to Peter to explain. It was no surprise that Peter had agreed to sponsor the bill; the insurance lobby had been bankrolling his campaigns for years. Daniel was opposed, and as leader, would steer the other party members in his direction.

Time for a cup of coffee.

As Peter made the case for the bill, Karim pushed himself off the wall and made his way to the refreshment table. His change in position was unremarkable, aides were coming and going, getting coffee or something to eat. A shudder of pleasure went through him when he caught Isadora in his peripheral vision as he passed. She’d been typing on her phone, but her fingers stopped moving as he got close. He took his time, pondering the pastries, whispering a hello to one of the two aides who stood between him and his destination. Deciding on coffee, he had to inch behind the first aide and grab a cup. Realizing he was blocking part of the table, the aide left to lean against the wall across the room.

Okay, just one more person between me and where I want to be.

He happened to meet RJ’s eyes across the room. His smirk made it clear that he knew what Karim was up to. He slid his phone out of his pocket. The aide between Karim and Isadora was much shorter than he was, the entire screen of her phone was visible as she scrolled through her emails. She got a text message and tapped it open.

RJ:You got a second for a quick chat?

Karim took a sip and rolled his lips. He’d suspected that RJ knew what was up but had not anticipated having him as a wingman. He lifted his cup in thanks, remaining discreet. RJ nodded, fighting down his smile. He stepped to the doorway and waited to let the short aide pass, as she’d left Isadora’s side to see what RJ wanted.

Karim slid in next to Isadora, as close as possible withouttouching her. She nodded a professional hello. He returned the gesture, breathing deep to keep the smile off his face. His nostrils filled with her fragrance—the almond notes of her perfume, but also the warmer, deeper smell of her skin. He leaned back toward the refreshment table to toss his cup in the trash, and when he returned, she surprised him, shifting her weight so that her hip brushed against his thigh. He froze, and she took it further, turning so that the curve of one cheek caressed his leg for the briefest instant. Her arms were folded, her focus on the discussion at the table.

So, you wanna play, beautiful?He stifled a smirk and shifted the file to his left hand. He dropped his right to his side and ran the back of his fingers along the bottom curve of her cheek. Her gasp was the tiniest sound, under the noise of the discussion, but he heard it loud and clear. It resonated into his memory, launching a replay of much louder sighs and moans—the ones he focused on as he feasted on her, his head between her thighs.

He needed to clear his throat. She slid a hand up to rub her neck, stretching her head away from him, caressing her skin with splayed fingers. Her birthmark beckoned. So close, he felt his mouth water.

How did I get here? She is beyond sexy. And she’s into me? I am seconds away from an embarrassing situation in a room full of people, and I don’t even care.

He pulled out his phone.

Karim:You’re playing dirty again.

Isadora:I thought you liked it when I played dirty.

Karim:Adore it.

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