Page 28 of Power Twist

“I didn’t do anything. How'd the meeting with Jessica go?” he asks, pausing the hand still massaging my nose. Tipping my head up with two fingers beneath my chin, he inspects the area, eyes narrowed in concentration. “You're fine.”

“Oh, you're a doctor now?”

Trey smirks. “Nope, just had enough broken noses to know what to look for.”

“That many fights, huh?”

One shoulder rises in a half shrug. “It might shock you to know that not everyone finds me as adorable as you do.”

I snort, and his brows shoot up his forehead in return.

“Adorable? I don't think I'd use that word.”

“And what words would you use?” His voice lowers with each word as he steps closer, sealing our bodies together. “I can tell you what words I'd use for you.” Chest to chest, he tilts forward. Two fingers brush the hair from around my face and tuck it behind my ear. Slick lips trail along my outer ear. “Delicious is the first word that comes to mind.”

A shiver bolts down my spine, making my shoulders and legs quake. All the earlier worry and doubt fade to the background with me in his arms. With a content sigh, I relax further against his chest, savoring the feeling of comfort his arms offer.

Too quickly it ends. Hands on my shoulders, he inches us apart before stepping back, putting several feet between us. Lips pursed in what seems like annoyance, he shoves both hands into the pockets of his pinstriped suit. “Cameras.” His honey brown eyes flick to a corner of the office before returning back to me. “You didn’t answer my question. How did it go with Jessica?”

My hair shifts across my shoulders as I shake my head to help clear the lust fog his touch caused. “Not good. Terrible, actually. We don't have enough votes to kill it in the House and are several short in the Senate too.” Stepping around the massive desk, I relax into the high-back leather rolling chair. “What am I going to do, Trouble?”

His features soften, the thin worry lines along his forehead and between his brow deepening.

“I failed before I hit the six-month mark.” Swallowing back the unshed tears clogging my throat, I turn my damp eyes away from his concerned stare. “I'm a failure, just like everyone knew I would be.”

“Mess—”

I hold out a hand, cutting him off.

“How can I stay here?” The dam holding back my building tears breaks, sending streams trickling down my lightly freckled cheeks. Hastily I wipe them away with the back of my hand. “How can I show my face when the one thing I promised, their voice in DC, is literally being stripped away with one bill that I can't stop?” Leaning forward, I rest both elbows on the desk and cradle my wet cheeks between my hands. “I’m a fraud.” The reality of the situation sets in, making me laugh. “Kyle's getting what he wanted from the start.”

“What’s that?” The pain in Trey's voice wrings a shuddering sob from my chest.

“Me gone. We made a deal, but even if we hadn’t, I can't stay here if that gets passed. I'll have let every person who voted for me down.” Deep in my gut, an unfamiliar feeling builds taking root, causing more tears to fall. What the hell? “I know this sounds stupid since I came here to get away from that stupid trailer park, but”—my damp palms fall to the desk, and I shift my gaze to meet Trey's straight on—“I just want to go home. Things might be hard as hell there, but at least the only person I’m letting down there is me. I can’t take this, Trey. I’m not strong enough for this role like I thought. It’s too much.”

My heart and pride shred at the words I dared to say out loud. A soul-crushing sob rattles my chest, shaking my shoulders as the disappointment takes hold. Covering my face again, I sag against the desk.

A strong arm tries to wrap around my shoulders, tugging me toward his comforting hold, but I shrug out of it and shake my head.

“Just go, okay?” I cry, my voice breaking. “I need to be alone.”

“Randi—”

Fury builds where pity and self-loathing had just resided. Spinning in the chair, I lunge out of it. Both palms slam against his chest, making him stagger back. Shock registers on his face just before hurt flashes behind his eyes.

“I said go,” I grit out. “Get out, now.”

“No.” Gone is the hurt. His eyes narrow, funneling the steely look of determination straight through to me. “Are you serious with this right now?”

I flinch like he physically slapped me, and I swear a flash of pain tightens his features in return.

“It's done. There's nothing else we can do,” I say, my voice as weak as I feel.

“So that's it. You're quitting. You're a quitter now.”

My spine snaps straight, a bolt of annoyance rolling through my veins. “I'm sorry?” Surely I didn't hear him correctly. He's definitely not sitting here calling me out during my own fucking pity party.

“You heard me,” he snarls. A slight tingle builds in my gut at the dominance in his tone and wide stance. “Are you a quitter, Randi Sawyer? Yes or no?”

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