Page 15 of Power Twist

Both she and Trey bust out laughing.

“Mess, you are a mess, you know that?”

“Without question,” I mumble as I flop into the chair behind the desk, groaning at my blubbering foul mouth. “I guess I just expected… hell, I don't know what I expected.”

Jessica shrugs, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder as she folds into one of the two chairs opposite my desk. Of course she even sits pretty. Maybe I should've paid more attention during those etiquette classes Kyle forced me to take.

“I get it a lot,” she says with an awkward laugh. “But I will say I'll take this reaction over the typical response from congressmen and senators.”

I arch a brow. “And that would be?”

Jessica looks away and waves a hand in my direction. “I'm sure someone as pretty as you can guess.”

I don't have to. I know firsthand.

Mentally, I give myself a hard ‘wake the fuck up, you’re on the same team’ shake. Huffing a heavy breath, I shove out of the chair and stride back around the desk to pause in front of a wide-eyed Jessica.

“Let's do this again.” My hand juts out between us. This time her grip is timid as those delicate fingers wrap around my own. “Hi, I'm Randi Sawyer, and I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I need your help whipping votes in the House and Senate to ensure the man I helped get elected into the presidential role doesn't take away the constitutional right to vote from a third of the American people.”

A wide, true smile spreads across her face, making her look even more beautiful, but the honesty behind her eyes chases away any lingering animosity.

“Great,” she says, dropping my hand. Tugging an iPad from her bag, she flips the cover open and rests it on top of her knees. “Then let's get started.”

* * *

After four hours,two Starbucks runs, and too many handfuls of chocolate-covered almonds to count, we have a plan.

A great plan.

“This is a fantastic start,” Jessica praises as she tucks the nearly dead iPad back into her bag. Standing, she rests both hands on her hips and arches back, twisting right and then left. “Where did Trey go?”

Glancing up from the piece of paper I've scribbled notes all over, I scan the room and shrug. “Dunno. Maybe he got tired of being our errand boy.” I snort and go back to rereading my scribble. “He's around here somewhere.”

“He's a good guy. You're lucky to have him on your protection team.”

My ears perk at her new wistful tone. Peering up through my lashes, I catch her staring off into space with a sappy smile on her lips.

“How do you two know each other?” I ask, trying to keep the eagerness—and slight desperation—from my tone. “He didn't fill me in on y'all’s history.”

“Y'all’s,” she huffs. “I love your accent.”Um, I have an accent?“It's warm, like you.”Me. Warm?Maybe I should've drug tested her before agreeing to bring her on board to the 'save America' bandwagon. “Anyway, our parents are in the same social circles. We've been friends for, wow, a long time.” Again, her eyes glaze over as a soft sigh pushes past her lips. “He was even my escort to my debutant ball.”

“That's a real thing?” I ask before thinking better of it. I cringe and look back down at the paper.Get your shit together, Randi. Don't go pissing off the first woman in this town who's been nice to you.

Jessica shrugs off the comment with a soft laugh. Her thin fingers slide down her dress, straightening the bright red material. “Yeah, it's a big deal here. It marks you in the social circle. Everyone who's anyone has a blowout party trying to outdo the girl before them. It's all silly, but you know how it is.”

“Not really,” I grumble under my breath. She's either trying to be nice and not bring up my childhood or is ignorant to my past. I'll go with being nice. “Thanks again for your help in all this. With me going across the globe with Todd, I need a constant face here whipping votes our way.”

“We'll get it done. ’Night.” Before she can grab the door handle, it swings open. “Oh,” she gasps, startling back a step. “Oh.” This time it’s breathier, less scared. “There you are. We were just wondering where you'd run off to. I was hoping to see more of you today.”

“Were you?” he muses, those honey brown eyes finding mine from the doorway. I swallow back my reply as he turns his attention back to Jessica. “Glad you were available to help out here. I know this isn’t your normal type of gig, but your connections in this city will be a huge help.”

Even from here there's no mistaking the bright pink glow that brightens her cheekbones. “You know I'd do anything for you, just have to ask. It was great to see you, Trey. Looking forward to seeing you around.”

“Looking forward to seeing you around,” I mimic under my breath with a sneer. Jealousy has a funny way of making you forget the last four hours. I'm counting on this woman to help me, but I now want to punt her across the White House lawn.

Good thing there wasn't a maturity test to land this VP gig.

Or a psych eval.

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