Page 15 of Accepted Precedent
“Why the fuck not? You’ve wanted her for years, and if Andrew was fine with it, why not indulge yourself a little? There’s no harm in having a little fun.”
“It wasn’ta little fun,” I grit out, stifling a groan. “I… Never mind.”
“Love her. That’s what you were going to say, isn’t it? You love her. You gave me shit for falling in love with Ileah, and here you are, doing the same fucking thing after one night. What about Andrew? Fuckin’ hell, Mick! They’re supposed to get married. We need him to win Maryland. We already lost a shot at influencing the Supreme Court because of Tim Fucking McKinnon, and you turned down the President’s offer to marry his daughter. We can’t lose the Senate too.”
“What if we find someone else?”
“Someone else? Are you mad? We have to keep everything within our circle or this isn’t going to work. You and I aren’t afforded the same luxuries other men in Washington have. We don’t get to ride off into the sunset with the loves of our lives like some sort of romance novel. We have a responsibility to ensure this country runs smoothly, and you’re twisted up about her? Get your shit together, Mick.”
“You’re right,” I sigh, my heart breaking at my admission. “There has to be another way.”
“Mick, no. If you love them, you’ll let them go—at least for now. Don’t you have a meeting scheduled with the lawyers to draft everything up for Andrew? What time are they coming by the house?”
“In an hour.”
“Grand. I’m on my way.” Finn hangs up without saying goodbye.
For years, I’ve been the strong one. The sensible one. Less than a month ago, I told Finn to table his feelings for Ileah, to focus onthe bigger picture. After a single night with Evelyn, I’ve thrown my own advice and all logic out the window. I need to stuff down my feelings for the next few years—for the good of the country.
Aisling’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Mr. Gallagher? Will your brother be joining you for breakfast?”
“Aye, it seems so.”
“And Mr. Adams and Ms. Proctor?”
“I… I don’t know.” Two sets of footsteps approach from behind, and my heart leaps into my throat. I can’t bring myself to turn around.
“Hey, Aisling,” Andrew greets as he takes a seat next to me. Evelyn sits next to him and holds his hand, interlacing their fingers. All I’m offered is a small smile, then her gaze falls to her lap.
“I’ll prepare breakfast once Mr. Gallagher arrives.” Aisling leaves us, and part of me wishes she stayed—if only to delay the inevitable conversation I’m dreading.
“We need to talk.” The four worst words in the English language. “Evie and I are going to elope this weekend,” Andrew offers and my stomach drops. “And I’m going to have Finn handle my campaign.”
My jaw tight, I nod. “Finn is busy with Texas. Who do you want to run day-to-day?”
“We were thinking maybe my sister, Kristin,” Evie suggests, and I hate that her voice is small. “She worked on President Taylor’s campaign. She’s more conservative than Andrew, but that could work to our advantage.”
“And you trust her?”
“Emphatically,” he replies for her, placing his hand over mine. It does nothing to calm my nerves, a war still raging inside me. The man I’ve loved for years is cold, distant. As much as I love his strong exterior, this isn’t a town hall or a fucking debate. I needmyAndrew—the man who if I asked him to, would crawl to me.
This man? I don’t know him.
“Evelyn should do it,” I huff, less than thrilled about bringing in another person I don’t know to work for me.
“I’m a lobbyist. I don’t know the first thing about running a campaign.”
“You’re more than capable, angel.”
At calling herangel, Evelyn’s pupils dilate and she shifts in her seat, pressing her thighs together under the table. She’s fucking aching for me, just as I am for her. I can still taste her—both of them. How the hell am I going to give them up? I could lose them for good over this staged relationship.
A hand roughly clamps on my shoulder. “Mornin’. It’s a beautiful day for a quick walk before breakfast. Isn’t it, brother?”
“Fucking hell, Finn,” I growl, tamping down my obsession over two people I can’t have—at least not right now. There are more important things at stake. “Have a seat. I was talking with Andrew about?—”
“My new project. Fantastic. Why don’t you and Ms. Proctor go for a walk while I get up to speed with Mr. Adams’ plans to beat his opponent?”
“How does he know who I am?” Evie whispers to Andrew, not taking her eyes off my brother.
