Page 4 of Kiss Me at Midnight
“Kiss her!” someone else demanded as Dotty gingerly got in the back seat.
“What’s going on?” Suspicious of his motives, Lily’s gaze searched Judson’s.Is he going to kiss me?Her heart raced.
“I need a ride out of here.” Judson’s blue eyes were electric but held no heat promising kisses.
Lily was…relieved? At least, she should be. She’d built her career on practically being invisible in a city that celebrated celebrity.
But still… The seed was planted:What would it be like to kiss Judson Hambly?
Unbidden, a thought arose:Marvelous.
A little bell went off in Lily’s head. It was the bell that used to ring when she and Violet were teenagers and snuck out at night seeking mischief. Lily’s heart pounded faster and her lips curved upward. She hadn’t tripped that alarm in what seemed like forever.
Because of what happened with Rachel.
Lily’s smile fell. She got in the car, and then slid over, making room for Judson.
“Buckle up, Mr. Superstar.” Grandma Dotty snapped her seat belt in place. “Ryan likes to speed late at night.”
Lily put on the center seat belt and then fussed with the hem of her black cocktail dress before risking a glance at the man who’d whisked her away from the party.
Judson Hambly was as handsome in person as on movie and TV screens, even doing something as basic as snapping his seat belt.
He probably doesn’t appreciate being stared at like eye candy.
Lily carefully modulated her expression and tried to look at him the way she would one of her political colleagues. “Where can we drop you?”
“I…” Judson suddenly seemed at a loss for words.
“Ms. Summer.” Ryan caught her eye in the rear-view mirror, interrupting Judson’s answer. “Nina wants you to check your email.” Nina was Lily’s assistant. “Something requires your urgent attention before midnight. She marked it time sensitive and provided me with the address if you’re interested.”
“That’s odd.” Lily took her cell phone out of her purse and scrolled through her messages. She opened a forwarded email from Nina with “time sensitive” in the subject line and scanned through the missive quickly. It was from Abe Cohen, Rachel’s father. When Lily got to the end, she gasped, “No.” It was a complete Godsend of an offer, but he mentioned needing a favor in return.
Quid pro quo.The downfall of many a politician.
“What’s the matter?” Dotty peered at Lily’s cell phone. “Is it another marriage proposal?”
“No.” It was an offer to fund Hot Meals and Shelter. “Ryan, we’re going to need that address. Let’s drop off the other passengers first.”
“It’s eleven-thirty, Ms. Summer.” Ryan pointed at the clock in the dashboard as he accelerated. “I won’t be able to drop off Mrs. Summer in that timeframe. And we have yet to discuss where to drop Mr. Hambly.”
Judson cleared his throat. “I – “
“What’s going on, Lily?” Grandma Dotty cut off Judson’s reply and grabbed Lily’s arm. “I’ve seenLaw & Order. No legitimate business transaction is made at this time of night.”
She was right, of course. And there was that incident with Rachel from fifteen years ago that made this feel even murkier.
But the clock was ticking on keeping the food bank open. Offers like this one didn’t come along every day. And it expired in twenty-eight minutes.
Why did it expire in twenty-eight minutes?
“I have to take this meeting.” Lily had to know what kind of strings were attached to the deal. She looked at Judson. “I hate to do this but… Can we drop you here?”
*
“No.” Jud hadn’t come this far to be tossed out at a corner. Lily Summer was exactly what he was looking for. All he had to do was find the right moment to ask her out.
Jud leaned forward until he caught Dotty’s eye. “Clearly, Lily needs backup at this meeting.”
