Page 3 of An Impossible Love
As Moxie and Kevin went through the rest of the week’s schedule, Orin flicked his eyes over to the small dark-haired woman standing silently in the corner of the room.
Agent Emerson Sati. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen. When her boss had come to talk with him about his protection, Lucas Harper had pushed for Emerson to be included on Bennett’s detail, regaling Orin with a glowing appraisal of her career and work ethic.
Orin had simply no reason to turn her down; he wanted an inclusive, open team of both men and women, after all. He’d agreed and then a couple of days later, Lucas brought Emerson to meet the president-elect. As soon as she’d stepped into the room, Orin knew he had made a mistake.
There was no way he’d let this woman take a bullet for him. Her caramel skin was set off by the darkest brown hair tucked up into an efficient bun at the back of her head and the deepest brown eyes he’d ever seem. Add in a rosebud mouth and a body that still retained its curves even as it was athletic, and Orin was lost. He knew nothing could ever happen between them, especially now that he was president, but, God, if he’d met her before…
What are you thinking, idiot? You’re the President of the United States, not some schoolboy with a crush… but spending time with Emmy, especially on their early morning runs, wasn’t helping.
He dragged his attention back to the room. Moxie was talking about the opening salvos of their administration.
“Of course, what everyone wants to know is… will you pardon former President Ellis?”
Orin sighed. “I haven’t made my decision on that yet. I don’t feel as if I have enough information about what he knew or didn’t know.”
Kevin McKee, a blue-eyed dark-haired Princeton graduate, snorted. “He knew everything, Orin… sorry, Mr. President. Brookes Ellis was corrupt even way before he was elected.”
“Well,weknow that, but the American public will want proof. They’re shell-shocked—reeling.” Orin leaned forward. “Who’s that guy, the pit bull, the one who always shut down any threat—Ellis’s damage control?”
“Martin Karlsson?” Charlie Hope looked doubtful. “Weasel.”
“Agreed but useful. We need to get him in here and let him think we’re considering a pardon. Maybe he’ll talk.”
“He might refuse to come. He’s made some pretty inflammatory remarks about you to the press.”
Orin shrugged. “I want us to make it a policy to not respond to petty bitching. He, or anyone else, says anything defamatory, that’s a different matter. The country comes first here; that’s what we have to always keep at the top of our agenda. Too many people are on the bread line, or in need of medical help for us to waste time on petty minutiae, agreed?”
The others murmured their assent. “Talking of minutiae,” Issa Graham, the press secretary spoke up with a grin, “InStyle magazine wants to know what you’re wearing for the balls this evening.”
Orin rolled his eyes. “Heels and a mini-skirt,” he grinned. “Tube top.” He sneaked a look at Emerson Sati as the others laughed and was gratified to see her lips twitch.
“Can you imagine the reaction?”
Orin snorted. “After the last President, anything goes, Issa. Now, what’s next?”
