Page 96 of Powerless

“It’s easy. I can make the call for you.”

My hands still as I slowly look over at Liam. “I can make my own arrangements. I don’t need you to do it.”

Liam wryly scoffs. Smart-ass. “It might be best if I call. That way there’s no direct line to you.”

What a ridiculous idea, hiring a damned escort. I’ve suddenly lost my appetite. “I’m not ready for this,” I say. “I feel like I’m betraying Kathryn.”

Liam slowly chews, causing a much-deserved long pause. “You know you’re not,” he finally replies. “But we both know you need this.” I look over at him and raise my brows. “You’ve been working yourself to the bone, snapping at people for the smallest reasons. Not to mention, you’re on your own all the time. I know how lonely this can be, which is why Julianne is a breath of fresh air for me. The best part is there are no complications. And when I see her, it’s enough to clear my head so I’m energized and ready for this job.” He takes a breath and eats more of his steak. “I’m trying to convince you because I believe in this narrative, Bennett.”

All I can think about is that it’s betraying Kathryn. “If I wasn’t the president, then maybe.”

“Bullshit.” I look toward Liam who’s shaking his head. “Regardless of the position you hold, you’d be the same.”

“There’s so much wrong with this entire idea.”

“No, there isn’t.”

“Being a prostitute is illegal in every state—”

“They’re escorts, not prostitutes,” Liam cuts me off.

“We’re splitting hairs here, Liam.”

“Wow, talk about being naïve. No, we’re not. There’s no guarantee of sex in exchange for money. It’s her time, not her body.”

“But if I’m wanting sex, then what?”

“Then you’ll need to have that conversation with her. Look, the only other alternative I see working is a blow-up doll.” My posture stiffens as the right side of my lip slightly rises. “Yeah, my sentiments exactly.”

I’m not the type of person who shares his feelings with anyone; it was bad enough I saw a psychologist when Kathryn died. But this is something else. I’m quite literally talking about my sex life with my best friend and chief of staff. “This really isn’t a conversation I thought I’d ever be having with you.”

Liam bursts into a full laugh. “Trust me, talking to you about my sex life is the last thing I ever thought I’d be doing. Hell, we’re not kids anymore.”

“I was quite literally thinking the same thing.” At least the air isn’t as tense or strained as it was a few moments ago. I cut another chunk of steak and hesitate to eat it. “Should we run a discreet poll?”

“God, no! That would be career suicide. Actually.” Liam’s brows draw in and he taps his fork on the side of the plate. “We can run a poll if you want. See what people would think if a senator was caught with their pants down.”

I shake my head at the ludicrous idea. “No, don’t do it. It was an insane idea. Look.” I wave my hand at him. “Let’s forget about this conversation.”

“Hell, no, I’m not forgetting about it. You’re my best friend, Bennett, and I can’t keep watching you withdraw the way you have been. This is the most difficult job in the world, and you need some kind of relief from it.” He takes the card out of his pocket and pushes it over toward me. “Call.”

I leave the card sitting on the dining table while I change the subject and continue eating. All the while, the card with the beautiful gold-embossed writing taunts me. Our conversations morph from one subject to another easily, but that damn card is provoking me. Every possible scenario plays through my head. What if I do this and the media catches on? Or, what if I do this, and there’s no chemistry at all? Or worse still, what if there’s too much chemistry and I like her more than I should? No, that can’t happen. It’s impossible because there’ll never be another Kathryn. No one could ever fill Kathryn’s shoes in any way, and there’d be no chance in hell I’d want them to either. Besides, I can’t see myself having any kind of relationship with an escort outside of the bedroom. But, in all honesty, to have that connection with someone would feel nice. I do miss that level of intimacy and a tender touch. “Fine,” I say while Liam is talking about one of the policies we’re trying to push through.

“Fine what?”

I push the card back toward him. “Make the call for me. I can’t do it, because if I do and it’s found out, this entire administration will be in a world of pain.”

Liam clears his throat and slides the card off the table. “Are you sure?”

“Don’t ask me that question, because no, I’m not.” I’m a nanosecond away from changing my mind.

He nods once and puffs his chest out. “I’ll take care of it.”

“She needs to be blonde.”

“Blonde?” Liam’s forehead crinkles.

“I want her as completely opposite to Kathryn as possible. I don’t want to look in her eyes and see my wife. I want no strings at all.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. “Blonde, and meek. I can’t have her like Kathryn, nothing at all.”

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