“Yes.”
A suspicion occurred. “Were you awake this morning?”
“Sweetheart. I’m ex-NZSAS. We’re trained to sleep light.”
Ashley relaxed more than she had in weeks. Josh’s teasing charmed her and eased her fear. Against her better judgment, she agreed to let him do her lingerie shopping.
“What will happen at your meeting tomorrow?” Josh asked.
“Hopefully, Geoffrey will review the party stance on capital gains tax. That’s one thing killing us in the polls. Other than that, I’m sure we’ll continue in the same vein.”
Josh walked with her to the hotel and insisted on escorting her to the meeting room. She introduced him to several of the other Labor party members, and on hearing their explanations, they didn’t ask awkward questions. They merely nodded and extended congratulations.
“How long will the meeting take?” Josh asked.
“They run around two hours.”
He led her off to the side, out of visibility from most of her coworkers, leaned closer to her and whispered. “I added my contact details to your address book. Text me when you’re almost done. I think you’re safe here, but I won’t take chances. If I get back earlier, I’ll grab a coffee and wait for your text.”
“Thanks.”
Josh’s grin was all the warning she received. She blinked, heat roared through her and the next second, he was kissing her. It wasn’t one of those quick brushes of his mouth against hers or a peck on the cheek. This was an open-mouthed, tongue-tangling kiss of seduction. Ashley tightened her hands on his shoulders and held on because she feared her knees might buckle. This kiss, his touch, his scent… Everything knotted together to befuddle her senses. When he parted their mouths, she was breathing hard and craved a repeat.
Josh Williams knew a thing or two about kissing.
He leaned closer again, his eyes a darker blue than usual, and stole another slow, decadent kiss. “See you later, sweetheart. Don’t forget. Text me.”
With her power of speech AWOL, she nodded instead. He winked and left, his long strides carrying him to the lift. When it arrived, he held the door for an elderly secretary to exit, then the doors closed behind him, and he was lost from sight.
Ashley sighed and reclaimed her political persona.
The first person she saw was Charles, and the man sure held resentment close and wielded it like a club—usually on her head.Suck it up, princess.She brought out her secret weapon and beamed at him.
“Hi, Charles. I hear your campaign for the inner-city seat is going well. Congratulations.”
“I work hard,” Charles snapped.
“Of course you do. I don’t doubt that for a moment. You’re an excellent politician.”
He blinked at the praise, but Ashley had had enough of the prima donna. “Oh, there’s Christine. I need a word with her. Please excuse me.”
Ashley walked away before Charles could reply. The man was an idiot. “Hey, Christine. How are things with you?”
Christine was standing for a seat in Christchurch, but they had met as students at Auckland University.
“Someone has been keeping secrets.” Christine, a petite blonde who preferred bright and bold colors, waggled a finger at Ashley.
Ashley stilled. “What secrets?”
“That hunk of a man who kissed you a few minutes ago. Heck, my toes curled from the heat. Ah! That’s why your brain is sluggish. His kiss muddied your mind.”
Ashley giggled. “Josh is a great kisser.”
“How did you meet him? Wait? Are the weird rumors true? I heard on the news this morning you were engaged. I thought it was the press inventing stuff again.” Her gaze darted to Ashley’s finger and widened on spotting the ring. “It’s true?”
“I met Josh through my brother.”
“Ah! That explains the sexy physique. Josh is a soldier.”
