“How do you know?”
“Because you’re pretty damn hard to say no to. Whatever you want, you’ll just need to ask for, and it’ll be yours.”
I don’t know if it’s his sweet words or his warm, baritone voice, but I’m so under Jude’s spell right now. My heart is pounding, and I’m warm all over.
“Just ask?” I say softly.
“That’s right.”
The warm breeze picks up a few strands of my hair. I can smell Jude’s masculine scent as he leans closer. I’ve never had a moment like this, when nothing logical mattered. As he leans in and I feel his lips close to mine, I lean, too.
Our lips meet, and my heart flies into overdrive as I feel the slight scrape of his stubble on the corner of my mouth. His mouth is so warm, and he tastes faintly of beer. I immediately want more of him, and he seems to know. His tongue meets mine, and he wraps a hand into my hair as he cups the back of my head.
There’s no pressure, no worry, and no election as our mouths explore for those few seconds. I’ve never felt such magic.
When Jude pulls away, I take in a deep breath, the realization of what just happened hitting me. I look around frantically to see if anyone saw us.
“Hey,” Jude says softly, “we’re good.”
“Shit. Is your campaign manager hiding nearby with a camera?”
Jude draws his brows together, looking a little offended. “Are you kidding?”
“How did you know I was out here?”
“I was drinking a beer on my bus, and I saw you walk by.”
I sigh deeply. How could I be so stupid? Kissing Jude Titan in a public place like this was an epically dumbass idea.
“I have to go,” I say, getting up.
“Reagan.”
Jude’s serious tone makes me turn to look at him.
“I’m not the kind of guy who would fuck you over like that. You can trust me.”
“Trust you?” I scoff. “What, because ‘hashtagTrust Titan’?”
“Because I’m trustworthy. You’ll find that out.”
“I have to go,” I say again.
I turn and practically run to the hotel’s front door, frantically running my keycard through the machine three times until the light finally turns green.
All I can think about is getting away from him. I’ve never in my life let my guard down like that. And of all people to let it down with, he was the worst possible choice.
Mistakes like this don’t just lose elections, they ruin political careers. If I’m lucky enough that Jude keeps this between us, I can’t ever let anything like it happen again.
Chapter 7
Gettingto sleep last night was damn near impossible. I’m grumpy, and my face shows every bit of my attitude as I enter the tiny dining room of the inn in search of a fresh cup of coffee.
“You look like shit,” Lexi, Reagan’s campaign manager, says when she catches sight of me.
I grunt and head for the counter that’s lined with off-white coffee mugs. I don’t have energy for anything more or remotely coherent. When I place the cup underneath the coffee pot and pull the lever, only a few drops plop out.
“Sucks.” Lexi laughs, and I glare at her. “I took the last cup.” She raises it to her lips, and I can see her smile behind the rim.
