He reaches for my waist, and I step back, sighing softly. “Fine. I’ll go.”
Jude leads the way out of the room, his head down. He takes me through the kitchen, where he slips a bill into the hand of a guy in a cook’s uniform, and we’re led to a tiny elevator off the main cooking area.
Once the doors close us in the elevator, Jude wraps my hand into his. I should pull away, but I can’t. When he draws my fingers up to his lips and kisses them, I feel the warm swirling in my belly he always creates when we touch. My fingertips graze over his dark stubble.
“Did you tell Carl to release the photos?” I ask in a whisper.
“Look at me.”
I look up, and our eyes meet.
“You know I didn’t, Reagan. Just like I know you didn’t authorize that shit with Salizar.”
I nod. “Carl.”
“Carl,” Jude confirms. “And the fucker’s fired, though he’s still in denial about it.”
“I wondered. I mean, I hoped…crazy as that sounds.”
The elevator doors open. Jude pulls his cap down lower and leads me by the hand to a room, which he scans a keycard for.
My heart is hammering as we step inside, and Jude pulls me into his arms.
“Don’t doubt me,” he says in my ear. “I’m not your father.”
I sigh deeply, soaking in the smell and feel of him. “I’m sorry. I knew we needed to talk about it, I just…I’ve been with my mom, and…I was assuming the worst to protect myself, I guess.”
He pulls away and meets my eyes. “You don’t need to protect yourself from me, Reagan. Iamyour protection.”
His tone is so earnest, his expression so sincere, that tears fill my eyes. I nod and press myself against him, letting his arms bring the comfort I need.
“I think there’s a pretty good chance you’re gonna win,” I say, laughing softly.
“I don’t care about that right now.” He pulls back and cups my cheeks in his big hands. “Why’d you drop out? I wish you would’ve talked to me about it first.”
“I had to. I wanted to. I was running for all the wrong reasons, and my dad wanted me to stay in so he could still deliver votes… And…that’s not me.”
“He’s an asshole.” Jude’s muscles are hard with tension. “I hate that he ruined this for you.”
“This decision was forme. Staying in would have been for him.”
“Promise me you mean that.”
“I promise.”
His body relaxes slightly. “This means we can be together. No more sneaking around.”
“I don’t know, Jude. I think we should keep it on the down low at least until the election is over. Your party will distance themselves from you. This is unheard of.”
He shrugs. “So let’s change that. I’m crossing the aisle in a big way here, right?”
The gleam in his eyes makes me laugh. “You can cross my aisle anytime you want.”
“Believe me, I plan to.” He leans down and kisses me. “I want you on my bus. In my hotel rooms. Beside me at speeches.”
My lips part with shock. “Are you serious?”
He squeezes my ass, molding our bodies together until I feel his erection against my lower belly.
