I cross my arms in front of my chest and stare down at him. “I’m the one who typed the message.”
His eyebrows draw together, and he still hasn’t figured it out. For a man who’s supposed to be a genius, he’s pretty dense. “What are you doing with her phone?”
I close the space between us to avoid someone hearing my next statement. “You need to leave Reagan alone. I’m coming to you man-to-man. I know about your past together, but that’s all it is…the past. It’s time for you to move on and leave her in peace. Reagan’s mine now, Tom. Mine. Understand that?” I unfold my arms and widen my stance. “I’ll do anything to protect her. I’m being a gentleman here, even though you don’t deserve it. If I hear you’ve even sent her an email, I’ll track you down and make you regret the day you were born.”
“She’s not your property, Titan.” His jaw ticks and his face flushes.
I raise an eyebrow and smirk. “She’s not your anything, Harbor. Don’t make me call your wife and share with her the proof of your affair so many years ago. Especially since Reagan was so young and impressionable. What do you think would happen if Stan found out about your fucking his little girl?”
The blood drains from his face. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.” I laugh loudly. “I’ll come out and tell a beautiful tale about an older married man taking advantage of a young girl and then breaking her heart.”
“Reagan knew what she was doing when she slept with me.”
My hands are clenching and relaxing, and I’m ready to use my fists if my words don’t make an impact. “Tom, I have no problem punching your lights out right here. I’m going to give you one pass, and that’s it. Pretend she doesn’t exist, or I’ll do everything in my power to ruin your life.”
“She’ll come back to me someday, Titan. Have fun with her now,” he says as he backs away. “But know she’ll always love me.”
His words are laughable. Reagan hasn’t said anything to make me think she still loves Tom Harbor. She’s embarrassed about her past when it comes to him. There’s no way she wants to be known as a homewrecker. She’s in love with me, and I have no doubt she’s mine.
Harbor moves into the crowd, glancing at me over his shoulder before disappearing. Before I start to walk away, my phone beeps.
Boo: Where did you disappear to? I need coffee.
Me: Coffee’s set. Start it and I’ll be right there.
I head back to my apartment and to Reagan. Carl’s gone, Tom’s been warned, and I feel like everything is falling into place. Not only will I be the next senator for the great state of Illinois, I’ve finally found someone worthy of my love who will be by my side.
Chapter 28
When dim sunlightstarts filtering into Jude’s bedroom the next morning, I kiss his cheek softly and begin to slide out of bed.
“Where’re you going?” he mumbles, reaching out to wrap an arm around my waist.
“I have to go,” I whisper. “Go back to sleep.”
“Stay here.” He pulls me back against his warm body, and I groan.
“We can’t risk it. I have to get out of here so no one sees me leaving your apartment. Carl might not have been bluffing about leaking the story.”
Jude wraps the covers back around me and kisses my forehead. “Don’t worry about that.”
“How can I not?” I brush my fingertips across his cheek.
His response is a grunt.
“I’m not doing any more damage to your campaign,” I say, trying to ease out of his grip.
His hold on me tightens. “Go back to sleep, babe.”
For a few minutes, I worry about being seen leaving his place later. Carl may have tipped off photographers who will be waiting at all the building’s entrances, ready to capture my walk of shame. But I’m still tired, and soon I drift back to sleep.
When we wake up a couple hours later, we have quick but absolutely incredible shower sex. I’m assuming Jude wants to order in and spend a lazy day at his place, and why not? He can slow down on campaigning now that he’s the front-runner.
But he surprises me when he tells me we’re going out for breakfast.
“Out?” I arch my brows in confusion. “Out in public?”
