He smirks. “That, too. But I’m dead serious, Reagan. We can accomplish things together. Bring together both your supporters and mine. We can show everyone that compromise is the way to move forward.”
“I like this idea,” I admit.
“Good.” He draws my hand to his lips and kisses it again. “And don’t look, but there’s a guy shooting photos of us through the window with a telephoto lens.”
“How did you see him through all the people out there?”
He shrugs. “I was trained to spot people pointing something at me.”
“So, what now? Stay and let him get more photos?”
“Nah. He’s gotten plenty. I say we walk out there and wait for a reporter to confront us.”
It doesn’t take long. Jude leaves some cash on the table for the bill, and as soon as we step outside, there’s a video camera on us and a TV reporter sticking a microphone in Jude’s face.
“Mr. Titan, how long have you been dating Reagan Preston?” a woman asks.
He looks at me and grins. “Not long enough.”
“How long did you think you could keep this relationship a secret?”
“We wouldn’t be here if we wanted it to be a secret.”
“Is she pregnant?”
He lowers his brows in a look that tells her she’s crazy. “No.”
“Don’t you think voters will question your credibility, now that they’ll know you’ve been sleeping with the enemy?”
Jude’s expression turns serious. “That’s the problem right there—the mind-set that any of us are enemies. Reagan is intelligent and passionate about making people’s lives better. I’m honored to call her mine. As for my credibility, I’ll leave that up to the voters.”
The mic is thrust into my face. “Representative Preston, is this why you dropped out of the race?”
“No.” I don’t elaborate, which draws a frustrated sigh from the reporter.
“But he’s against everything you believe in. How do you feel about that?”
“He’s not, though. Jude is the most honorable man I’ve ever known.”
Jude tugs on my hand and leads me past the reporter and her cameraman.
“That’s all for now,” he says, hailing a cab.
“Why don’t you kiss her?” the reporter blurts out.
Oh, Lord. She’s milking this for everything she can get out of it. But as a cab cruises to a stop at the curb, Jude leans down and kisses me. “That’s an offer I can’t refuse,” he says against my lips.
We slide into the cab, and I look at him expectantly. “Where to?”
“My campaign bus,” he says, giving the driver an address. “You can stay with me now.”
“Actually…I need to go home and be with my mom. She’s dealing with a lot, and I want to be there to help. My sister Abby’s there now, but I need to get back so she can go back to work.”
He nods. “I’ll drive you home.”
I should probably take some time to settle into my new reality. It’s been a whirlwind, to say the least. But I already know that when I leave my parents’ house, I’ll want to come back to Jude. Our relationship is a big part of my new reality. Possibly the biggest. Definitely the best.
“I want you with me on Election Day,” he says. “And that night. Can you be there?”
