“Did she say what she wants?”
“To speak with you, sir.”
This means the senator is probably standing right there, looming over Julia. Owen’s AA does pretty good pushing back against state-level lawmakers and garden-variety assholes.
United States Senator ShaeLynn Samuels, however, is intimidating even to someone like me who’s survived active combat and lived with Senator Benchley Evans as his father-in-law for over two decades.
Owen lifts an eyebrow, waiting on me.
I love this.Allof this.
Our silent communication, the rapport.
The fact that he’s governor of one of the most highly prized swing states, and yet he still looks to me for permission.
It still hardens my cock.
Which I have to adjust in my slacks as I nod and round his desk to take my seat in one of the chairs there. She’s going to have to physically throw me out if she wants to talk to him alone.
“Go ahead and send her in,” he says.
“Yes, sir.”
He stands and doesn’t even bother rolling down his sleeves. The office door opens, and Julia ushers the senator in before leaving and closing the door behind her.
I remember my manners and stand, giving the senator back every ounce of intimidation and then some that she tries to shove down my throat.
I consider it personal growth that there isn’t even a hint of wanting to drop to my knees in front of her rippling through my soul the way it used to in front of Susa in the early days.
“Senator Samuels,” Owen says as they shake hands. “This is an unexpected—”
Interruption, distraction, imposition—
“—pleasure.”
That’s my boy, always tactful.
I shake with her and then retake my seat, silently letting her know that I’m not going anywhere.
She glances in my direction before apparently deciding it’s not worth trying to get me to leave. She takes the other seat while Owen returns to his.
“I apologize for dropping in like this, Governor Taylor, but I’m leaving for DC this evening and wanted to do this in person.”
I’m immediately wary and on-guard.Do this in personis political-speak forI don’t want any kind of paper or video trail that can come back later to haunt me or bite me in the ass.
Owen leans back in his chair and laces his fingers behind his head, looking deceptively casual. He doesn’t always do well with women like the senator. Too close of a reminder of his mom.
Too close of a reminder to Susa. He sometimes struggles not to drop into his default mode.
Another reason I wanted to stay here with him. Both his witness and his strength.
“Do what, Senator?” he asks.
Another glance my way. “What I’m about to tell you is confidential. I would appreciate discretion.”
“Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Carter,” he tells her.
“I’m forming an exploratory committee,” she says. “Well, let me correct myself. That’s not exactly fully accurate. Iamrunning for POTUS. Just haven’t officially declared yet.”
