Not merely stolen moments of time here and there in hotel rooms on a campaign trail, or in an office.
Maybe I should end things with Elliot for good, especially since I know he’d understand, but Ican’t.
Heneedsme.
And dammit, I love him.
I also can’t help but think about the bombshell secret I’m helping Chris, Shae, and Kev protect.
Why can’t someone else have that? Why is that kind of happiness limited to them?
It’s not just Shae, Chris, and Kev who are in a triad. The current Florida governor, Susa Evans, her husband Carter Wilson, and the previous Florida governor, Owen Taylor, are in a triad. Have been since college, when they were roommates together. In fact, Carter Wilson was Owen Taylor’s chief of staff, and Evans was Taylor’s lieutenant governor.
Yes, I have deep sources, but that triad is made up of three accomplished attorneys who are very, very careful. Not even a hint of their relationship has ever been spoken of publicly. Plus, like Elliot, Susa Evans has a little political cachet both from who her father is and the fact that she miraculously survived a plane crash and shipwrecking that wiped out a goodly chunk of the Southeast’s governors and lieutenant governors.
They’re far from the first or only political triad, either. Isn’t that more proof this is doable?
Elliot can’t begrudge what I might have with Jordan, right?
Fair’s fair. He said so himself.
Yet there’s still a bitter taste in my mouth, hovering right on the edges of my consciousness. Another reason why I want tonight to be only talking. Who knows? Jordan might learn enough about me it sends him running. Scares him.
Would serve me right.
The fact that part of me is hoping that’s exactly what will happen means my decision to keep sex off the table is the right one.
Even if my heart’s still stinging because Elliot’s willing to let me go through with this.
Chapter Thirty
I have enough time to grab a shower and change into jeans and a Washington Caps T-shirt. I also dig out an extra scarf, gloves, and warm knit hat, and set them on my counter so I don’t forget to give them to him. It’s a loan.
I’ll love getting them back and knowing he wore them.
The cutie is exactly on time, too. He’s wearing jeans and a maroon FSU hoodie under a denim jacket, and I can’t stop thinking about what he’d look like on his knees for me.
“That is a hike up your stairs,” he jokes as I let him in. It’s tempting to lean in and kiss him hello. I’m still debating whether or not to do that when he bounces up onto his toes and brushes a kiss against my lips. His gaze lingers on mine for a moment before he passes me and I can close the door behind him.
We’re doing this.
“I brought a Moscato.” He holds up a bottle wrapped in a paper bag. “I hope that’s okay. I don’t know much about wine. The guy at the liquor store said it’s a little sweet.”
“That’s fine.” I lock the door and lead the way to the kitchen.
“Smells delicious.”
“Thanks. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and salad. And, yes, I made the mashed potatoes myself from real potatoes.”
“I have Mimi’s cookbooks with me. I mean, in my room. Her notebooks and her recipe cards. I’ll have to return the favor while I’m here, if I can use your kitchen.”
“I’d love that.” Fuckyeah, I’d love that. I open a drawer to get a corkscrew, and when I turn back, Jordan’s standing rightthereand staring up into my face.
Half of me is already leaning in to kiss him while the other half is demanding I behave. That’s why I force my brain to engage. “Why’d you bring her cookbooks with you? Just out of curiosity.”
“I put everything else into storage. I mean, I don’t have a lot. I didn’t keep much when I sold the house. She would’ve agreed with me, too. There were a couple of pieces of furniture I kept, and my bed, electronics, and I have boxes of books and kitchen stuff. I didn’t need any of that in the dorm. It’s just a 5x15 unit. I pay it a year at a time and get a good discount. It’s close to campus so I can walk there if I need to find a book or something.”
He wistfully smiles. “Her recipes are the most precious things I own. I have some of them scanned. I keep meaning to sit down and scan everything so I can pack them away, too, but there’s a lot of memories in the physical notebooks and cards. We spent a lot of time cooking together, even before I was living with her full-time. Every visit, we cooked and baked.”
