“He did?”
“Yes. ShaeLynn Samuels has even indicated she’d be willing to endorse you.”
“The senator from Florida?” She’s already made a vicious rep for herself. It’s widely anticipated she’ll make a bid for the Oval Office in a few years.
“The very same. And she’ll bring some other valuable endorsements with her. Getting you elected the first time won’t be a problem. Probably the easiest win you’ll ever have. It’ll be up to you to keep the seat.”
“But whyme? Why not someone with more of a reputation?”
He shrugs. “David Bruheimer is seriously considering running. If he does, he’d likely win the primary but lose in the general. He’s a walking bag of dicks, with half of them stuck in a bunch of mistresses. The powers that be want a candidate who can take the seat and keep it without any messy side scandals blowing around as a distraction or free cannon fodder for GOP PAC ads. No one who matters will care that you’re gay, as long as you date single men who are at least of legal age, and don’t get photographed having sex.”
It’s…tempting.
It’d definitely be one way to keep my mind out of dark and dangerous places, which is one of the reasons why I’ve thrown myself into my career the way I have. I work late nights. I rarely take days off. I’m nearly always in the office on Saturdays and on Sunday afternoons after church.
Keeping myself busy and focused keeps my head and heart distracted from the past.
“How much support can I expect if I say yes?”
“If you commit to run in seven years?” I nod, and he smiles. “You can expect the state party and the DSCC to be tripping all over themselves to help you, and every PAC supporting Alex right now will start running ads touting your strengths from the second you announce and file. All you have to do is say yes, and not do anything stupid between now and then. You’ll appear at private campaign functions with him, and he’ll basically have his hand on your shoulder and tell all his donors to support you when your time comes.”
Wow.
You know, a wise man would ask for some time to think it through and talk to others, but I don’t trust easily and have no one other than my immediate family to freely confide in. I already know what they’ll tell me to do: follow my instincts.
My instincts tell me Marlowe’s correct about it being the easiest race I’ll ever win, if I accept his offer.
It’s not often a first-time candidate can win a national election like this. I was thinking about first running for local selectman, or maybe as a rep in the state house. I never would have dreamed about diving out of the starting gate head-first into a US Senate race.
This, however, is totally doable.
Downing the last of my gin, I switch the glass to my left hand and hold out my right. “I’m in.”
Marlowe smiles and shakes with me. “You won’t regret this, Liam.”
I set my glass on a sandstone coaster on the small table next to my chair. “Let’s hope you’re right about that.”
* * * *
“Mr. Davis? The congressman will see you now.”
At the sound of the man’s voice I turn from the window, where I’m staring out at a very wet and gloomy Saturday afternoon that totally matches my foul mood, just to find myself looking into a gorgeous pair of light blue eyes that nearly take my breath away.
For a moment, the world seems to stop and the ghost that tormented my dreams last night and caused said foul mood goes blissfully silent. “Hi.”
The guy is definitely younger than me. At thirty-two I feel old, but this guy looks like he’s barely out of high school.
And he’s freakinggorgeous.
His lips quirk in an amused smile. “Are you all right, Mr. Davis?”
I’m better now, in this moment, even though I’m certain my good mood is about to immediately tank again. “I’m fine…”
He understands my pause, thankfully, and throws me a bone. “Daniel Walker. I’m a campaign volunteer.”
We shake, and despite it being damned unprofessional, I linger and leave my hand grasping his. “I haven’t seen you around before.” In the past two years since agreeing to Marlowe’s proposition, I’ve been meeting with him several times a month, so I’m pretty familiar with most of his office and campaign staff.
“I’ve been working mostly evenings because of my day job.”
