“That’s fine. Do you have any other female relatives you want to try to shove into my lap, or can wepleaseget back to work?”
A measure of satisfaction fills me as his face reddens. “Of course, sir.”
I’m sure Jordan and Casey-Marie will want to beat me when I admit what I said, because it’ll probably end up on all the cable news networks tonight.
Then again, maybe it won’t. Since we’re the only ones here—not counting Secret Service—John knows damned well I’ll blame him for it leaking. He wants to keep me happy and on his side since he needs my support and political leverage for some extreme progressive banking and tax policy reforms he wants to shove down the GOP’s throat, and which I’ve already told him I’m not completely on board with yet.
I mean, we’re in the same party, so you’d think that would buy me a little loyalty. Doesn’t mean he won’t fuck me over if it will help him politically.
I decide to throw him a bone. “My brother-in-law and I aren’t nearly as close as he tells people we are.” I arch an eyebrow at him. “Meaning I wouldn’t give him or anything he says more importance than you would any other member’s opinion on that side of the aisle.”
His eyes widen. “Ah. Message received, sir.”
“Good.” I motion at him with my fork. “That’s not for public consumption, either. Just tactical intel for you.”
He smiles. “Understood, and greatly appreciated.”
Our working lunch can’t end soon enough. In fact, when Jordan appears twenty minutes early I leap for the easy out.
“You need me, Jordan?” From the way I tip my head, one of our silent cues, Jordan understands what I’m really saying.
As always, my Sir pays attention. “Yes, Mister President. Sorry to interrupt but you’re needed.”
“No problem. We were finished.” Not really but the Speaker won’t argue with me.
No one argues when POTUS is needed for something.
I stand, forcing a smile so I don’t let out a grunt of pain. The Speaker stands with me as a matter of protocol. “John, it was a pleasure, as always. Very productive.” I stick out my hand and shake with him. “Sorry to cut things short.”
“Not a problem, sir. I understand.” I let Secret Service escort the Speaker out while Jordan pauses, waiting for the hallway to clear.
Then Jordan turns to me and speaks so softly I struggle to hear him. “Study.Now.”
Despite whispering his demeanor brooks no resistance. I lead the way and once the door is closed and locked behind us, Jordan sits on the sofa. I wearily plop down on it and flop over, my head in his lap.
Jordan’s hand sinks into my hair starts massaging my scalp. “There’s my good boy. How’d it go?”
Like ripping off a bandage I tell him what I said about my relationship status.
He sighs and ruffles my hair. “Sometimes boy, I think you’re deliberately trying to get outed. At least we know there’s no love lost between him and Ellis so the Speaker probably won’t risk pissing you off and spilling your tea. Good call on tossing Ellis under the bus. The Speaker will love having that info.”
“I ‘m sick of dodging people.”
I glance up and he’s giving me “the look.” “Well, you know the easiest solution to that, right?” His right eyebrow arches oh, so perfectly.
That’s a rhetorical question, of course.
Yeah, I do know the easiest solution but I’m still a chickenshit. “If I can make it two more years then it won’t matter when I come out.”
“And if you don’t have your father’s explicitattaboyby then? Or if you start using getting Ciro elected as an excuse to not come out?”
A chill washes through me because I know he’s right. “Then I’ll need to figure it out, I guess,” I mutter.
He gently tugs on my hair so I tip my head back again, meeting his gaze.
“We’re not going anywhere. But if you don’t come out by the time you leave office Iamgoing to force the issue andmakeyou marry Leo, no matter what orders he’s given me. You understand that, correct? I won’t let you keep doing this to yourself after you’re out of office.”
A pleasant shiver trills through me, a frisson of need and desire and fear all jumbled together in a jaggedly comfortable mix.
