The end.
The elevator doors open, and I shake out my hands, straightening my posture as I exit, grateful his room is tucked away to the right and close to the elevator if I need to bail. With my hand poised to knock, I take a deep breath, reminding myself that this is just two friends having a drink together—nothingmore. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone from his security team answers. Part of me hopes Todd is here to ensure I don’t do something reckless after a couple of drinks.
At the rap of my knuckles, the door swings open, and I try not to laugh, knowing damn well he was watching through the peephole for my arrival. My pulse is ringing in my ears as I quickly step in without greeting. All of this is dangerous. I’ve always felt safe with Isaac, but this isn’t about safety; it’s about protecting myself from falling for him again. While we were at dinner, it was a struggle to not flirt or even hint at there being any sort of romantic connection between us. It’s always been there, always will be. One photo could ruin both of us. Here? There are no cameras. No one saw me.
And we’re alone.
“Hey,” I breathe, my back pressed against the wall beside the door. “Where’s Todd?”
“Next door. I told him you’d be coming.”
Isaac’s gaze falls to my lips, and part of me wants him to close the distance, to bring me in for a passionate kiss I’ve been craving for years. But it wouldn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what, deep down, I want him to do to me. The other part of me—she’s practical. Sure, Isaac and I have had our moments of sporadic, toe-the-line flirting over the past couple of months; we've always had a spark. It’s not in my head, especially with his vague declarations after the election. We’ve been careful, or at least I have, about anything in writing. The text messages tonight were risky, and Aubrey will likely give me shit about it in the morning.
My words tumble from me. “Maybe I shouldn’t be here.”
“Probably not.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he lowers his head, lightly chuckling to himself. As his eyes meet mine again, there’s a sadness in them that spears my heart. “But stay for one drink?”
I chew on my lip, accidentally drawing his attention to them again. “I’m sorry. This is…” He takes a step closer, then another, leaving mere inches between us. As he places his hand on the wall just above my head, he leans in, and there’s nowhere to run—he caught me, just like he used to. “You have to see what a bad idea this is.”
“The worst.”
Tucking a rogue lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers linger. For a moment, I nearly forget I’m in the suite of the Canadian Prime Minister, forget I’m a newly sworn-in Governor, or that we’re here to celebrate the reelection of a two-woman, two-party administration. Right now, it’s just two people who can never be together. It’s selfish to consider anything more than a drink, but I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want Isaac. What if, for one night, we can forget about titles—forget about fucking politics? What if I let myself give in? Let us have a moment where the world around us doesn’t exist? Westley and Todd can ensure no one sees who comes in or out of this room. It’s not impossible.
But would one night be enough?
Probably not.
“What are we doing?” My question comes out more breathless than I’d like. It doesn’t help that I know the answer or that I’ve never recovered from the last time we were alone like this.
“I’m not sure, Livy, but all I’ve ever wanted was you—any way I can have you.” His words heal and break me at the same time. “Stay with me?”
My reply slips from me without thought, “Okay.”
Framed by my favorite glasses, his eyes darken, making mine widen. He leans in closer, our lips a mere breath apart. No matter how much I want a taste of him, I press my palms to his shoulders, pushing him back an inch to check in. “If anyone found out about this, we’d both be?—”
“You’re right.” Isaac steps back, and I immediately miss him in my space. We haven’t even moved away from the door, and if he truly wants to keep this secret, we need to be more careful.
I quickly duck under his arm and make a beeline for the dining table. Turning to face him, I brace myself by gripping the edge of it. He approaches with caution, and when he’s only inches from me again, I carefully remove his glasses and set them on the table. “I thought I warned you about wearing these.”
Isaac lifts me onto the wood and, unfortunately, this probably won’t end like any fantasy I touched myself to where he’ll lay me down and feast on me. It’s probably for the best, or at least that’s what I tell myself.
Gliding his fingers into my hair, he rests his thumb on my cheek and sighs. “What do you really want, Olivia?”
“You,” I admit. “But this is a terrible idea, not only because of my political career. It would emotionally destroy me.” Covering his hand with mine, I can’t help leaning into his touch. “We aren’t the same people we were all those years ago. In a few days, when you’re back in Canada and I’m back in California, then what?”
“We both know that no matter how hard we pretend, we’re not friends and never will be. It doesn’t matter where I am. I’ve always been yours. Always will be. I won’t lie to you and tell you this wasn’t my plan since November.”
“Your plan?
“Yeah,” he chuckles, “my plan. I want you back, Livy. It may take time, but I’m a patient man.”
Tears threaten behind my eyes, but I keep them at bay. “You’re you and I’m me. How the hell would that work?”
“I don’t know yet, but I have faith that it will. If I have any say in it, you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives together. Tonight, I don’t care what we do. I just want you close, where I don’t have to mask how I feel about you.”
“So, you didn’t invite me here to…”
“To fuck you?”
