Page 6 of The Devil Goes to Washington

“That was a mistake. As long as I keep my distance and my hands to myself, I can resist her.”

“Ha! What are you going to do when you have to go to functions and act like a couple? You’ll have to sit next to each other, have meals together, even put an arm around her.”

“Don’t they say people can withstand anything for a year?”

“I don’t think Nietzsche can help you out of this one. Depending on the translation you trust, the quote is ‘He who knows the why for his existence will be able to bear almost any how’.”

“Exactly! This is a means to an end. In a year the election will be over, and the two of us can go our separate ways again. This time, both of us will be the better for it.”

“Alright. You tell yourself whatever will help you sleep. Hey, heads up, the press release about the wedding is coming out in the morning.”

“Like anyone’s going to pay attention to it? I gotta go. I have another meeting.” He glanced up at Banner, who was standing solemnly in the doorway.

“Got it. All kinds of denial tonight. You have a good one.” He hit the end call button and slumped in his chair.

“Sir?” The butler waited for permission to enter.

“Come in, Banner.”

“You wanted an update on Mrs. Harding and young master Micah.”

“Maybe you could skip the formalities and just call them the woman and child?”

Banner ignored the request and proceeded with his report. “They settled into their rooms and had a lovely dinner before heading to bed.”

“Did they eat in her room?”

“They waited in the dining room for you until I informed them you would be otherwise detained. Mrs. Harding offered to bring your meal to you.”

“Why?”

“I suppose she thought it would be a nice thing to do,” Banner stated, picking up the cold plate of food from the desk that he had delivered earlier.

“Or she had an ulterior motive. You’ve obviously forgotten what she’s like, Banner.” Michael stood, emphasizing his point.

“Perhaps it is not me with the lapse of memory,” Banner murmured.

“When will the rest of their things arrive?”

“It appears that they have no other things.” Banner aligned the already straight guest chairs.

“How did they manage to bring it all over already?”

“Upon review of their rooms while they were dining, they have a few articles of clothing each, with little else.” Banner had a devious side, which made him a good ally.

“That is ingenious! She will not get another penny from me, apart from what I have agreed to.” Michael crossed the room to the door.

“I don’t understand the connection, sir.”

“I knew she was concocting a plan. I just couldn’t figure it out. Now I see it.”

“Ah. Is there anything else I can do for you this evening?”

“No. Just keep me updated. Goodnight, Banner.” Michael stated, walking down the hall.

Slamming the heavy, carved wooden door of his room, he tore at his clothes, trying to remove Evelyn’s scent. It had been strangling him all day. He assumed it was from when they were entwined earlier. He’d been hard since she walked into the room, but after that damn kiss, he was like titanium. Stuck in meetings all day, there had been nothing he could do to alleviate it.

Steam billowed through the large, black-and-white bathroom. He stepped under the hot stream of the shower, hoping for relief. Images of Evelyn soaping his body invaded his mind, his hand trailed down his abs to his cock. He tried to shift the fantasy to other women, but each one morphed back to Evelyn’s curvaceous body. His hands caressing her full breasts and his erection sliding into the crack of her firm ass. Turning on the cold water did nothing to cool his boiling blood.