Page 93 of Seduce

“How have you protected them?”

She blew out a breath. “Ruthledge is my mother’s maiden name. She and Dad got married when they were both nineteen, so I doubt anyone remembers it.”

“Why use your mother’s maiden name?” He wanted to understand why she did that.

“Because my life was hell in DC, and I wanted to put it behind me.” She shifted. “I know we talked, but I never revealed the whole story.”

“Will you now?” Had she lied to him? No. She’d answered his questions, but had never elaborated, and he hadn’t asked her to.

“Yes, but it’s a long story.” She sat up. “I left my brother without a place to sleep tonight.”

Damon laughed. “I think that’s the least of his problems.”

“Maybe.” She picked up her phone. “Let me check something.” She fiddled around on her phone. “Let me send a quick text to my boss. I have enough vacation time; I’m taking tomorrow off.” She did what she needed to do then settled back down in his arms.

“Are you okay discussing this tonight?” Her brother’s actions had to still be fresh in her head.

“I’m fine. I’d rather get it out now.” She paused as if to gather her thoughts, then spoke. “From the time I was about fourteen, my dad wanted me in the spotlight with him, my brother, and mother. I think I told you my dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps.”

“You did.”

“I hated every second of being in front of the media. If I wore something they didn’t like, I got raked over the coals for it. Even in school I was a congressman’s daughter, never Tessa.”

“That must have been hard.” Teenagers were just finding their sense of identity, so to have that stripped from her must have been devastating.

“It was. My mother tried. It’s when I got into college and wanted to go my own way that things got really difficult. The lifestyle afforded me an escape.”

“I can see that.” From what she’d told him, her friends in the lifestyle had protected her and made sure she was safe.

“Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but for a little while each week, I could be Tessa, not Congressman Chesterton’s daughter.” She paused and stared at her hands. “When I rebelled against studying political science and wanted to study library science, my father was not happy, but I told you that.”

“Yes.” His lips brushed her temple. “I’m glad your mother fought for you.”

“Me too. Anyway, I was doing my master’s degree, and I met this guy. Jack.” She cleared her throat. “We met at a local coffee shop. I thought he was another student.”

“Go on.”

“We started talking. He was so nice and friendly. After several meetings at the coffee shop, we went out to dinner. Nothing big, nothing fancy. I was in heaven.”

Damon had a feeling this story didn’t end happily, but he’d let her get it out.

“Jack met the family, and things went well. I thought, maybe I’d finally found someone who wanted me for me.”

“He betrayed you.”

“Yes. I found out—mind you, after I was engaged to him—that he was using me to get closer to my father.”

“Bastard.”

“He was that all right. When I confronted him about it, he didn’t deny it. Told me, why not? I wouldn’t be able to do anything in DC, not with a congressman for a father and only a lowly Master of Library Science. And I was a freak because I liked my sex a little kinky. He’d have none of that once we were married.”

“I hope you told the little bastard where to go.”

Tessa laughed. “Oh, I certainly did. I’d had enough. I graduated the next week, packed up my bags, and left for Seattle.”

“Why so far away?”

“It’s too easy to be recognized in DC and the surrounding areas. My dad was always in the news, and when he started grooming my brother, so was he. I couldn’t do anything once people knew my last name.”

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