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“So how do you know Marlie?” Darci asked as they swayed to the music.

He grinned down at her. “I think the safest thing to say is the same way you probably do.”

Darci nodded her understanding. You didn’t out other members of the lifestyle in public.

“It’s hard to say with Marlie. She has her fingers in so many things in this town. I was just curious.”

“Do you ever think we can be friends?”

She blinked at his question, caught by surprise. “I don’t know, Bradley. I feel strongly about the issues between us. It’s clear that you’re not a bad person. But I don’t understand your sense of loyalty to someone who wouldn’t offer you the same loyalty if you were gay or a woman seeking reproductive care.”

It was a source of consternation for Bradley, balancing his loyalty and his sense of right and wrong. He cupped her face and gave her a half smile. “Perhaps I’m just naïve enough to think I can sway his opinions on those things while also supporting the things I agree with him on. I really want to kiss you right now.”

He stared down at her, watching the pulse in her throat as he waited to see how she would react.

“And I want more than a kiss. I just don’t see how we make it work.” It was an honest answer. Bold and honest. He admired her even more for it.

He dipped his head, his lips hovering a mere centimeter from hers. When she didn’t protest, he let a hand slide into her curls and pressed his mouth all the way to hers.

They stopped dancing, and for several long seconds he was lost in her taste, in her little whimpers, in the way she gripped the material on his sleeves.

It wasn’t until someone cleared their throat that he broke away and moved them off the dance floor.

“I’m sorry. I got carried away.”

Darci touched her lips and shook her head. “It’s fine. I didn’t stop you. But I don’t think we should do that again. It’s late and I should really say goodnight to Marlie. It was good to see you again, Mr. Givens.”

He didn’t stop her as she bolted and headed for Marlie’s table.

Were they destined to be rivals forever? He hoped not, but she was passionate and stubborn and wouldn’t bend easily even if she did enjoy his kisses as much as he enjoyed kissing her.

He leaned against a high top table and watched as Darci talked with Marlie. Everything in him told him he should walk away and not pursue her. They were rivals—although they likely had more in common than she thought. She hated his boss. He couldn’t leave his job. That sort of strife would ruin a relationship in D.C. And yet, he found himself walking towards Marlie Dixon’s table where he leaned in and kissed the woman’s cheek.

“Good to see you again, Marlie. You’ve done good work here tonight.”

Darci stood frozen in her place, and he turned and winked at her. “Darci, I need another minute of your time.”

Marlie looked between them and chuckled. “I see someone important I need to speak to. Darci, darling. If I don’t see you again tonight, I hope to catch up over the weekend.” With that, she stood and headed for an older couple standing near the edge of the room.

“What do you want?” Darci snapped.

“You. Give me one night. Let me take you home. Take you to bed. You know you want this. I felt it in your kiss.”

She turned her head, so she didn’t meet his gaze, but he wasn’t having that. “No. Look at me. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want to take me home.”

Her eyes met his, but she didn’t speak.

“I hate how much I want this.”

“But you do want it. So why not give in? You know I’m not an asshole. You know I’ll treat you right. I can’t get you out of my head.”

“Even though you didn’t call for four fucking months?” He hated the hurt he heard in her voice.

“That was a mistake. I’ll call you every god damn day for the rest of my life, if that’s what it takes.”

She blew out a long breath. “One night. At my apartment. And only because you got me so fucking revved up on the dance floor and taking you home sounds way better than going home to my vibrator.”

7

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