Page 66 of Presidential Bargain
“Georgie,” he replied, a half-smile ghosting acrosshislips.
“You love me?” My voice was nothing more than a croakingwhisper.
“Yes, Georgie. Iloveyou.”
“I feel like I’ve waited a thousand years tohearthat.”
“And I feel like I waited a thousand years to finallysayit.”
We were interrupted by a flurry of nurses and a doctor who came in to examine me, now that I was conscious. I had a concussion in addition to the gunshot wound to myshoulder.
“It went clean through and didn’t nick or damage anything. You’re extremely lucky,” the doctorexplained.
I looked over at Jameson, who stood back in the corner, watching like a hawk. Ifeltlucky.
The doctors and nurses left and Jameson returned to his bedsideperch.
“You have a concussion, which means you have to stayawakenow.”
“Why do I have to stay awake? My head is pounding and I just want to closemyeyes.”
“You could fall into a coma. It’s a precaution. And it gives me the perfect opportunity to tell youeverything.”
Jameson pulled up a chair and sat down. He grabbed my hand and held it between his, turning it over, studying it. He bent over and kissed the tip of each finger before turning his heated, intense gazeonme.
“I’m finally ready to tell you all the things I couldn’t tell you before. I was actually planning on telling you when we were in New Hampshire, but then everything gotfuckedup.”
A tear escaped and trickled down my cheek. Jameson was quick to wipe it away and replace it with a soft kiss. My lip trembled with the enormity of what he was about toshare.
“I’ve never felt this way before, Georgie. No woman has ever made me feel what you do. No one has ever held my hand the way you do. There hasn’t been anyone who understands me or who hears me the way you do. I feel like I’ve been waiting years for you, and I know I’d wait for you until kingdom come, until the day I take my very last breath. I don’t know which way I’m going, whether it’s up or down, left or right. I only know I love you,Georgie.”
“Oh, Jameson,” I whispered, reaching up to touch his cheek with my hand. I ran my thumb across his bottom lip and he turned his face to kiss my palmreverently.
“My heart stilled the moment you walked into that hotel room. I didn’t realize it until recently but, in that moment, I unlocked it and let you inside. You belong to me, Georgie, and I certainly belong to you. There’s no one else but you. I love you…I love you…Iloveyou.”
Jameson leaned over me and our lips met in the sweetest of kisses. Tears streamed endlessly down my cheeks and Jameson wiped themallaway.
“You are everything to me, Georgie.Everything.”
They were the sweetest words I heard for the rest of the night, until Jameson asked, “Do you want me to go down to the hospital cafeteria and see if they have anychocolatecake?”
Unfortunately, we were interrupted by a rather tall, slim man, who identified himself as Special Agent Heath Abernathy. Jameson growled when he introduced himself and stood protectively nexttome.
“Can’t this wait until tomorrow, Agent Abernathy?” Jameson asked, not-so-politely.
“I apologize, Senator, but it can’t. I have some questions for Ms.Washington.”
“She has aconcussion.”
“I’m aware. But it’s best to get this done sooner rather thanlater.”
I tugged Jameson’s hand and he looked down at me. “It’s okay. Jameson can stay,right?”
“Of course.” Agent Abernathy nodded at Jameson and then pulled out a notebook from his pocket. “Ms. Washington, do you know anyone namedRussellHunt?”
Jameson’s jaw tightened and his brow scrunched up with agitation. I continued to look at him, but he refused to make eye contact. I turned my attention back to the agent. “No, I’m sorry. Idon’t.”
“But you are familiar with a RussellAtlee?”
