Page 51 of An Impossible Love
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I’m sorry, baby, but I can’t cancel the speech. Everything’s planned. People have come in from—”
“It’s okay, Orin, really. I was being—I just had a bad dream, and I was being stupid. I’m sorry.” Emmy was back at home now, later in the afternoon, and Orin had called her twice already. “I’m sorry I put you through that.”
“Through what? You had a bad dream is all. I’m sure we’ll both have our share during our life together.”
She smiled down the phone. “Our life together.”
“You bet your sweet ass.”
She chuckled. “Really, is that any sort of language for the Oval Office?”
“Well, I put it to the Senate and they decided that yes, you have a sweet ass.”
“You’re aterriblePresident.”
Orin laughed. “I know, I know. Listen. The speech is three days away, and it’s locked. That almost never happens. Kevin had really knocked it out of the park on this one.”
Emmy bit her lip. “Good. I’m glad.”
“You okay?”
Orin must have picked up on the hesitation in her voice. “Of course.”
“Look, the State Dinner tonight… I want you to know that if I had my way, you’d be there right next to me.”
“We have to be realistic, darling… oh, Orin, someone’s banging on my door. I have to go.”
“Tomorrow then?”
“Tomorrow.”
Emmy pulled open her front door and her heart failed. Kevin McKee smiled at her—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes—and chuckled. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Emmy. May I come in?”
Numbly she stood aside and let him in, glancing around for any potential weapons she could use if he attacked her. Her service pistol was in the bedroom. She was quick, but Kevin was a big guy.
He smiled at her. “I’m sorry to intrude but I wanted to talk to you about something.”
She nodded stiffly. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Coffee would be great, thanks.” He looked around her apartment. “Your boyfriend live here, too?”
None of your damn business.“No. I only have instant coffee, I’m afraid.”
“Love the stuff.”
She went into the kitchen, her nerves tingling and on edge as she filled the kettle. Turning toward the cupboard, she yelped in alarm. Kevin was standing directly behind her.
“Sorry, sorry, I should have said something.”
His hand was on her face and Emmy stepped backward. Kevin smiled. “My apologies again, I didn’t mean to scare you, lovely Emmy.”
Ok, this was just gettingweird.“So,” he said, heaving himself onto her kitchen counter, his body language casual, friendly, “I hear you’ve been up at Princeton asking questions. Anything I can help you with?”
Careful now, careful. “I was. Your name came up, naturally, given what you achieved there, but I was there to ask about Max Neal.”
Kevin nodded slowly. “Max matriculated there after me, but I did meet him a couple of times. I found him—unimpressive.”
