Page 12 of An Impossible Love
She hesitated. “Well, sir, I was thinking about getting a dog.”
“Well, that’s exciting. You know, the president usually has a White House dog. Maybe I should follow your lead.”
“Maybe, sir. I’m hoping to adopt one from a shelter.”
“Good choice.” He pondered a while. “What sort of dog do you think I should get, Agent?”
He watched as she hid a grin. “An Afghan hound, sir.” She shot him a sideways look. “With that flowing blonde hair… you could call himFabio.”
For a moment, Orin didn’t realize she was teasing him. Then he grinned at her. “Touché, Agent Sati.”
He saw her shiver a little but immediately try to hide it. “Let’s go in,” he said, placing a hand on her back briefly, “I keep forgetting how cold it is.”
“Isn’t the weather inclement in Oregon, sir?”
“It can be, Pacific Northwest and all that, but DC winters? Jeez, Emerson. They take some getting used to.”
“Indeed, Mr. President.”
“Are you from the DC area, Agent?”
Emmy shook her head. “No, sir, New Orleans.”
“Ah,Nawlins. Ugh, forgive my terrible accent.” He gave her a sheepish smile.
Emmy grinned. “All is forgiven, sir.” They were at the entrance to the private residence now.
“Are you coming to Camp David, Agent Sati?”
She shook her head, and he felt a rush of disappointment. “No, sir. Duke and Greg are your detail for the trip.” She gave him a rueful smile. “I’ve been told to use my vacation time up, sir, or I’d be there.”
“No, no, you deserve a break. Anything planned?”Please don’t say you’re spending time with another man…
“Only to find a dog, sir.”
“Well, good luck with that.”
Emmy smiled. “Thank you, sir, and have a good trip to Camp David.”
As Orin went to bed, he thought about his reaction earlier.Please don’t say you’re spending time with another man…“Just how damn selfish are you, man? She deserves some happiness after what she’s been through.” Orin shook his head, berating himself.Just because you’re so damn lonely…
No. He had to get his mind away from Emerson Sati. Maybe he would ask Moxie to set him up with some women—just dating, nothing major. Kevin would know some people. The suave communications director, all blue-eyed charm and dashing good looks was never short of a date. Post-grad students, human rights lawyers, political lobbyists—Kevin had the market on strategic dating.Power dating.Orin smirked. Kevin also had all the confidence his looks, background, and job awarded him.
As Orin washed his hands, and splashed water on his face, he looked in the mirror. “And you’re the President of the United States,” he told himself. But he still felt like that country boy from Oregon.
He lay in bed trying to sleep but instead he thought about Emmy’s soft beauty, those pink lips curving up in a smile, or open in a gasp as he made love to her. “Goddamn it,” he growled and turned over, blocking the thoughts from his head.
