Page 66 of Hidden Gem
“Okay.” Jason couldn’t help warming up. This was his dream. He’d slept well for two, glorious nights. Was that enough to see him through the week? He glanced at Marnie, who stood in front of him, thumbing her own phone. “Can I call you back? I’m not sure if I can make it today. Maybe tomorrow.”
He ended the call and met Marnie’s questioning gaze. “We have a chance to present the empty homes tax at the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday. It’s too soon, but Malcolm wants to try. And if he’s onboard, we have a shot. This might be my only shot.”
Marnie’s gaze burned with conviction. “You should go. This is important.”
“I don’t want to leave you like this. I don’t want to leave you at all.”
Marnie closed her eyes, wiping a tear that fell. “I have to go. Can you just give me time?”
He closed the distance, pulling her in a tight hug. “Promise me it’s not the end.”
“Let’s just put a pin in it, okay?” she whispered. “You go and do your job. I’ll see you on the other side.”
“If that’s the best you can do.”
She sniffed against his chest. “It’s the best I can do.”
Chapter 31
Jason sank into thebackseat of the taxi. He’d dropped Marnie off at the bus station, returned the rental car and called a taxi to Parliament.
The sight of Marnie walking away, disappearing into the crowd at the station haunted him. This wasn’t the end. It couldn’t be. She needed time, upset over Kathleen’s phone call, and he would give her that. The minister was like a virus; she got under your skin and made you sick. He’d heard Marnie gagging in the toilet. He worried about her, so much that it was hard to concentrate on anything else. And he couldn’t afford any distractions. Not if he was about to climb this mountain, put this tax together and push it through.
His phone rang. Malcolm again.
“How was the sex-cation? The whole nation is talking about your mystery woman. Rumour has it you’ve found her and have spent a steamy weekend with her at an undisclosed location.”
Jason frowned, frustration growing. “What rumour?”
“Well, I may have released that one. Don’t worry, I didn’t give any details. But we need some good buzz to keep you in the headlines this week. Nobody’s going to write about my love life, that’s for sure.” Malcolm cackled.
“I’d rather they write about the tax.”
“They will. But we needed to do some damage control, after your... umm... outing in Hamilton. There’s been talk about you harassing or stalking this woman.”
“Stalking? What the hell?”
