Page 15 of The Press Secretary's Passion
“Well, we’re all glad you didn’t.” I laugh.
Grace comes out of the stall and washes her hands. As she’s reapplying her lipstick, two women walk in the restroom, laughing and clearly enjoying themselves.
“Did you see the way Jake was looking at you?” one asks the other, and I recognize her. In fact, I’m wondering what the hell they’re doing here. “He clearly can’t wait to get his hands on you, and who could blame him? His wife is the size of a barn.”
“And I can’t wait for him to get his hands on me,” Ashley Jeffries purrs. God, I cannot stand her. Either of them, really. “He’s so good with his hands.”
The door swings open, and they see us standing there. I know exactly what they’re up to. We all know exactly what these two monsters are trying for.
“Oh!” Ashley gasps in mock horror. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“You don’t say,” Grace drolls.
“I never wanted you to find out about us this way,” she says, like Jake would actually want anything to do with her. Ashley was in the running for Grace’s position as Jake’s wife, or so she thought before Grace entered the picture. And there is no doubt where anyone is concerned that Jake is faithful to the wife he so openly adores.
“Sure, sure,” Grace says.
“It’s just that you know Jake and I have known each other for so long, and our families go way back. One thing just kind of led to another,” she says. “You know how it is.”
Her ridiculousness hangs in the air between us, and then I swear, I try, but I just can’t help myself. A teeny tiny giggle escapes me. And then another. And another, until I’m bent over laughing so hard I can’t catch my breath and tears are running down my face. Thank God for waterproof mascara!
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” Ashley snaps.
“You are,” I say, wiping a tear from my eye. “Like anyone would believe that load of horse shit that just spewed from your mouth. Everyone can see Jake is madly in love with his wife. You’re just mad it’s not you after the military campaign you waged last year for his ring. Right, Cara?”
“Right,” she backs me up immediately. If there was a test you had to pass to get into the sisterhood, Cara just passed with flying colors when she helped me clearly defend the Team Grace camp. “Jake is full gone for Grace. Anyone can see that. The thought of him cheating is laughable at best. Good one.”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to laugh if I were you,” she says, turning on Cara, and I hold my breath to see what kind of vitriol she’s going to spew and how Cara will react to it. “Amy was talking to Rick earlier, and he was very interested. If you know what I mean.”
“Oh, I do, and I’m not worried,” she replies coolly, and I’m not gonna lie; she impressed the fuck out of me. I didn’t know anyone else could swing around a pair of lady balls as big as mine. I stand corrected.
“We should probably get going, ladies,” Grace says to us. “Nice seeing you again, Ashley.”
“Don’t think you’ll keep him!” she whisper-shouts as we leave. “He will come back to me. He always comes back to me.”
“Wow,” Cara whispers. “What a bitch.”
We wind our way back through the crowd, and Jake steals Grace away. Their duty for the evening is done, and he’s obviously read to get Grace home safely. They’re so sweet to watch.
“Ready to go?” Rick asks as he approaches Cara.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
I laugh. Awe, young love. “Be good, kids,” I tell them with a smile before I lean in and kiss Cara on the cheek. And then Rick leads her out with an arm around her.
I feel a warning tingle go up my spine, and I look back over my shoulder. Ryan is talking to someone from some dignitary’s entourage, but he’s watching me, and the look he’s sending my way promises something ominous. So before he has a chance to do or say anything else that confuses me or makes me want something I shouldn’t, something I know I can’t have, I turn and run.
“Press Secretary Shakes Things Up at White House”
Chapter 4
Hate myself
“Babe,” the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard says, and I hate that it heats my body up from the inside out, even in my sleep. “We gotta talk.”
“I don’t wanna,” I mumble, never opening my eyes, and I pull the covers up higher around my ears and let myself drift back to sleep.
I feel the covers slip down my body, and the cool night air tickles my back. My eyes pop open, and I take in the darkness of my bedroom late at night. I roll over and see Ryan sitting on the edge of my bed.
