Page 13 of Kiss Kiss Bang
“Yes. He told me where you were and then took me to Jax. He was escorted out of the building, and he’s safely on his way home.”
“Good. That’s good.” She smoothed her hair a little. Did Tom know what had just happened in the elevator? Did Jax? She felt embarrassed that all this mayhem had been going on around them while she’d been making out with Joey.
“You’re fine,” he reached for her hand and laced his fingers through it. “Stop worrying.”
Stop worrying? There was no way she could stop worrying. She felt her hands shaking in his and he squeezed tighter.
“What happened, exactly? Just protestors? Protestors against me or the president?”
Jax glanced at her from the rearview mirror. “Both, probably. It’s hard to say. It’s my understanding you were going to be on the radar today because of your speech.”
“Yeah, but they didn’t even let me say it. How would they know?” She let out a long exhale. “No, it was probably the president. People might dislike me, but not enough to get arrested for it, right?” She looked over at Joey, who just shrugged.
“Don’t know, darlin’. But if they said it wasn’t too bad, just some overzealous protestors, let’s not worry too much about it. You haven’t had any problems before today, right?”
“Right. I mean, I think I had like five people picketing in front of office during my NRA speech last week, but that was the extent of it.”
“Then you’re probably okay. Feds just like to be extra careful. I’m sure you’ll be able to give your speech soon, and without the president in attendance.”
She wasn’t worried about not being able to give her speech. She was worried that she had some sort of angry mob out to get her. But, if Jax, Joey, and even Tom weren’t worrying, neither would she. She leaned back into the headrest and closed her eyes for the rest of the way home, glad the day was over even if the stupid speech would still be hanging over her head.
When they rounded the corner, Tom pressed on his key fob to open her big wrought-iron gate. Her property was surrounded by huge hedges, which had come in handy to keep reporters away since she’d become the center of attention. Her house wasn’t big, but her property was. Tom jumped out of the SUV and opened the door for her the moment Jax put the car into park.
“Be right back,” Joey said to Jax as he followed Olivia and Tom.
Tom—a big bulky man, probably in his late thirties, with longish hair held back with a rubber band—wasn’t much of a talker. He was a nice man, as far as she’d been able to tell. He’d been working for her the last three months at Mark’s request. The evening’s protocol was that he would do a check of her house, and once everything was to his liking he’d leave for the night, then, typically, return the next morning. But tomorrow was Sunday and she had no plans, so she wouldn’t see him until Monday.
Tom unlocked her front door and disappeared inside, leaving her on her porch alone with Joey. Secretly, she’d hoped Joey would’ve stayed in the car and left with Jax. She had no idea what to say to him. They’d kissed—okay, more than kissed—and she’d practically panted for more. Now what was she supposed to say? These were uncharted territories for her. They couldn’t just part ways as strangers like they had last time, right? Which reminded her . . .
“Shoot, with all the commotion I forgot to ask you. Did you know you’d see me here today?”
“Of course, woman.” He took a step closer so they were almost nose-to-nose. “You think I’d just let you walk away without trying to get your number or make you go out with me? Pft! The only reason I let you go was because I knew I’d see you today.”
That made her happy.
Really happy.
She’d been unbelievably bummed that he hadn’t made an effort and regretful that she hadn’t made one either. In her mind, she’d thought she’d never see Joey again after that night and that had made her feel sad.
He took her hands in his. “Where’s your daughter tonight?”
“Since she didn’t come right out to tackle-hug me, I’m thinking she and Winnie are already asleep.”
He brought up one of her hands and kissed it, softly. “Tomorrow. Seven.”
She started to bite her lips. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. In the elevator, I shouldn’t have . . .”
He pulled her lip free from her teeth. “Don’t do that. Don’t regret our first kiss.”
“First?”
He leaned in and whispered just as Tom walked out. “Silly woman, that was just the first of a lot of things that’s going to happen between us.” He winked as he turned and walked away, leaving her breathless, happy, and totally disoriented.
“Hey Joey,” she hollered, causing him to turn his head. “Thank you for tonight. You’re sweeter than I thought you’d be.” She shook her head, warring with herself. She wanted him to know that she didn’t want a relationship but she did want to see him again. Maybe she could try for some fun—like a reenactment of the elevator kiss—but nothing more serious than that. Between the campaign and her daughter, her life was too busy for anything more than just fun. “But I told you I didn’t need a Prince Charming.”
“Yet this is the second time I’ve come to your rescue, darlin’.”
Damn it. He was right.
