Page 19 of Kiss Kiss Bang
“That’s what I want to know.”
“It was probably something to do with the president.”
“Maybe. But it was your face on the news, not the POTUS, and he’d taken that same elevator a few minutes before we did.”
“I’m sure the POTUS wasn’t making out with one of the Secret Service guys. There probably weren’t any juicy photos to leak. A man riding an elevator isn’t exactly newsworthy.”
“That could be true, but it still isn’t sitting well with me.”
“I don’t think anyone would go through all this trouble just for me. I’m not really a controversial candidate. I’m pretty middle of the line. I have some fiscal plans that some don’t necessarily like, but it’s not some big controversial stand that would cause people to start planting bugs on me.” Right? She thought about the speech she was supposed to have given and the issues Mark had said would upset people. But nothing was that over the top. She needed to run this by Mark—he’d have a better understanding of her potential enemies.
“But you’re a threat to McGregor.”
“McGregor isn’t going to stoop to something like videotaping me.”
“You never know, Livie. I don’t like McGregor. He’s a slimy, sneaky man.”
“He’s pretty middle of the road, too. People like him. It’s not like I’m kicking his ass in this election. Hell, I may not even win.”
He was twirling a thread that had come loose from one of her toss pillows. “There’s something about him . . .”
“What? That he’s lying? He’s a politician. He’s showing you his best face. But still, I think for a politician, even as my opponent, he’s pretty forthright.”
“I don’t know . . .”
“Well, I’ll keep my ears and eyes open.”
“Promise?”
She took the pillow out his grip before he destroyed it, and tossed it aside. “Yes. I promise,” she said.
“Good.” Then he sat back, looking much more relaxed. “Now about that date.”
“Can I be honest with you?” she asked, tightening the collar of her robe around her neck. “I haven’t done this before.”
“Done what?”
“Dated. I mean, I’ve dated,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “But not since Neil died.”
“You already told me that. I figured that if you hadn’t kissed anyone in five years, you likely hadn’t dated anyone either.”
“Okay, so now you understand. This is all new to me. And I know that you think I’m just spitting out excuses, but my daughter—she can’t have a revolving door of men walking in and out of her mother’s life. What kind of example would that set for her?”
With a smirk he said, “Revolving door of men? You’re saying this in the same breath as ‘I haven’t dated anyone in five years?’ Darlin’, I think you’re setting a perfect example for your daughter. I don’t think you going on one date with me will skew her five-year-old opinion of men.”
“Joey, you know what I mean.”
“I do. I do know what you mean.” He put a hand on her shoulder and looked at her intensely. “After my father died, my mother never dated. Not once that I can remember.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to—”
He ignored her protest and continued. “She was a widow with four small children, and she dedicated her life to us. She was the best mother, always worried about us and made sure we were okay. But do you think that if she had dated, that seeing her happy, seeing her settled with a partner now that we are all out on her own, would have upset any of us? Listen, Livie, I’m not telling you to bring random men around your daughter. What I’m telling you is that you need to be happy and have a personal life. You’re still young and vibrant, and you shouldn’t settle for being alone. Pick smart, when you pick a man to date, and introduce him to her carefully, or hell, don’t introduce them to her. But don’t hide behind work and your daughter because you’re scared.”
Putting your heart out and then risking it being broken was hard. She’d already faced that with Neil, and to a certain extent, with Connor too. She wasn’t sure if she would ever want to take that risk again. And there was also her public image that she needed to protect. An image that as of today was all screwed up, thanks to whoever had leaked those photos.
“Maybe just one date.” What harm could it do at this point, right?
“Fine. I’ll take it.”
