Page 36 of A Pawn for Malice
“Are you sure?”
“Just get out of here,” she shewed him offwith a wave of her hand, smiling.
“Thanks. Seems every night I get home laterand later. It’ll be nice to catch dinner with them. Make sure youcall … I’ll be waiting.”
“I will … promise,” she crossed herheart.
He exited her office and she absently lookedat the door connecting her and Bryan’s. The girls popped theirheads in to say goodnight, as did Zachary and Nicholas, theirintern. She took the next thirty minutes, to clear some paperworkoff her desk and muddled over in her mind a few brief moments as towhether she should interrupt Bryan.
She mindlessly checked the time on her cellphone and decided the need to see him, was greater than having too.She rose, tiptoed over to the connecting door, and pressed her earagainst the wood.
Nothing. Dead silence. She expected to hearmusic coming from the Pandora station he liked to listen too, oreven the soft volume of news being reported on the CNN channel healways tuned into.
She scrunched her lips to the side of hermouth and turned back toward her desk. She took a step forward andbit down on her lower lip, as she tapped her foot reflectively,wondering whether she should disturb him. A moment passed, beforeshe spun back around, placing her ear against the door one moretime.
Before she could realize what was happening,the door swung open instantly. Jessica lost her balance and fellagainst Bryan’s chest. She was never so embarrassed in her life.She snapped back like a tin soldier, her arms stiff at her side,and hesitantly lifted her head to meet his gaze.
He looked down at her, his eyebrow raised inquestion.
“Umm. You … you weren’t supposed to do that,”she uttered.
“I wasn’t,” he replied, a trace of a smilecurving his lips. He reached out and encircled her waist, pullingher against him.
She could feel her cheeks blush with heat.The smell of his aftershave filled her nostrils and the rhythmicbeating of his heart pounding against her breast excited her. Awanton desire stirred deep within her, and she tried to furtherexplain her actions.
“You know what I mean, Senator,” shesquirmed, as she looked up into those gorgeous eyes of his.
She thought her knees would turn to liquid,as she read the same passion that was burning inside of her,reflected in their depths.
“It’s after hours, Jessica. You don’t have tocall me Senator anymore.”
She pressed her palms against his chest, andcould feel the tight muscles beneath his shirt. Just when shestarted to melt a little more and relax against him, the door tohis office swung open.
“Well, looky here. Just as I expected, thetramp has got her claws into you, and I’ve only been gone a shortwhile. Really, Bryan? I never expected you to be the type to screwyour staff.”
Before either of them could react, Angelaclosed the distance between them, pushed Jessica away, and wrappedBryan in an iron embrace with a kiss, that would leave most mensmoldering.
Bryan grabbed hold of her forearms and pushedher off him. “That’s enough, Angela,” he barked, stepping away.“There is no us, and you god damn well know it.”
This was a scene Jessica refused to getpulled into and she spoke up immediately.
“I’ll just leave you two to do whatever.” Shedirected her attention toward Bryan. “Senator, I just wanted totell you we’re all set for the news conference in the morning.Connor and I will be in at seven to double-check and take care ofanything that may arise from now, until then.”
Angela stepped forward to do battle, butBryan was quicker and placed himself between them.
Jessica respected his gallant attempt andsmiled warmly. The look she sent Angela was pure disgust, and shespat out her true feelings.
“I’m too damned tired right now, to waste mybreath and energy on you.” She turned on her heel to leave andwalked away.
“Worthless, bitch.” Angela barked back rightaway.
Jessica looked over her shoulder and smuglyretorted with a wave of her hand. “I’m here. You’re not. That haircolor, she pointed Angela’s way, “looks way more attractive on me.Enough said. Night, Bryan. See you in the morning.”
Bryan bristled after her and called out.
“Jessica wait.” He reached for her, as shemade it to the front lobby, and turned her about. “I’m sorry Ididn’t get a chance to connect with you and Connor today. I gotengrossed with what I needed to prepare for.”
“We know that,” she replied softly, as shereached out to caress his cheek. “Are you ready? Do you need us tocheck anything over?”
