Page 14 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
He dropped her hand like she’d told him she had leprosy. “You’re a reporter?”
“An investigative journalist. Traditionally my articles take months to research,” Lark paused. “But I did start out working as a reporter for a newspaper in Idaho. It was in the sports section. Consequently, I’m a big basketball fan.”
“But youarea reporter.” The capped white tooth smile had disappeared.
“And youarea Chief of Staff.”
His smile was back in full force. “I am. So Vanity Fair huh? Do you do fashion?”
God save me from idiots.
“No, I investigate things. You know, things like the fact that your senator only voted sixty-seven percent of the time last year. All-in-all I don’t think you’re doing all that great of a job scheduling his time…Langley.”
She would’ve liked to call him out on being married, but he hadn’t had time to make a pass yet, instead, he’d only asked her about her work.
She watched as his face flushed. It wasn’t a good look for him. “How did you know that?” he sputtered. “Are you doing an article on my senator?”
“Maybe,” she said slowly.
“We haven’t authorized that.”
Lark wanted to laugh at his affronted expression, but she didn’t. “Youhaveheard of the First Amendment, right?Congress shall make no law respecting or prohibiting the free exercise of the press? Sound familiar?”
He sputtered again.
“But no, I can’t say that writing about politics interests me, so you’re safe. However, there is a lot of gossip about Wentworth’s abysmal record. If I were his chief of staff, that might concern me.”
“Are you giving civics lessons again, Lark?” A deep voice rumbled behind her, close enough to cause her hair to shift.
“I didn’t know she was with you, my apologies,” Redford said, holding up his hands in surrender.
Once again, the gold wedding band stood out.
“Lark, you must not have seen me when you came in. Let’s go to our table.” Lark didn’t turn around, but Kostya must have done something because the bartender handed her back her credit card.
“I’ve transferred everything to your tab, Lieutenant,” the bartender said.
Kostya’s fingers drifted along her neck, then down her shoulder until he tangled his fingers with hers and tugged. “Grab your clutch, I’ve got your drink,” he whispered into her ear.
Lark remembered another place, another time when they’d held hands like this. It had been months ago. How did this man keep getting under her skin? Why did he keep creeping into her thoughts?
Get it together!
She forced herself to concentrate on the present.
“It was nice meeting you,” Lark said to the bartender because it was. As for Langley, she didn’t say a word as she slid out of the seat and turned to look up at Kostya.
He was so big. She’d forgotten.
How did I forget?
As if he could read her mind Kostya gave her a warm and encouraging smile, tugged her hand again, then picked up her drink and guided her to his table. He kept his stride small so that she could easily keep up in her heels. When they arrived at the table, he motioned her toward the booth so she could sit next to him.
“Maybe I want the chair,” she said with an arch look, determined to keep things in the moment.
“Do you?”
“No,” she admitted.
