Chapter 8
Jamie
Lunch with Aubrey solidified the one thing I was afraid of—I like her. If I was smart, I’d pretend we didn’t just have an incredible night together, and walk away.
I can’t.
There’s something about her that I can’t put my finger on. I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Worse, actually. While I’m waiting for the next panel to begin, I’m checking my banking app to see where I’m at with my savings in hopes I can leave for California sooner rather than later.
I wasn’t entirely honest with Aubrey. Even if things don’t go well meeting my father, I intend to stay for as long as I can in California under a work visa.
San Francisco is a short drive to Sacramento, and she’s right that the housing market in the Bay Area is significantly more expensive than the Central Valley.
I could get an apartment close by and properly date her.
I never really thought about kids, but my mom always told me I’d make a great father one day.
If Aubrey’s currently pregnant, it won’t be mine, but it doesn’t matter. I’d have no issue stepping in.
What the fuck am I thinking? I’ve known her for less than twenty-four hours and I’m already fantasizing about having a family with her?
As I rub my hand down my face, Joyce takes a seat beside me. She handles media relations for Isaac and has taught me everything I know, and she’s also great at reading people. If I’m not careful, she’ll figure out I’m obsessing over a woman I shouldn’t be.
Leaning toward me, she whispers, “We need to keep an eye on Isaac this week.”
My brows pinch as I turn to face her. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Remember when Olivia Harris was elected and it came out that they dated in college?” She gestures to where the two of them are talking with the British Prime Minister.
“It’s only a matter of time before someone gets a candid shot of them laughing, his hand on the small of her back, or him looking at her like he wants to devour her whole. That man has the worst poker face.”
As if on cue, he glances at Olivia and there’s no denying he’s a man in love. “Shit,” I mutter. “This is the last thing we need.”
“It’s going to be a long week. You also need to be careful,” she adds.
“Aubrey Raine is Chief of Staff to one of the most powerful women in the world. She’s also close with the Vice President who is married to a Gallagher.
Those men aren’t to be messed with. Break her heart and I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up in some mysterious accident shortly after. ”
Joyce gets up to greet someone who is entering, not giving me a chance to respond. She’s right, it is indeed going to be a long week, but some Second Gentleman isn’t going to deter me from pursuing Aubrey.
After the afternoon schedule wraps up, I send a quick text to her. Since I don’t know when we’ll be able to sneak away again, I want to take advantage of what little time we have before dinner.
Be there in a minute.
I pocket my phone and make my way to my hotel room to retrieve my gray jacket that matches my slacks for dinner tonight. Once in hand, I rush to the elevator and to her room a few floors up. Just in case her social media manager bailed on the meeting, I knock instead of using the key card.
Aubrey opens the door, wearing the same outfit as before. “Hey. Come in.” I’m not sure what I was expecting, but she seems tense.
“Everything okay?”
“I’m sorry, I’m just a little stressed.” I step in and she closes the door behind me.
I’m about to reach for her, but she turns and walks farther into the room, ranting, “The Monday that we’re back home, we have to travel to Los Angeles to meet with their Office of Education—they’re ready to move forward with expanding school lunches.
But once word got out, now we’re basically doing a whole tour for nearly two weeks. ”
“That’s amazing!”
Aubrey spins in place. “Fuck. I’m sorry. Yes, it is, I’m just trying to work with the team back in Sacramento to get it scheduled, and it’s a nightmare. Some of it will need to be pushed a month.”
I take a few slow, methodical steps forward, then carefully grip her shoulders. “It’ll get worked out.”
“You came for pussy and here I am torturing you with schedules and political agenda.” She offers a lopsided smile. “You can go if you want. I won’t be offended.”
I slide a hand along her shoulder to her neck, cupping my fingers behind it. As I swipe my thumb on her cheek, I insist, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Covering my hand with hers, she leans into my touch. “You shouldn’t say sweet things like that.”
“Why not? I mean, do I wish you were naked right now so I could fuck you so hard you forgot your own name? Sure. But I’m not just here for your body, Aubrey. What do you need?”
Her sparkling green eyes search mine. She wants to say something but she’s holding back. Finally, she lets out a long sigh and concedes, “We should get ready for the dinner. I’ll need at least eight pounds of makeup to look presentable for the cameras.”
“I disagree.” I shift my grip, taking her delicate neck in my hand. “You’re fucking beautiful, just like this.”
Aubrey swallows thickly against my palm. “Want to take a shower with me?”
“I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself.”
“I’m counting on it.” She reaches for my belt, unbuckling it, keeping her eyes fixed on mine.
I squeeze the sides of her throat, and it forces a moan from her. “I’m sorry, mi abayarde, I don’t think we have time to get you dirty and clean you up.”
She barks out a laugh, but instead of being annoyed by the pet name, she grips my wrist, pulling it from her neck, then interlaces our fingers.
Warmth spreads in my chest, followed by an unbearable ache.
How the hell am I supposed to let her go at the end of the week?
Even if I’m able to move to California, it won’t be for months, and I don’t have a job lined up. But the reality is—I want her.
“At least if we make a mess, it’ll be easy to clean up,” Aubrey tuts and guides me to the small bathroom.
I actually like the fact that the shower will barely fit the two of us, keeping her close to me.
Without a word, she retrieves a few hangers, then slides my suit jacket off my shoulders, slowly dragging it down my arms. Once it’s off, she hangs it, placing it next to a satin black dress she has hooked on the towel rack.
“The steam from the shower will keep it from wrinkling,” she explains, glancing over her shoulder at me.
As she undresses, I remove my tie and shirt, placing them on another hanger.
She carefully folds her clothes and sets them aside, leaving her in only her black lace bra and matching underwear—though those appear to be cotton, not lace.
I didn’t get a chance to truly appreciate her body last night, and can’t take my eyes off her as I slip my belt from the loops of my slacks.
While she’s toned, she also has curvy hips I want to sink my teeth into—I love something to hang onto.
I can’t help myself, reaching for her hip, squeezing as I pull her to me.
She stumbles a step, bracing herself on my chest.
“Do you need help with those?” she teases, sliding her hands lower, unbuttoning my pants without waiting on a reply.
I haven’t kissed her since this morning but it feels like a lifetime. My grip tightens as I pull her flush with me and snake my hand to her lower back. I’ve been hard since the moment I stepped into her hotel room, and as she leans in closer to feel me, my cock aches to be inside her again.
Closing the distance to kiss her, the click of the heavy hotel room door has both of us freezing. Aubrey quickly slams the bathroom door and searches for a robe. “Shit! It must be Tracy.” Pushing me to where the door hinges, she slowly opens it. “Tracy?”
“Hey! Sorry, I just need to grab different shoes. I’ll be out of your hair in a few.”
“Oh, okay… cool. I’m just about to hop in the shower. I’ll see you downstairs.” She quickly closes the door and locks it, then whisper-shouts, “I thought she was supposed to be in that communications meeting.”
“She was,” I quietly agree. “It must’ve ended early.”
Aubrey piles her hair on top of her head and wraps a white satin hair tie around it. Her eyes fall to my chest where a rose sits above my heart. “Damn it. Why do you have to be so fucking hot?”
I do my best to control a laugh threatening to escape. “That’s what you’re worried about? If Tracy sees us, she could tell Olivia.” In reality, I couldn’t give two fucks if Olivia knew, but if Joyce is right, she could tell Isaac, which could mean I’ll be out of a job soon.
“How can I not be distracted? Do all of these tattoos have a meaning? Or did you just walk in one day and pick something pretty to decorate your body with?”
“So many questions…” Unsure if Tracy can hear us, I turn on the water and strip out of the rest of my clothes, carefully setting them aside or hanging them.
I don’t want to explain my ink to her right now, instead, I pull her to me as I did before we were interrupted.
With her hair up, my guess is she doesn’t want to get it wet, and as I pull her into the shower, I keep her away from the stream.
Taking me by surprise, she loops her arms around my neck and kisses me.
Through today’s scheduled events, she’s been all business—friendly but carries herself with confidence.
Here with me, she’s softer, playful even.
Her tongue duels mine in an attempt to assert some sort of dominance, but there’s no way in hell I’ll give it to her.
I kiss her back harder, but her whimpers become louder. Nipping at her bottom lip, I groan, “You need to be quiet.”
“Fuck it. Tracy and I room together often when we’re traveling, and she’ll just assume I’m touching myself.”
“Show me.”