Текст книги "Incumbent"

Автор книги: Joanne Schwehm

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

CHAPTER 19

~ Lucy ~

Leaving and going to California, although tempting, wasn’t what I wanted. I’d run away once already, and that was plenty for me. The thing was, my past was just that—mine. I couldn’t hide from it, nor could I shield myself from the scrutiny that came with it. However, I could protect those I loved from getting hurt in the process.

“I’m not leaving.” My attempt at sounding strong must have been futile because Drake looked at me like his dog just died. I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m not, Drake. I love you too much.”

His arms tightened around me, and as usual when I was with him, I felt safe and protected, even though the only one who could protect me was myself. There was no way I was taking my friends down with me. To think of the Prescotts being bombarded by reporters was enough to make my stomach lurch.

Mason glanced between us and sighed, then walked toward the front door. “Lucy, I’m going to take off. I’ll call you before I leave. Please think about what I said. Getting away may be exactly what you need. It doesn’t have to be permanent.”

Giving him a wan smile, I shook my head. “Thank you, but I don’t want to run. You and I both know that there are certain things that you can’t hide from. I’m just sorry you had to deal with all of this.” I got up and hugged him good-bye. “Please take care of yourself, and if I need a break, I promise I’ll come visit you.”

Mason shot a hard glance at Drake as he left, and they didn’t exchange good-byes before the door closed behind him.

“Do you want me to leave too?” Drake peered at me, his eyes so caring as they bored into mine, and I couldn’t let him go.

“No. I need you here, but it’s late and I understand if you need to leave.” Although I said those words, in my head, I begged him not to leave. Please don’t go. Please don’t go . . .

“I’ll never leave you,” he said softly, and pulled me back into his arms. “But it’s late, and you should get some sleep.”

“Come with me?” I mumbled against his chest. “Please, I need to be in your arms tonight.”

Drake followed me into my bedroom after I locked the front door and flipped off all the lights. We stripped to our underwear and lay on the bed, facing each other, but not as a precursor to sex this time.

I pillowed my face on my hands, not wanting to talk, but I could sense the gears turning in his head. The moonlight angling in through the blinds emphasized the stress lines that had formed above his eyes.

“What are you thinking about?” I whispered as I linked my fingers with his. “Please, Drake, tell me.”

He reached out to brush back my hair from my face, his voice low. “How much your life has changed since I walked into your classroom not so long ago. I’ll never forget that day. When I saw you, I practically forgot my own name. Then the way you handled your class, it was a huge turn-on for me. You have such a way with them. We need more teachers like you, and now the school administrator has reporters calling him.” His eyelashes laid flat on his cheeks before he opened his eyes again. “I didn’t realize Mason was moving.”

“He was offered a coaching position at UCLA. It’s a great opportunity for him, but I’ll miss him very much. I honestly can’t imagine not seeing him every day.”

“He’s a good guy.” Drake’s eyes dimmed. “I can see how much you mean to each other.”

I smiled. “He’s the best. I’m really sorry he yelled at you. He was just upset.”

“And he has every right to be. You did so much to protect yourself, and he’s been right there with you. Then you meet me, and I had to go and fall in love with you.” Drake winked, and his dimple that I loved faintly appeared, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I won’t apologize for how I feel about you, but I am sorry for thrusting you into the public eye.”

“I don’t want you to apologize. You see, when I met you, I just had a feeling. Yes, your charm and good looks instantly won me over, but your heart is what I fell in love with. It didn’t take me long to know you were a great man. And it wasn’t because of things I’d read or pictures I’d seen of you helping others, but because of what’s in here.” I placed my hand over his heart. “Everything else is just a bonus.”

Drake placed his hand on my cheek and stared into my eyes. “You, Lucy Washburn, are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” His fingers ran up and down my arm from my wrist to my shoulder. “Can I ask you a question?” he asked, and I nodded. “Why Lucy? What made you pick that name?”

Thinking back, I couldn’t help but grin. “I wanted a name that when I heard it, would make me happy. When I was really young, my grandmother and I would watch I Love Lucy reruns. After she passed away, I watched them to remember her and the good times we had. So, when I filed the papers for a name change, I picked Lucy with the hope . . . never mind. It’s silly.”

“Tell me.”

“I always hoped that I’d fall in love and when someone said they loved me, I’d be reminded of all the good times rather than the bad. Plus, if they ever told someone how they felt about me, I’d hear, ‘I love Lucy.’”

Drake nodded. “And Washburn?”

“Those were for my bad memories,” I said with a shrug. “I just wanted to wash away all the bad things in my past and burn them so I didn’t ever need to think of them again.”

“Thank you for sharing that with me.” Drake rolled to his back and I nestled against his side. “I love you, Lucy.”

I moved my hand from his chest until I reached the waistband of his boxer briefs, then I slid it lower until my palm rested on his hardened shaft. I needed him, so I slipped off my panties and straddled his hips, noting idly that the V in his muscles was like an arrow directing me to where I wanted to be.

Before he reached for a condom, I said, “I’m on the pill.”

Our gazes locked, and we let our eyes do all the talking. I lowered his shorts until he was naked and bobbing between my legs. Then I sat up straighter, and with my hands on his ribs and his on my hips, I rocked back and forth, spreading my wetness over him.

No foreplay, no words, just us.

Leaning forward, I positioned him so I was able to slide onto his hardness. He groaned, and his fingers tightened on my skin. Rolling my hips, I shifted until he was in me as deeply as I could get him, never breaking eye contact. We were skin on skin, which we’d never done together before, but I was protected and I trusted him. The feeling was borderline surreal.

Our bodies knew what the other needed. When I moved my hips and leaned back, he brought his thumb to my clitoris and applied just enough pressure that had me moaning. Meanwhile, I reached back and ran my fingertips along the underside of his balls. Drake immediately sat up, bringing us chest to chest. My legs wrapped around his torso as we continued to make love to each other.

With his hand fisted in my hair, he pulled me closer and pressed his lips to mine. Our tongues mimicked our bodies as they pushed and swirled around each other. Between his taste, his hard chest pressing against my breasts, and the feeling of complete fullness, my orgasm that had been building unleashed with full force. Bright spots danced under my eyelids as I pulsed and tightened around him.

“You’re so beautiful when you come. Give me another one, Lucy.” His lips closed on my right breast, and his teeth gently grazed my nipple while his fingers pinched my left one.

“I want you to come with me. I need you to,” I said, panting as I moved faster while he held me close.

My fingers threaded through his hair and when I gave a gentle tug, his pace increased. I tightened around him, and he gritted out, “Now, Lucy.”

His deep voice sent me spiraling as I came on him and him in me. With our bodies still connected, twitching with aftershocks of pleasure, I placed my head on his shoulder, and we held each other tighter than we ever had.

“I love you, Drake.”

• • •

The sound of my phone ringing woke me. I looked at the screen, but it was from an unknown caller. I was hoping last night was a nightmare, but it was real.

The sun was just rising, so I gingerly slipped out of bed so I wouldn’t wake Drake, but that didn’t work. He sat up and stretched, his flexed muscles making my mouth water.

“I’m just going to get the paper,” I told him. “I’ll bring it back and we can read it in bed. I might even give you the crossword.” I slid on his dress shirt from the night before.

When I opened the front door, I was blinded by what felt like a thousand flashbulbs going off. Surprised and disoriented, I brought my hand up, trying to shield my eyes. Camera shutters clicked in rapid succession, the sound quickly drowned out by loud voices as I was rushed by people thrusting microphones and recording devices in my face, shouting questions at me.

“Ms. Washburn, are the rumors true?”

“Lucy, is Senator Prescott inside?”

“Does the pro-life senator know?”

“Is he going to drop out of the race?”

“What does he think of your past? Is he going to leave you?”

This reporter held up the front page of the newspaper, folded in half. My picture was above the fold with the headline, MYSTERY WOMAN COULD BE U.S. SENATOR’S DEMISE.

That last question pierced my heart like a bullet, and my mouth dropped open as I stared at the picture of me. Out of nowhere, a hand was on my arm, pulling me back inside.

“Ms. Washburn has no comment!”

“But, Senator—”

Drake slammed the door, and I crumpled to the floor. He sat next to me on my carpet and pulled me onto his lap, letting me cry into his chest.

“Why? I didn’t want to do it.” My breath hitched, and I could hardly breathe.

“I’m so sorry,” Drake said, sounding as broken as I felt.

“What am I going to do?” I wailed. “My picture is in the paper. Everyone is going to know. It will never stop.”

“Yes, it will. I’ll make sure of it.” Drake stood and picked me up in his arms to take me to the couch.

His phone rang, and his voice was sharp as he answered.

“Ben. Talk to me, what do you know?” Silence.

“Yes, they’re here swarming her apartment. I won’t be leaving. Once they leave, I’ll take her somewhere safe.”

Hearing only one side of the conversation had my imagination running wild.

“Which site? I see.” Drake rubbed his forehead. “Start damage control. I don’t care what you need to do, just shut the shit down.”

His phone landed with a thud on the coffee table.

“Did you say site? Like in website?” I wiped my tears with the sleeve of his dress shirt. “I want to see it.”

“Ben’s going to try and get it taken down.”

“I need to see it.” I shifted off his lap and grabbed my laptop. Handing it to Drake, I said, “Show me.”

He slid on his glasses and after a few keystrokes, a photo of me appeared on the screen. It was taken at the baseball game; I was wearing my Nationals baseball cap and was looking up at Drake. Granted, it was just my profile, but you could tell it was me. Above the picture in large capital letters was the word SCANDAL.

Oh my God. Frantic, I couldn’t scan the words quickly enough.

Republican incumbent senator and future presidential hopeful’s girlfriend is a fraud. The National Reveal has discovered schoolteacher Lucy Washburn isn’t as innocent as she appears.

Sources have revealed that Lucy Washburn is an alias and her real name is still unknown. What we do know is Ms. Washburn had an abortion. The question remains if pro-life senator Drake Prescott was the child’s father, or if it was her longtime college friend, Mason McDermott.

Ms. Washburn is a US history teacher at Northern Ridge High School, a private school that boasts about the quality of their staff and the pride they have in their students. The school’s motto is “Shaping the minds of the future through excellence, ideals, and values.” It makes this reporter wonder exactly what values Ms. Washburn is teaching your children.

A colleague who chose to remain anonymous told the National Reveal that Lucy Washburn is a loner, and she had always thought Ms. Washburn was hiding something. She wonders what other skeletons are in her closet, and so does this reporter.

Our staff attempted to contact Ms. Washburn and the administration of Northern Ridge High School, but they were unavailable for comment.

Furious, I slammed the top of the laptop closed, doing my best to hold back my tears. “It’s over. Everything I worked for, my anonymity, it’s all done.”

“It’s a rag, Lucy.”

Drake was trying to remain calm, but the throbbing vein in his neck told me it was just a facade. This wasn’t good for either of us. He knew it, and so did I.

I peeked outside to see more cars pulling up in front of my apartment. “More reporters keep coming!” I began to panic. “Drake, what are we going to do?”

“First, you need to text Mason and tell him not to come here while I call my family.” He picked up his phone as tears streamed down my cheeks.

Oh my God. Mason. He doesn’t deserve his name in the paper.

Another thought struck me, and I felt like I was going to throw up. “Your family is going to hate me. Maybe I should go outside and give a statement.” I looked down at my bare legs. “I need to get dressed.” I scurried into my bedroom.

Drake walked into my bedroom and shut the door as I was rummaging through my dresser drawers. “You’re not giving a statement. Eventually, they’ll leave. But go ahead and get dressed. I’m calling Jack. We’ll go out the back door and hang out at his house.”

I frantically shook my head. “No, I won’t put your family in the middle of this.”

“They love you, whether you want them to or not, so give me my shirt so we can get out of here.”

He called Jack, who said he’d meet us on the street behind mine in twenty minutes. Once we were both dressed, I stood in my foyer and stared in the mirror, cursing my reflection for allowing myself to fall for such a wonderful man with a loyal family.

Drake checked out the back window. “We’re in the clear. Let’s start heading out.”

“But I need to pack a bag.”

“We’ll buy what you need. I already texted Gretchen, and she’s going to meet us at Jack’s.”

I sighed, knowing I was fighting a losing battle. “Okay.”

He took my hand and we raced through my backyard to the neighboring street, where Jack was waiting for us in his black Mercedes SUV with tinted windows. As soon as we were settled in the backseat, Jack took off toward his house.

He glanced back at us. “Are you okay, Lucy?” When I didn’t say anything, Jack shook his head. “Never mind, that was a dumb question.”

“Thank you for helping me.” I caught his eye in the rearview mirror, and he smiled. It was similar to Drake’s, sans the dimple.

“No need to thank family.”

Family. Drake’s brother thought of me as part of the family, and he didn’t really know me. I needed to rectify that today and open up to the Prescotts.

CHAPTER 20

~ Drake ~

We pulled up to Jack’s house in tight silence. Lucy’s face was devoid of any color, and her eyes were filled with such sadness and fear, it pained me. Jack punched in the security code and the gate opened. My parents’ car and Gretchen’s were at the top of the driveway, and I was happy they were here.

Lucy climbed out of the car, clutching her purse. She didn’t say a word or make eye contact with me or Jack. She was emotionless, her face completely blank as if she’d retreated within herself, and it scared me.

Jack shot me a sympathetic glance.

When he opened his front door, our parents and sister were sitting in the living room. Mom got up and hugged Lucy, but my girl’s arms didn’t wrap around my mom; they dangled by her side.

“Sweetheart, come and sit down. Josh is in the kitchen making us something to eat.” Her comforting voice brought Lucy out of her trance.

“Thank you.” That was all she said, but it was two words more than she’d spoken in the past forty-five minutes.

Gretchen walked up and threw her arms around my neck. Whispering in my ear, she said, “I’m so sorry this is happening.”

I hugged my sister. “Me too. She doesn’t deserve this.”

Glancing at my father, I said, “Hey, Dad.”

He got up and shook my hand. “How is she doing, son?”

“Not too well.”

We all sat down and Josh walked in. Lucy looked up at him as he placed a cup of tea on the coffee table in front of her, and gave him a wan smile and a tiny nod of thanks. The rest of the family gathered and sat around us.

“Is Dane here?” Lucy asked as she glanced around the room.

My mom answered, “He’s on his way to Long Island, but he wanted us to tell you, well, I can’t repeat what he said, but he’s thinking of you.”

When Lucy’s brows drew together in confusion, Gretchen spoke up. “Dane said to fuck ’em and not to let them get to you because they were all limp-dicked assholes.”

“Gretchen Margaret!” My mom scolded my sister, but that comment made Lucy laugh.

“Sorry, but I was just being honest.” Gretchen shrugged.

Lucy stood, drawing everyone’s attention to her. “I owe you all an explanation.”

“Sweetie, you don’t owe us anything.” My dad’s voice made her lips twitch into the semblance of a smile.

“Thank you, but I do. I need to tell you all my story.” She wiped a tear away and cleared her throat. “My real name is Abigail Winston. I changed my name when I left Colorado when I was nineteen. I did it because I didn’t want to be associated with my parents.”

Lucy looked at my mom and dad. “They weren’t like you; they were extremely judgmental and superficial.” Then she focused on my siblings before her gaze slid to me. “You all have no idea how lucky you are.”

Gretchen sniffed as a tear slid down her face, and she didn’t bother to wipe it away.

Lucy held her hand out to me, and when I took it, she mouthed, I’m sorry. I gave her a small nod, encouraging her to continue.

“When I was in high school, I fell for a boy, but he wasn’t what my parents had in mind for me. My mom would tell me he wasn’t up to par.” She let out a shaky breath. “His name was Greg, and I thought the sun rose and set because of him. The night before my sixteenth birthday, we had sex. He had already graduated and enlisted in the Army, so I wasn’t sure when I’d see him again, but I wanted him to be my first. We used protection, but I got pregnant. Naturally, my mom flipped out when she found out. When she realized I wasn’t yet sixteen and Greg had just turned nineteen when we had sex, she threatened to have him arrested unless I aborted the baby.”

“Oh, Lucy.” My mom jumped up to hug her. This time Lucy reciprocated her embrace, and brought her arms around my mom. When Lucy began to sob, my heart broke for her.

I stood and continued her story. I told them all about Greg and the fact that she thought he had died, but he was actually alive and well and that they saw each other. She finally had closure.

Lucy stepped out of my mom’s arms and sat down, so Mom and I followed suit and took our seats. “My parents don’t know where I am, or at least they didn’t. But I’m sure they do now. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for having embarrassed your family.”

“Don’t be silly, Lucy,” Dad said with conviction. “You’re the victim here, not us.”

Lucy nodded, but I knew she didn’t agree with him. “Maybe so, but I still feel horrible.”

Jack leaned forward. “How did the press find out?”

“That would be my fault.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Gretch and I were at an event, and I told her a little bit of Lucy’s story. Emily overheard.”

“Your ex-slut, Emily?” Josh shrugged. “Sorry, man, but she was the worst thing to happen to you.”

“She still is, and yes, I believe she’s to blame.” I went on to explain the rest of the story. As I did, Lucy dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her temples.

“Lucy.” My dad got up and walked toward her. “Why don’t you go lie down? You’re very pale.”

He picked up her wrist and held it with two fingers while he looked at his watch.

“Your blood pressure is high, my dear. You need to try and relax. We won’t leave. And if you need a sleep aid, I can prescribe something for you, but rest is what you need right now.”

Lucy nodded obediently, and I took her hand and led her to one of Jack’s spare bedrooms. I pulled back the plaid bedspread, and she toed off her shoes before she slid in under it. Once she was tucked in, I kissed her on the cheek.

“Everything will be okay,” I told her as I stroked her hair. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“I don’t know how you’re going to do that,” she said, and her eyelids looked heavy.

“Go to sleep and don’t worry about how; just know I will.”

I was pretty sure she was asleep in the seconds it took me to exit the room.

When I walked back in the living room, my entire family looked at me as one. “I know,” I said, frowning. “It’s a horrible situation.”

We all went into Prescott mode. Jack said he’d contact his PR department and make sure they quashed any stories that were scheduled to be published. His company was one of the best public relations firms in the state. If anyone could shut down the media, it was them.

Mom told Jack she and her firm would take care of any legal issues.

Gretchen, being true to form, said she’d be Lucy’s shoulder and would kick anyone’s ass who came near her, and Josh echoed her sentiments.

And Dane, well, we knew how he felt.

As for me, I’d already made my decision as to what I was going to do. Now I just needed to tell my family. But first, I had to make a few calls.

I excused myself and went into Jack’s home office to call Ben.

“Okay,” I said without preamble when he answered. “Tell me how bad it really is.”

“Grissett is all over it like white on rice. He’s foaming at the mouth, and from what I understand, television ads are being produced as we speak.”

Fuck. “Ads stating what?”

“They’re questioning your character and choices. The asshole is going to trash you and your reputation.” He paused, but I stayed silent. “I don’t need to tell you the ramifications this could have in the long run. Being the incumbent, you don’t have an opponent in the primary, but he’s looking at November and is ready to discredit you any chance he gets. He’s like a dog in heat right now. I don’t need to remind you, the primary is just around the corner.”

“No, you don’t. Ben, I’m thinking of renouncing my candidacy. The party needs twelve days’ notice, and they need to get someone to run against this asshole. I know Smythe is ready to go. Maybe you can get a job with him.”

Ben cursed under his breath. “I had a feeling you were going to say that, and I told you not to worry about me. You do what you think is best, but I say let’s beat this guy fair and square. Your reputation is strong, Drake, but I understand why you’re considering it. Whatever you decide, I’ll be by your side.”

“Thank you. I’d like you to set up a press conference for next Friday. I’ll have my decision by then.”

“You got it, boss. Tell her I’m very sorry she’s going through all of this.”

“I will. Thank you.”

I sat back in the tall leather chair and swiveled to look out the window. Jack’s property was vast and professionally manicured. The leaves on the trees were still, and I just hoped it wasn’t the calm before the storm.

But I knew how to stop it. Yes, my decision was made.

I found everyone sitting at the table having lunch when I walked into the kitchen. I took a seat and grabbed a sandwich from the platter in the center of the table.

“Did you finish your phone calls, son?”

I nodded to acknowledge my father, and then scanned the room as all eyes focused on me. “I’ve decided to pull out of the race. It’s the best thing to do.”

“No! It isn’t.”

Lucy’s voice echoed through the room. Startled, I gaped at her as she came into the kitchen.

She walked up to the table and stood by me. “You can’t do that. I won’t let you.”

I got up and took her face in my hands. The color in her cheeks was back, and she looked better. “You’re more important to me.”

“That doesn’t matter,” she insisted. “You’re important to our country. You can’t pull out of the race because of me, Drake. This is my problem, and if we aren’t together, it won’t be yours.”

“Absolutely not. I’m not losing you, not when it took my entire life to find you. No, and I don’t want you to ever say that again.”

Jack spoke up. “Lucy, why don’t you stay here until things die down? The press won’t get past my gate. You’ll be safe here.”

Lucy shot him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Jack. But I don’t have any of my things, and I can’t hide forever.”

Gretchen shook her head. “I brought all the necessities you need, plus some clothes. I’ll go to your place tomorrow with Josh and grab whatever else you’ll need. And I already called Mason because he was worried about you.”

“Is he okay?” Lucy looked at my sister, concern for her best friend pinching her face.

“Yes, he’s fine. He said no one from the press had contacted him, and if they did, he’d deal with it. He also said that he put in a call to the school administrator, but he wasn’t there.”

Lucy considered what she said, and then nodded. “Okay. Thank you.” She looked at Jack. “I’ll stay here for a couple of days, but then I’m going home.”

Gretchen batted her eyes at Jack. “Can I move in too? I’ve never had a sister, and it’d be cool to hang out in your fancy digs for a while.”

“Yes, of course you can, Gretch,” Jack said with a grin. “You know my house is your house.”

“Thanks!” She leaped out of her chair and hugged him. “I have the best big brother ever.”

“Hey!” Josh and I said in unison.

Gretchen winked at us over his shoulder, and Lucy started to laugh. My heart lightened, because at this moment, I had my girl back.

I was relieved when Lucy sat at the table with us and had something to eat. She’d been so pale before, and had been shaking. Getting something in her stomach was a good start toward getting her back to normal.

As I watched her eat, I couldn’t think of anything but what she’d suggested. How could she think I’d even consider not being with her? That wasn’t going to happen, but she didn’t need to know I’d already made up my mind. Right now she was smiling, and I wasn’t about to do anything to wipe that smile off her face.

After we ate, Dad had to go to the hospital to check on a patient. Josh and Gretchen went to Lucy’s to pick up some clothes for her, and Jack took Lucy out back to show her the grounds.

That left my mom and me in the house alone. We sat in silence for about five minutes before she started in on me.

“Drake, I think you really need to consider what you’re going to do. But my motherly instincts tell me you’ve already made up your mind.”

“I have. Yes, it would be a dream come true to one day be president, but at what cost? There’s no way I could forge ahead without putting Lucy through more scrutiny. All of this wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t in the public eye like I am. But there’s no reason I can’t still make an impact in the private sector.”

I stood and gave my mom a kiss, trying to ignore the sadness I saw in her eyes. “Thank you for always being there for me.”