My smile faded as I blew out a long tired breath, while trying not to think about the “what if’s.” It was a waste of time wishing that things were different. Nina and I being in her life would do more harm than good. We’d already hurt her enough. Hopefully, Cecily would never know the depths of our deception.
The privacy partition window was lowered halfway down. “Ms. Lee-Xiou, we’ll be pulling up toward the entrance in a few minutes.”
Max had been silently sitting across from me the entire time. He spoke up to the driver. “Our security got clearance to park in the Capital garage. Follow the instructions that I just text you.”
“Got it, Mr. Lee.”
I nodded to both of them, and the window immediately went back up. It was time to put an end to this RICO situation.
*****
Max and I walked down the halls of Congress and headed toward the sub-committee conference room on Natural Resources. My new lawyer was going to meet me there. After our marathon prep meeting yesterday, I knew it would finally be handled right.
I was parched. Some water would be good to refresh my dry throat. I looked around for a water fountain. Did they even make those anymore?
“Ah. There’s one.” I made a mad dash for it. Unfortunately, some idiot wasn’t paying attention and was backing out of a conference room while talking to someone. I didn’t move out of his way fast enough before he bumped into me. Dammit! Arms flailing, I felt myself falling backward.
Another pair of strong arms quickly reached out to catch me before I hit the floor. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean . . .”
I held on to his arms feeling the steely muscle underneath his expensive gray suit as I looked up into the most gorgeous pair of blue eyes framed by the sexiest pair of eyelashes I’d ever seen. I couldn’t believe how strong my voice sounded when I felt anything but. “You almost knocked me down.”
That lop-sided grin was pure sin, and I was a sucker for a chiseled jaw-line with just a bit of a shadowed beard. His gaze staring into mine left me feeling wobbly-kneed and even a little breathless. It had been a long time since I’d felt an immediate attraction to someone.
“I never would have let that happen. I’ve got you.” His husky voice was sexy as hell, but hearing him say I’ve got you was even sexier. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had uttered those words, if ever. Was that my heart rate speeding up? This was madness. We were locked in an awkward embrace in the hallways of Congress, and I was acting like a silly teenager because a sexy man was showing me some attention. Get it together, Gina. I stiffened and pulled myself up straight, with his assistance.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” His voice was full of concern.
Another voice joined the conversation. “Are you okay?” This is the one time Max could disappear. I turned to him. “I'm all right.”
My tone was clipped when I returned my gaze back to the man who knocked me over. “You should be more careful.”
“I should, and I apologize again Ms. . . .?” His eyes twinkled as if he were flirting.
If he were flirting—too bad. This wasn’t the time or the place for me to get wrapped up in silly indulgences. “Like I said be more careful.”
“Gina!”
I swiveled around to see my lawyer yelling out to me from down the hall. I turned back to the handsome stranger.
“At least I now have a first name.” He extended his hand. “I’m Brody Windham. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Gina.”
I just stared at his hand before returning my gaze back to his face. “I’ve got to go.”
“Something about the way you’re looking at me makes me want to get your last name . . . maybe even ask you out for dinner.”
Men were so intimidated by me that his confidence alone was almost enough for me to want to give him my last name and accept his invitation. Once he knew, he would probably respond to me just like every other man. Unabashedly, I checked him out slowly from his expensive Italian leather shoes, a custom-tailored suit that fit those broad shoulders perfectly, all the way up to his hundred dollar blonde haircut. It was so perfect; I wanted to run my fingers through it just to mess it up.
I kept my face blank with only a hint of a smile. “Gotta go.” I didn’t respond to his fishing expedition one way or the other. If he really wanted to take me out to dinner he would find out who I was, and if that didn’t scare him away, then maybe I’d accept.
Chapter 10
“If you want to put this RICO inquiry behind you, then I need you focused. Not flirting with some random in the hallway.”
“I am focused, and just be glad I’m not flirting with Alexandro. Does he even know you’re here?”
“Let’s get a few things straight, Gina. You and me . . . we’re not friends. We’ll never be friends, so you don’t get to ask me personal questions about my husband. I flew to DC at the drop of a dime for one reason and one reason only, and that’s to keep your bat-shit crazy sister away from Cecily. If this will help in that effort, then I’ll do all I can to ensure your success.”
I hated Braylee Hinsdale with every fiber of my being.
