Forever Love (Arabesque) (2 page)

Chapter 2

I
t had been a long day and now Keith Washington sat in the backseat of his father’s SUV looking over the event’s program. It was a typical small-venue town hall meeting. It was time-consuming and off the usual grid, but no big deal. Though this wasn’t one he’d sanctioned.

There were several sponsors involved, some of whom he didn’t know. That, he didn’t like. But this was a favor set up by his father for an old friend who’d been working at the community center for years. Having Blake show up brought people out, and that helped the event and the center. But ultimately he’d wished he had more information up front about the other sponsors. He knew in a setting like this, anything could happen.

The last-minute strategy meeting in the backseat of his father’s SUV came to an end just as the car stopped. Keith sent a text to his assistant, who was already inside; there were no last-second changes. Everything was as planned. They were ready and everything was set. It was time. “Are you ready for this?” he asked his father before getting out.

Blake smiled and nodded. “I am. These are my constituents, but they aren’t just the people voting for me. These are the people hoping and praying that I make their lives better. I know it’s small comparatively, but the second I become complacent about the small things is the time I need to get out of office.”

Keith nodded. He knew his father was right. Each and every campaign appearance was essential, not only for the candidate, but also for the office. He knew his father would give one hundred percent and more. “That’s exactly the answer we need. Let’s do this.”

Just as Keith got out of the SUV, Blake’s cell phone rang. “It’s your mother. Go ahead in, I’m right behind you,” Blake said, answering the cell phone smiling.

Keith nodded and continued walking inside. Megan Keats, the law firm’s publicist and the campaign’s PR specialist, met him at the door and handed him a few notes. He read them quickly, then shook hands and briefly spoke with a few associates and businessmen as he entered. The news media were there. He smiled, answered a few questions, then excused himself and headed to the main hall. He stopped at the side entrance and looked back. His father had entered the building and was smiling, shaking hands and chatting briefly with those standing around waiting. He took a few photos, waved and shook more hands.

Keith shook his head. Practicing legislative and regulatory law was nothing compared to being his father’s political strategist and campaign manager. In that position he headed an impressive inner circle of senior advisers that included a media strategist, a communications and policy research director, a chief pollster and a financial director. And every day dozens of résumés were delivered for his vetting.

Everyone wanted to get on board the campaign train because everyone knew this was only the beginning. His father’s political aspirations were modest, but the party was already looking a decade ahead to a very prominent Washington, D.C., position.

Keith stepped inside the main hall and looked around. The small area was packed as he had expected. His father always drew a crowd. Preston Hodge was at the podium speaking. Keith watched him for a few seconds. He’d already assessed Preston as a nonthreat. Still, he was a wild card. He had bold aspirations and a heart to do well, but his troubled background would either hold him back or propel him forward.

The next person he saw on stage was Lester Jameson, his father’s political opponent. He knew he’d already spoken. Keith smiled. What Lester didn’t know was that was exactly as he’d planned it, leaving his father to go last. Lester was a smug, condescending man whose deep pockets matched his father’s but whose political need for power was far too grandiose. Plus, he carried enough baggage to sink the
Titanic
all over again. He was desperate and he was treacherous—two very dangerous attributes.

“All set,” Blake said, placing his hand on Keith’s shoulder.

“Yeah, in a few minutes,” Keith said, still looking around. He took a deep uneasy breath and released it slowly, shaking his head. “This doesn’t feel right. Dad,” he said, nodding at the men standing just inside the entranceway. “You know you really don’t have to do this. All the polls confirm it. You’re eight points ahead.”

“With five points give or take. This election is still too close to call. Jameson still has a very strong following. It could still go either way.”

“But you don’t really need this exposure.”

“And that’s exactly why I’m doing this, Keith. It’s not about the polls or the numbers or the exposure. It’s about pressing flesh, shaking hands and getting to know my constituents. It’s about getting out of the office and meeting the people who matter. You know I’ve always done this and I’m gonna continue to do it even after I’m out of office.”

Keith nodded. He knew his father was right. Blake Washington loved being with people, and people loved being with him.

Preston finished to a very impressive round of applause. Blake’s friend Ace Miller stood up to the podium and, seeing Keith, nodded. Keith opened the door as the announcement was made. Blake entered and everyone turned to see him walk in smiling and waving. He shook hands all the way to the podium. Keith stood, watching Lester. The jealous fire in his eyes was obvious.

Moments later Blake stepped up to the podium and shook hands with his friend and the other candidates on the stage. He took the microphone as the open show of praise intensified. He nodded his head gratefully as the crowd began to settle down. He thanked everybody for coming, then walked down into the crowd and spoke briefly about his hopes and plans for the future of the city. Applause and standing ovations praised the speech throughout. Afterward he took questions and listened to comments and concerns. That’s when everything changed.

A few very positive comments and insightful questions began the segment. Then a young man stood at the center microphone. But to everyone’s stunned surprise, his comment wasn’t just a simple concern of interest about the general welfare of the city. It was accusatory and aggressive, laced with specific unverified allegations about corruption and misappropriations of funds.

The next few comments continued on the same vein of polite, but assertive aggression. Several people in the audience grumbled in defense of the mayor as it became obvious that this was an ambush. These weren’t constituents here to speak and air their concerns with their mayor. These were professional rabble-rousers put in place to stir trouble.

Keith knew a setup when he saw one, but that didn’t concern him. He knew his father would handle the situation easily. What concerned him was that this was a strategically formulated plan and he knew someone sitting in this very room was responsible. The people asking questions were merely mouthpiece puppets—somebody worked the strings.

He looked around the room with more intent. Everyone was looking at his father, paying attention to what was going on, except for a man across the hall looking directly at him. The smug gleeful expression on his face was evident. This was the puppeteer he was looking for.

Keith didn’t recognize him at first, and then he did. He’d seen him a few times. He worked for a community service organization, and right now that satisfied smirk on his face was a dead giveaway.

Keith watched as he leaned over and said something to the woman standing beside him. She turned and looked across the room. Their eyes met and held. Keith’s expression didn’t change, nor did hers. After a few seconds she looked away quickly, but her companion continued to stare in an almost rapturous delight. He wasn’t just happy, he was elated. This was definitely personal. Then it apparently occurred to him that his expression betrayed more than he intended and he quickly turned away. He spoke to the woman beside him again, and then seconds later he walked off in the opposite direction.

Keith watched him cut through the crowd and head to the exit on the other side of the hall. When he got to the door, he turned for one last smirk, then walked out.

Keith refocused on his father. Blake had been answering questions and concerns with his usual calm and even-tempered consideration. He stayed focused and regained his momentum quickly. It was only obvious to the few who knew him well that he’d been caught off guard at first. Like Keith, his father was a master at suppressing emotions through years of courtroom confrontations. He glanced at Keith in a brief instance. Keith nodded his understanding. Blake was back in full control, although the swell of emotions around him had escalated. Tensions were rising and only Blake’s calm, assertive answers seemed to quell the inevitable aggressions. Keith turned back to the woman still standing across the hall. She seemed engrossed in what was going on around her. Her expression was placid, radiating the slightest trace of inner pride that was more mischievous than menacing. He knew she was part of this, as well. But unlike her associate, she looked surprisingly impressed with his father.

Keith walked over slowly, assessing her physical attributes, while her attention stayed focused on his father. She was certainly attractive in her tailored business suite and high heels. He eagerly admired her long shapely legs and her taut rear. Both sent a lustful image of horizontal pleasure through his mind. She had dark hair that brushed her shoulders and flowed easily each time she turned her head. And beyond that, her soft honey-toned complexion, high cheekbones and full luscious lips tinted with a soft blush of color gave him a few less than gentlemanly ideas.

He stood behind her and watched as she focused on the questions and comments. Then all of a sudden she looked around, scanning the area purposefully. Because of the mayor’s presence and the onslaught of negative campaign rhetoric, it had gotten even more crowded than before. Keith watched, knowing she was looking for him. He smiled, enjoying her hunt. All of a sudden the cat was looking for the mouse—
interesting
. He licked his lips and leaned down close to her ear. “I’m here, behind you,” he whispered softly.

Gia inhaled a spicy heavenly aroma. She whipped around to see a perfect Windsor knot. Then she looked up. Six feet three inches of gorgeous man smiled down at her. Her eyes widened to saucers. Soft brown eyes framed by long thick and curly lashes connected with hers. His warm brown cinnamon skin seemed to glow with added masculine virility. His features were chiseled to perfection.

Everything she saw from across the hall was now up close and personal—high cheekbones, strong, firm chin and, heaven help her, full, sexy, kissable lips. His smile broadened slowly, showing sparkling white teeth. An instant later Bonnie’s words popped into her mind—
too, too sexy.
She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it quickly. Her heart stuttered and it felt as if all the air in the room had been extinguished.

She tried to play off a polite smile, but she knew it was too late. Hearing his voice, smelling his cologne and seeing him this close to her had completely taken over her senses. Touching and tasting him were the two senses left. She had no idea how long Keith had been watching her, but she knew it was long enough.

“Hello,” he said, extending his hand. “Keith Washington.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Washington,” she said, surprised her voice was as calm even though her insides were a chaotic jumble of nerves. She quickly turned back around to focus on the discussion.

“And you are...”

“Gia Duncan,” she said, still facing forward.

“Nice job, Gia Duncan,” Keith said, then paused. “Almost.”

“I beg your pardon...job?” she asked.

“Attack job,” Keith clarified.

“No one here has been attacked that I’m aware of. The mayor is simply being held accountable for the promises he had made three and a half years ago.”

“I don’t have a lot of patience.”

“That makes two of us,” she snapped back.

He smirked. “Still, quite an impressive spectacle, Ms. Duncan,” he said, then paused a moment. “Yours, I presume,” he added, seeming to already know the answer.

Gia glanced to the side but didn’t turn around completely, nor did she reply. She hadn’t expected to be found out so soon, and she certainly had no intention of out-and-out giving herself away. That would be too easy for him. She started looking for Bill. All of a sudden he was nowhere in sight.

“Actually, that was more of a statement than a question,” he said. “This was quite obviously your handiwork, along with your suddenly absent friend, of course.” She still didn’t respond.

Someone excused themselves, then passed behind Keith, causing him to move forward closer to Gia. Their bodies were nearly connected. She felt the warmth of his close proximity. She took a deep breath and held her own. She had the courage and she had the determination. Now all she needed was the discipline to bide her time and let her organization do the work.

The questions for the mayor came in a bullet-riddled secession. The OCC participants she’d planted in the audience were relentless. They asked every question assigned and then added follow-up questions, as well. They followed one by one after each other like a tsunami. The audience was coming around to exactly what she had planned. It was perfect. By the fifth question, it was obvious that this wasn’t going to be just another political lovefest for Blake Washington.

After a short time it wasn’t just the OCC members asking pertinent questions. The rest of the audience joined in. The easy-breezy town hall meeting had turned into a serious question-and-answer accountability session. But they weren’t just for Blake, they were for all the elected officials. The OCC was a sponsor and they wanted answers. She wanted answers, too.

To his credit, Blake was knowledgeable and on point. The questions came and he answered them with ease and at times appropriate levity. The charm was back. He never lost his composure. He was a trial lawyer and a politician. It wasn’t that easy to rattle him.

Still, Gia glanced around the open hall smiling, nodding and very proud of herself. All eyes were focused on the mayor, intent on watching and listening to every word. He had everything under control.