Candidate: A Love Story (27 page)

Kate was exhausted by the time she got home. It was raining for the first time in weeks, and she’d just been on the phone listening to both her mother and her father telling her that Ethan’s wife, Faith, just found out she was pregnant with their second child. Kate already knew because Faith had texted her a picture of the positive test stick. She sent back happy faces and kisses, but hadn’t had a chance to talk with them yet. Her parents were thrilled, of course, and then instead of leaving it there, had to launch into when she was going to start a family. That of course led to why she was working so hard and never dated. By the time she reached her front door, she was soaking wet and about as far from a fairytale as she could get. She needed her slippers and her new couch immediately.

She had just settled in when her phone vibrated.

“Hey,” Grady said when she answered. “How was your Friday back?”

“Well, after your flowers arrived, it went down hill from there. Where are you?” Kate asked, kicking her slippers off and pulling her feet onto the couch.

“Oh, you know, the bar, pounding back a few.”

“Not funny. Seriously where are you?”

“All right, someone is grumpy. Anything I can do to help?”

“You can tell me that you’re safe and sound in your bed. That you have no plans to blow off steam, and that getting back at your father for trotting you around a school he never cared about until it was determined it could help his election, is not on your agenda at all. I’ve just had to deal with my parents, I can’t handle any fall-out from yours right now,” she said, realizing her stomach was growling.

“Wow, that was a mouthful. I’m pretty sure I’ve dealt with those feelings in a positive way. I’m down here at Golden Phoenix, thinking of buying some Chinese and showing up at your door. But now I’m thinking you’re not in the mood for me or my egg rolls,” Grady said.

“I— well I was going to just sit here feeling sorry for myself, so why not. Don’t forget the hot mustard and come on over.”

“Be there in about thirty minutes. Sit tight. Don’t start the pity-party without me.”

Kate gave a half-hearted laugh and hung up the phone.

They sat on the couch with white paper boxes and chopsticks, watching the first
Mission Impossible
. As the credits rolled, Kate hit the mute button and leaned back, resting her head on the back of the couch.

“Not a whole lot of tabloid fodder here,” she said, turning to look at him. “People might start to think you’re just an average guy if you keep this up.”

“True. Maybe someday they’ll realize my life is none of their business. Are you okay? You seem stressed, angry, I’m not sure.”

“See, normally I would agree with you, but you are not just laying low, living a quiet man’s life, are you? With the exception of the last few months, you are a different guy. It’s hard to keep track sometimes.” Kate chose to ignore his questions because she found she was angry, confused.

“Wait, what are we talking about here, the campaign or our relationship?”

“What relationship? There isn’t a relationship,” Kate scoffed and got up to clear the food.

Grady followed.

“Because you’re not sure who the hell I am? Is that what you’re telling yourself now? There would be a relationship, you’d admit you have feelings for me, but oh this just in, you’re not sure who I am?” Grady said, stepping into the kitchen.

“I’m talking in generalities here. I’m saying that you should figure out who you are. Just some friendly advice. Only here to help, Mr. Malendar.”

She had pissed him off, she could tell these things about him now, and he moved into her space. “I know exactly who I am. Since it’s clear that we are now talking about our relationship, or lack thereof, I need to say that you, Kate, you are the one who needs to figure things out.”

“What? We’re not talking about me. This isn’t about me. Stop twisting things around because you can’t just be true to who you really are.” She pushed past him and walked back into the living room.

“Oh, I get it now, you’re not sure which man you’re in love with.” He stepped in front of her again. “If it’s the guy all the women make goo goo eyes at, the one who acts like an idiot, well then you’ve repeated the same mistake.”

Kate looked into his eyes. Anger hung between them, but Grady kept pushing.

“If it’s the guy who’s warm and fuzzy, the guy who helps sick people and children, then you want to parade him out like a trick pony so your client will win another damn election? Is that it, Kate? Either way, I lose, and do you want to know why?” He was inches from her now. “Because you are the one hiding. You’re scared shitless, so don’t turn this on me. Don’t make this about me, because this conversation has nothing to do with me, or your job that you conveniently hide behind. This has to do with your heart, all caged up in there.” Frustration spilled off him. He held her shoulders. “Let me in, God damn it,” he pleaded.

“Get out,” she said on a shallow breath.

Grady’s hands dropped, he sighed, grabbed his coat and went out into the rain. When the door slammed, Kate sank to her couch. She was shaking, as if an intruder had just left her house. She
was
hiding, and she was dangerously close to being found.

Thirty minutes later there was a knock at the door. It was loud, frantic. Heart pounding, Kate knew who it was. She didn’t have to look. She tried to collect herself, but it wasn’t doing much good. She needed to buy some time before Grady was in front of her again.

“Who is it?”

No answer, just more knocking.

“Yes, who is it?”

“Kate, you know who it is.”

“Grady? We don’t have anything to discuss unless something is wrong? Why are you—” “Open the door, Kate,” he said, his voice unsteady and breathy.

Kate slid the chain across the track and unlocked the door. Her shaking hand turned the knob and even though she knew why Grady had come back, she didn’t expect what happened next. He gently pushed the door open and closed it behind him. He stared at her, water dripping from his lovely face, and turned the lock. His eyes were intense, almost like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. Dropping his coat at the door, Grady slowly came toward her, wet and still attempting to get his breath. He said nothing, not one word. Kate backed away as he kept coming until her back hit the wall of the entryway. He stood inches from her. She could feel his breath. Hands trembling, he brought them to her face, brushed them along her hair, sculpted gently, looking at Kate like . . . Christ, like no man had ever looked at her before.

She could not look away or come up with some clever, biting thing to say. She was putting all effort into getting oxygen as his hands settled along the back of her neck. He was cradling her face and still he said nothing. Kate couldn’t breathe, so words were impossible. They stood listening to each other’s breath. Grady was soaking wet. Water dripped from his gorgeous flushed face. Kate lifted her hand and moved the wet hair off his forehead. His eyes were so clear and his chest pulsed under his now nearly-transparent white shirt. It shot through her so fast, she didn’t have time to think, process or analyze. All she knew was she wanted him. Just as he was, rich, poor, smart-ass, gentle warmth, she wanted it all. It didn’t matter how long she had him or what the rules were. She wanted for the first time in a very long time, and that was enough. Kate touched his chest, unbuttoned his shirt, and peeled it off his shoulders. Grady’s eyes followed her hands moving across his body. She waited for him to say something, but still nothing. He moved his hands to her sides, trying to free his arms from the wet shirt now buttoned at his wrists. He flicked one wrist free as the shirt, still attached to the other wrist, whipped up and across Kate’s face. His eyes went wide and she broke with laughter.

“That . . . shit, are you okay?” He pulled her to him with his free arm. They were both laughing now. “That never happens.”

Kate could not stop laughing. Here they were in this very passionate moment and Grady, Mr. Smooth, couldn’t even get out of his shirt.

“Seriously, I’m usually pretty good at this. I really saw that going differently in my mind.”

She reached down and undid the last button at his wrist. The shirt dropped to the floor.

“I mean can you believe that? I actually have moves. It’s just you. It’s when you—”

“Grady?”

His arms crossed in front of a most wonderful chest. He was still rambling about the shirt slap and Kate had moved on to the chest, the arms, and the wet linen pants. All of that mixed with fumbling, laughter and his flushed cheeks. She was gone.

“Yeah.”

“Come here.”

He stood in front of her.

“Closer.”

He smiled, unfolded his arms and stood almost nose-to-nose, staring into her eyes.
Jesus Christ!

“Grady?”

“Yes, Kate?” he said, putting his hands up on the wall and boxing her in. He hovered, skimmed her body with his eyes and met her breathless stare.

“Touch me.”

He slowly brought his lips to hers, arms still extended on the wall. His lips brushed, continued along her jaw and down her neck. It was soft, he was barely there, but her entire body felt him. She unraveled one tiny nerve at a time. Kate brushed her fingers along his collarbone, over the caps of his shoulders, and then touched her lips to his neck. Grady’s arms wrapped around her and his mouth was on her. She melted into him and was filled with the warmth of the very best spring rain. She could feel his breath change as her hands traveled along his back. What began as soft, quickly turned urgent as they both slipped past the line Kate had clung to in a desperate attempt to save herself from feeling what was now racing through her entire body. Her thoughts suddenly reminded her it had been a long time. They tried to fill her with insecurity and doubt, but with each touch, all thought was muffled and Kate let go.

After, they lay at the base of her new couch tangled in each other, listening to the rain dance on the windows. It was dark except for the glow from what was left of the candle Kate had lit when she got home. Grady ran his fingers along her spine. His breath rhythmic, soft. Kate began sliding off to the side, but he held her in place.

“Just, could I just have one more minute wrapped in you?” he asked.

She smiled into his chest and stayed right where she was, listening to his heart and feeling peaceful, surrounded. Kate tilted her head up to peek at him. He kept one arm around her and put the other behind his head.
Sweet Jesus, he was even comfortable with himself naked.

“I don’t want to let go,” he said, tracing a finger through her hair.

“Well, at some point we’ll need to . . . ”

“I don’t need anything. I’m all set.”

She touched his face. “You have bushy eyebrows.”

“Hmm, not sure I’ve gotten that one before,” he said raising an eyebrow dramatically.

“You do, they’re bushier now that I’m close and . . . ”

“Naked on top of me?”

She laughed. “Yes, that too. I like them and,” her fingers moved down his cheek, “what’s the story with this?”

“I need to shave?”

“I know that, but did you shave this morning? I mean that’s an awful lot of stubble for the end of the day.” Kate was being playful and he smiled.

“I sort of shaved this morning. It’s not my favorite thing to do. I had pretty bad skin growing up, mostly on my cheeks and chin. When I was younger it was hard to shave and now I kind of use the stubble to cover up my not so smooth skin. It’s all about covering up the less appealing parts, right?”

Kate smiled.

“Also, I suppose I’m a hairy guy?”

“Nice hairy. I like your hair.” She touched his lips. “And I love these . . . these lips. I’ve secretly always loved them.”

He kissed the tip of her fingers. “I like you this way.”

“What way is that?” She touched his chin.

“Warm, relaxed and basking.”

“Basking, huh?”

“Yes, I think so. Let me get a closer look.” In one move Grady was over her, surveying. For a moment she was self-conscious, but the way he looked at her was something unreal, and then he made her laugh. “Well, you are definitely not hairy, so that’s good.” He ran his finger along her face and she closed her eyes. “Oh no, don’t close those. I could look into them forever. There’s so much in there, it’s endless.”