Rook (Political Royalty Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

together, but she couldn’t spend another minute watching him on the mock stage. As soon as she was certain the others had things under control, she’d bolted, intending to run through the polling numbers one more time before touching base with the captains on the ground. She hadn’t been expecting Justin to corner her in the hallway.
    “I know.” She looked around to make sure they were alone. The hotel staff assured her they’d have the whole floor but she couldn’t afford any more screw-ups. “I was pretty sure before you found the picture. Nice job on that again.”
    “Hicks confessed.” Justin watched her, searching her face. “He told you the truth.”
    She tried to keep her expression neutral but looking at her friend made it hard. She thought she’d almost gotten away with it until he grabbed her arm and steered her into an empty room. He turned on the light and closed the door behind them before spinning her to face him.
    “So what’s up? He didn’t lie. Hicks is gone and you still can’t stand to be in the same room with him. Why?”
    Justin waited and she fought the urge to squirm. It was stupid. She was a grown woman, not a teenager, but she’d put his future in jeopardy as much as her own. She wanted to promise she wouldn’t do it again, but that would be another lie. She didn’t know if she could stay away from Walker. She’d done her damnedest to avoid him, no easy feat considering she was running his campaign, but it hadn’t changed her feelings for him. The fact that she couldn’t see a scenario where they ended up together—hell, even one that didn’t end in disaster and heartbreak—didn’t stop her from wanting him. It was what she imagined addiction was like. An irrational need despite the risk and consequences. And like an addict, she couldn’t say no.
    She honestly didn’t know what she was going to do, so she took the asshole’s way out and lied by omission. The irony wasn’t lost on her. She’d seen the tapes of Clinton debating the meaning of is , but knowing she hadn’t been the first to employ the tactic didn’t help with the heartache. And it didn’t help when she met her friend’s gaze.
    “I’ve got a lot going on. You of all people should understand that. Half of it is stuff I delegate to you.” She smiled, trying to make light of his concerns, but he didn’t bite. “Listen, Justin,” she said, when it became clear he wasn’t going to speak. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Hicks. I believe Walker told the truth.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said, leaning back against the conference table. “If it’s not the baby scare then it’s something between you and him, and if it’s something between you and the married senator, then we’ve got a problem. I know you, Haven. A guy like this, a good, honest guy who is who he says he is, who can deliver what he promises, is like crack to you. He’s an idealist who can actually back it up. I get the appeal. I do.”
    Justin had been with her through every real disappointment she had. He’d watched her start out believing the world was good, that even if she didn’t always agree with them, the people elected to govern were smart, competent, and with the greater good foremost in their minds. It had only taken one campaign, one candidate who’s good guy persona had been built on a base of corruption, and he’d had his illusions shattered alongside hers. He’d stood at her side as she made the shift from idealist to pragmatist, and celebrated with her when it turned into wins. He was right. An honest-to-goodness champion like Walker was her Achilles’ heel. But knowing she’d finally found what she wanted didn’t mean she got to have it.
    “I overreacted,” she said, telling him the only version of the truth she could. “I thought he lied to me and I hammered him. When I realized he was telling the truth, I had a hard time pivoting. Don’t worry. I can handle this.”
    She turned