Shocking the Senator by Leanne Banks

Author:Leanne Banks
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Seven

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The following day Abe watched Adam kiss his bride after the minister pronounced them man and wife. At the reception, Abe toasted the couple and watched them lead the first dance. An odd emotion twisted in his chest as the music and the crowd swam around him in the beautifully decorated ballroom.

He remembered the day Adam had been born. Abe hadn't even been in the country. When Abe had returned and held his tiny son in his arms, he'd felt proud and humbled by the responsibility. He'd always wanted his children to have every advantage. He'd wanted his children to be proud of their father.

Regret burned in his stomach. He absently rubbed at his gut and caught a whiff of a familiar spicy perfume. Nicola. Standing beside him, she smiled, and something inside him eased.

"How's the father of the groom doing?" she asked.

"This is a little tougher than I anticipated," he said, adjusting his tie.

"A little choked up?" she asked, her eyes gentle.

"Yeah." The fragrance of the mounds of red and white roses throughout the room got to him. He shook his head. "I need some air. Join me?"

She hesitated only a second then nodded. "Sure."

He led her onto the screened terrace of the hotel's ballroom, welcoming the chilly blast of air. Catching her take a quick breath, he pulled off his jacket. "Here, take this."

"I'm fine," she protested, but pulled his jacket around her. "But this does feel nice and warm." She put her hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"

He shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded. "Just thinking about how many years passed that I wasn't there for them."

Nicola was quiet for a moment and the strains of a romantic melody playing inside the ballroom filtered onto the terrace. "I know it hurts," Nicola said. "You can think about what you've missed or make the best of the present and future."

"You're awfully wise for such a young woman," he said, looking into her eyes. The more he was with her, the more he wanted to be with her.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not that young."

He reached for her and pulled her against him. "Now that's pure hogwash," he said, swaying to the music.

She tried not to smile, but failed. "There's no such thing as pure hogwash, and are you dancing with me?"

He nodded. "Just following your advice. You said I should make the best of the present and the future. I'm on a terrace alone with a woman who takes my breath away. I'm making the best of the present."

She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his chin. "You shouldn't say those things."

"Why not? They're true. You know me. Honest Abe, the last honest politician in America."

"I don't believe I take your breath away," she said.

"Then you haven't been paying attention." He brushed his mouth over the top of her head and wondered how he was going to convince Nicola to come to D.C. with him.

The evening wore on and the time arrived for the tossing of the bouquet.

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