LITMIR.BIZ

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evening or like most eligible men in Louisiana who wanted to get close to her father through her.

      “Before you start thinking anything beyond what I asked you, I want us to be clear about one thing.”

      Her brow arched in question.

      “I’m my own man. Everything I have I worked for, I earned. So don’t you think for a hot Louisiana minute that my wanting to see you is because of your family name and your daddy.” He grinned. “I have both. That no good SOB who fathered me is out there somewhere,” he added.

      Lee Ann tossed her head back and laughed from the bottom of her feet. Her delighted expression stirred Preston in a way that he couldn’t put into words, and all he needed was for her to say yes, give him something to look forward to, and she did.

      “You’re mighty quiet over there, sis,” Justin said, drawing her back from her momentary retreat. “Everything okay?”

      Lee Ann patted his arm. “I’m fine. Just a little more tired than I thought.”

      Desiree yawned. “Me, too. I can’t wait to lay my head down.”

      “I could go for a few more hours,” Dominique said. “Wish I would have snuck out with Rafe. Bet he’s having a ball.”

      Lee Ann chuckled to herself and heard her father’s snort of disapproval even as he pretended to be sleeping. This was her family, she thought with loving amusement.

      ***

      Preston was thankful that the reception the prior evening was on a Friday night and not one of the typical midweek galas that zapped you for the rest of the week. He never did understand why so many fundraisers and political dinners were invariably on Tuesday. He laughed to himself as he continued on his early morning jog. Jogging was the one thing he tried to do on a daily basis no matter what his life was like the night before.

      Running through his neighborhood, around the park and along the familiar pathways always invigorated him, cleared his head and stimulated his blood. Whenever he had a complicated issue to tackle with his constituents or had to break down the complexities of a bill that he needed to vote on, running always helped. When he was a kid and he saw the often defeated look on his mother’s face, he ran to keep from crying and to run from the world that had him grow up without a father to help his mother. Or like now, when he ran because his sudden and all-encompassing reaction to Lee Ann Lawson had dominated his thoughts from the moment he’d met her.

      He turned the bend and jogged in place on the corner while a lone car crossed in front of him before he sprinted across the intersection toward the park.

      Mist was still on the leaves, and the earth was moist beneath his feet. The sun turned the horizon a brilliant orange as it rose above it all.

      There were less than a handful of joggers in the park, some of the regulars who seemed to have the same pull to this moment of the morning as he did. He adjusted the earbuds of his iPod in his ears and started around the track, lifting his chin in acknowledgment to those he met along the way.

      He wondered what Lee Ann did to unwind. He wondered what her first thought would be this morning when she awoke. He wondered if she thought something special had happened between them or if it was simply wishful thinking on his part and if she was as eager to see him later that afternoon as he was to see her.

      They’d agreed to meet at Treme, a new bistro that had recently opened in downtown Baton Rouge. The service was said to be excellent and the food even better. He ran a little faster as if mentally pushing the day forward.

      Back home he showered and changed into his college T-shirt from Loyola University and his favorite pair of khaki shorts that were frayed around the waist and hem from so many years of washing.

      While he sipped his coffee and read the paper, he kept getting distracted by thoughts of Lee Ann. More than once he thought of calling her, just to say good morning. But it was barely 7:00 a.m. By ten o’clock, however, he couldn’t wait any longer and pressed in her numbers on his cell phone.

      Lee Ann was in her home office, reviewing and revising her father’s calendar and planning his itinerary for the upcoming week. At sixty, Branford Lawson was still incredibly busy between his enormous responsibilities as senior senator and his social obligations. She tried to maintain an even balance for him and still factor in some time for family and relaxation.

      But today she found it impossible to concentrate on a task that she could do with her eyes closed. That was the problem; every time she blinked she saw Preston, as she had throughout the night. And when her eyes opened with the sun, the images that had slept with her were so potent that she was stunned to realize that he was not there with her.

      She reached for the phone on the desk, thinking of calling him but decided that was much too forward. What would he think? And at the same time that doubt entered the equation, her cell phone rang on the other side of the desk. She lifted it, and Preston’s name and phone number appeared on the illuminated face. Hot air filled her lungs. She pressed Talk and hoped that she didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.

      “Hello…”

      “Good morning. I hope this isn’t too early.”

      His voice soothed her. She relaxed against the leather of her seat. “Not at all. I’ve been up for hours.”

      “Then I rescind my attempt at an unnecessary apology.” Her laughter tinkled in his ears. “So other than dying to see me this afternoon, what are your plans for today?”

      “At the moment I was going over my father’s schedule and making a few adjustments here and there. At least it’s only a few more grueling weeks before the Senate breaks for summer recess. But of course you know that already.”

      “True. I’m looking forward to it myself.”

      “Do you have plans for the break?”

      “Hmm, I did, but I may change my mind about a few things. Let’s talk about it over lunch.”

      “Sure.”

      “Well, I’ll let you get back to work, and I’ll find something to keep myself busy until I see you.”

      It wasn’t so much what he said but the intonation of how he said it, with a stomach-fluttering sincerity that left her momentarily without words.

      “One o’clock,” she said.

      “On the dot. See you later.”

      She disconnected the call but could still feel the pull of Preston’s voice and couldn’t wait to see him.

      “Hey, Lee,” Dominique said, tapping on her sister’s bedroom door.

      Lee Ann stepped out of her walk-in closet, holding up two of her favorite summer dresses. “Hi. Whatsup?” Her gaze and concentration drifted back and forth between peach and Mediterranean blue.

      Dominique came in and plopped down on the end of Lee Ann’s queen-size bed. “I was wondering if you could loan me a few bucks.”

      Lee Ann lowered the dresses and focused on her sister. “A few? How many is a few, and what for this time?”

      “You don’t have to say it like that,” Dominique huffed, feigning offense.

      Lee Ann crossed the room, undecided about her dresses and what to do about her sister. This was the third time in a month. “How much, Dom?”

      “Five hundred.”

      Lee Ann’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened then closed. “Dominique, what in the world for? I just gave you three less than a week ago.”

      Dominique sprang into an upright position on the bed and put on her saddest, most earnest expression. “I know this sounds bad, but I maxed out my credit card and you know how hard I’m trying to keep a good credit rating so that I can get my own place without having to depend on you and Daddy.”

      Lee Ann cut a look at her sister’s sorry attempt

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