LITMIR.BIZ

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her jaw. “Not by any means. You can either do this the easy way,” he shrugged his shoulder, “or my way. It’s your choice.” His smile was devilishly wicked, but his eyes were deadly serious.

      Vaughn’s eyes widened in disbelief. Who the hell did he think he was, anyway? Vaughn thought in a rush, her thoughts finally focusing. She was an assemblywoman for the state of Virginia. She was the daughter of a Superior Court judge. How dared he talk to her as if she were just…just a woman? As she opened her mouth to tell him just where he could go, he leaned down and placed a silencing kiss on her pouting lips. “Think about it,” he said, brushing past her. “I will.”

      Vaughn spun around in open-mouthed astonishment to watch his casual departure as though nothing more had transpired between them than an impersonal goodbye.

      “Wasn’t that Justin Montgomery I just saw kissing you?” came a friendly voice practically in her ear.

      Vaughn turned quickly back around, her thoughts spinning. She forced her mind to clear as her eyes rested on her best friend and chief of staff, Crystal Porter.

      “Crystal,” she responded stupidly.

      “Very good,” she teased. “Now, back to my question.”

      “Oh, that,” Vaughn answered casually, recovering her poise. She waved her hand in dismissal. “Just a friendly goodbye, that’s all.” Her dimples flashed.

      Crystal’s thick eyebrows arched in disbelief. “You can tell me anything, girlfriend. But you know that I know better.” Her voice lowered to a sassy whisper. “You haven’t let anyone, or should I say, any man, get close enough to you even to smell your perfume, let alone give you a kiss. And on the mouth, at that.” She pursed her lips and peered at Vaughn from beneath thick black lashes.

      “Don’t be dramatic, Crystal. That’s not true.”

      “Yeah, right. Anyway, it’s time to make your goodbye and thank-you speech to the masses.”

      “Thanks.” They began walking toward the dining room. “Actually, I’ll be glad when this whole night is over,” she said, trying unsuccessfully to shake off the lingering effects of Justin’s kiss.

      “You think you will. But you know you love the limelight. You were born for this sort of stuff. And Virginia would be a helluva better place if you had a seat in Congress.”

      Vaughn squeezed Crystal’s arm. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Chris.”

      “Sure you do. You’d hire someone almost as qualified as I am. Because you know I’m the best.”

      “Yeah, you keep reminding me. Now, let’s go and get these people out of here.”

      “Go for it. And lay it on thick,” she added with a smile, as Vaughn made her way to the front of the hall.

      Flashbulbs and applause competed feverishly as Vaughn spoke both passionately and humorously about her bid for Congress.

      “…your presence here tonight renews my determination to win this election. I stand by my conviction that government is ultimately responsible for its people.” A roar of applause filled the room. “I intend to take the voices and needs of my constituency to Capitol Hill. I have no intention of becoming,” she paused for effect, “one of the good ol’ boys.” Laughter filled the air. “My stand on women’s rights has caused storm clouds to gather, but that’s what umbrellas are for.”

      “The crowd loves her and the press adores her,” Sheila whispered to Crystal as she eased up beside her, both of them watching Vaughn enchant the ballroom crowd.

      “She definitely has what it takes, Mrs. Hamilton. There’s no question about that.”

      “But there’s a long road ahead,” Sheila continued. “There’ll be those who’d rather she stayed at home, barefoot and pregnant, than run for higher office. You be there for her, Crystal,” Sheila pressed, squeezing Crystal’s arm for emphasis.

      Crystal turned to look at Sheila, the faint hint of warning in her voice sending a shudder of alarm skimming up her spine. “I’m sure we can handle any mud that gets slung,” Crystal assured. “Vaughn is tough.”

      “She’ll have to be tougher,” Elliott interjected, joining the two women. “There’s no room in politics for the weak of heart.” He put his hand around his wife’s waist. “I’ve paved the way for that girl. I know she’s not going to let me down.”

      Sheila straightened her shoulders and fixed a smile on her face. “Of course she won’t, sugar,” Sheila assured her husband, even as a sense of foreboding found a haven in her heart.

      The room erupted into thunderous applause as Vaughn concluded her speech. She joined her parents on the sidelines.

      “Whew. That’s that,” Vaughn breathed with relief.

      “You did good, girl,” Crystal said giving her a brief hug.

      “Thanks.” Vaughn grinned. Crystal Porter was the only person she knew who could turn girl into a three-syllable word.

      “This is only the beginning, princess,” Elliott said. “So you’d best be prepared.” He clamped his lips around the unlit pipe that was his trademark.

      “I will, Daddy. I will,” she said wearily. “Mama, I’m going to be heading home. I’m beat.”

      “I know you are, sugar. You must have shaken a thousand hands tonight.”

      “Not to mention the countless wet kisses,” Crystal chimed in.

      Vaughn switched her gaze to Crystal, her eyes flashing in annoyance.

      “What?” Crystal asked innocently.

      Vaughn shook her head. “Never mind. I’m getting out of here. Mama, Daddy, I’ll speak to you both tomorrow.”

      “If you’re that tired, Vaughn,” her father said, “I think it best you stay here tonight. You don’t need to be driving home half asleep.”

      She heard the beginnings of an order in his voice but she wasn’t having it. Not tonight. “I’ll be fine.” She kissed his cheek and then her mother’s. “I promise. I’ll call as soon as I get in.”

      Elliott frowned and gnawed on his pipe, not at all pleased. But there was no point in getting his shorts twisted in a knot on such an auspicious night. This one time he’d let her rebellious streak go. “You just make sure you do that.”

      “Goodnight, everyone,” Vaughn said wearily. “Chris, do you need a ride?”

      “No. I have my car. I’ll see you on Monday. Be safe.”

      Vaughn waved and swept out the door, deeply relieved to be out from under the supervision of her father. She couldn’t wait to get home and hop into bed.

      As she slowly pulled out of the drive and onto the street, the sound of a honking horn caught her attention. She peered through the darkness and saw the headlights of a parked car at the edge of the six-foot iron gate. Cautiously, she eased the car down the lane. Quickly she checked that her windows were up and the doors were locked. Just because you paid a lot of money to live someplace didn’t protect you from crime, she thought nervously. Norfolk’s crime statistics could attest to that. She pressed her foot on the gas, intent on speeding past the waiting auto before the driver had a chance to know what was happening.

      Her black Jaguar jetted forward, but not before the driver stepped in front of her car. “Holy….” she screeched, as she slammed on the brakes. The momentum threw her against the steering wheel. For several long moments she sat shivering in her seat, her head pressed against hands that couldn’t seem to release the wheel.

      The sharp tapping on her window caused her to gasp in alarm. Her head snapped up. Her eyes, wide with fright, darkened into two dangerous slits. She bit down on her lip to keep from expelling a spew of expletives. Like a flash of lightning she

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