Knight (Political Royalty Book 1) Read Free Page B

handed the photos back.
    Walker shook himself back to the present and met the gaze of the man he’d loved most of his life.
    “Don’t tell anyone but the wife until I make it official,” he said, certainty settling over him like a mantle. “I’m running for president.”

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    H AVEN SLIPPED THE DRIVER A handful of bills and bolted through the rain to the front door of Key. With a six-month waiting list for a table, they might at least have a covered entrance. She hated being unprepared, but she’d barely made it on time into the city from Dulles. There’d been no chance to go home and she hadn’t needed an umbrella in sunny South Carolina. A man exiting the restaurant held the door for her and she slipped gratefully inside before the rain turned her into a wet T-shirt contestant.
    “Mansfield party,” she told the pretty hostess standing at the small desk, ignoring the few people waiting out the rain in the vestibule. When the younger woman found her name on the tablet in front of her, her expression turned from disinterested to accommodating so fast it was enough to give Haven whiplash.
    “One of the other members of your party is already here,” said the hostess, ushering her into the restaurant.
    The entryway wrapped in dark mahogany trim stood as an antithesis to the light minimalist restaurants serving sustainably caught seafood and locally sourced greens that had become popular in recent years. This place would have meat , thought Haven, wrinkling her nose as she took in the dark cigar bar atmosphere. Lots of big, thick hunks of meat . It was a throwback to the excesses of the ’90s and proof that eventually everything old became new again.
    “Interesting choice,” she said as the hostess left her at a heavy wooden table set with thick white china.
    “It is. I admit. Ethan likes retro and red meat. This has both. And it was a bitch to get into. I had to promise children you don’t even have to get this table,” said Justin, getting to his feet and pulling her in to press a kiss against her damp cheek. “You’re like a drowned rat. What happened?”
    “How long have you been here? It’s pouring outside.”
    “Not long, but I have this amazing invention called an umbrella. It keeps the rain off my head and keeps my clothes from getting ruined. That silk is going to spot.” He glanced down at her blouse, and her gaze followed his.
    “You’re such a smart ass,” she said, cringing at the drop marks marring the cream silk of her blouse.
    The blouse and gray slacks were her favorites. She wore them almost like a uniform, adjusting the height of her heels when she needed to feel like more of a badass. Today’s choice were a solid three and a half inches of red-soled gorgeousness. It still hadn’t been quite enough to put her eye to eye with Walker. She couldn’t call him Shepherd without thinking of goats, and Shep made her picture border collies. He’d just have to be Walker to her.
    “So what was he like?” asked Justin after they both sat down and the perfectly attentive server took Haven’s drink order. As usual, his sandy blond hair was perfectly styled to look effortless, and his suit fit like it had been made for him. Unlike Walker’s, it hadn’t, but Haven knew from experience her friend believed in the value of a good tailor.
    “Southern,” she said, thinking of her first impressions of the man who might be their next president. Would be, if she had anything to do with it. “Perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect family. You’ve seen his picture.”
    “Lord, yes.” Justin let his eyes drift closed for a moment, and she laughed.
    “Easy. He’s married and hopefully a client.”
    Justin’s eyes snapped open, and he pinned Haven with his gaze, barely blinking while the server set Haven’s glass of Pinot Noir in front of her.
    “Do we have our new candidate?” he asked as soon as the server moved out of earshot.
    “If he decides to run, then yes, I think