seemed upset when you showed up tonight?â
âHe isnât worried about that at all. He knows I wonât say a word. My father would disown me if I did anything to hurt Paulâs image or reputation. My father believes Paul can be president.â
âOf the United States?â She sounded incredulous.
Bo nodded. âLook around you, Melissa. Paul is as connected as anyone, he has tremendous firepower behind him and he can sell ice cubes to Eskimos. He can make people believe anything he wants, whether itâs in person or in front of a camera. Heâs part movie star and part cult leader. Itâs a helluva combination.â
âI know,â Melissa agreed.
âOnce it became clearâwhen Paul was still a teenagerâthat he would be a natural leader, that he possessed that unique power of persuasion and the looks to boot, the Hancock machine went into action.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âPaul is just thirty years old and heâs met and been photographed with everyone who counts in the political, business, entertainment, and sports worlds. Heâs been the chairman of several important charities and been given full credit for their successes in the press, even though he has no more appreciation for what the charities do than he does for how hard the common man works every day. Heâs gone to the finest schools and traveled around the world.â Boâs expression hardened. âAnd he won his state senate seat virtually unopposed. His next objective is to be governor of Connecticut.â
âGovernor?â
âYep. And my father will make it happen. Jimmy Leeâs influence is remarkable. He has a lot of friends who owe him favors.â
Paulâs voice interrupted them. âMelissa, Iâm ready.â
Bo and Melissa turned around quickly.
Paul stood in the veranda doorway. âIâve finished the calls I needed to make,â he announced. âCome on.â
âIâll be right there,â she answered, wondering how long he had been standing there.
âWhat are you waiting for?â
âI want to say good night to Bo,â she said hesitantly, aware that she risked facing his considerable wrath by not being immediately obedient. But she wasnât ready to leave Bo yet.
Paul eyed Bo. âDonât be long,â he warned Melissa. âIâll be inside, by the pool.â
When he was gone, she touched Boâs hand. âI enjoyed this.â
âSo did I.â Bo had a feeling that she wanted to say more.
âWell, good night,â she finally said, and started toward the door.
âGood night, Melissa.â Bo reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out another cigarette. âYou asked me why Paul was upset when I ran into you two tonight inside the playhouse.â
Melissa turned back to face him. âYes?â
âHe really was afraid that Iâd try to steal you,â Bo said, lighting the cigarette.
Melissa hesitated. âDid it ever cross your mind?â
âWhat?â
âStealing me.â
Bo inhaled, sucking smoke deep into his lungs. âI love Meg.â
âBut youâre tempted.â
âAny man with a pulse would be, Melissa.â
âIsnât wanting as bad as doing?â
âNo.â
âWhy not?â
âThoughts come and go. The key is controlling your actions.â
Melissa gazed at him for a long time, then moved to the doorway, where she stopped and turned around once more. âBo.â
He looked up. âYes?â
âRemember that all things done in the dark eventually come to light.â Then she was gone.
For a few moments Bo stared at the empty doorway. Finally he dropped the cigarette, stepped on it, and moved to the door. Down a long corridor leading to the indoor pool, he could hear Paul, obviously drunk, talking loudly. Bo put his empty scotch glass down on a coffee table and collapsed into an easy