The Laws of Seduction: A French Kiss Novel Read Free Page B

if he didn’t get what he came for on this trip, there’d be no point in pursuing it any further. And if that happened, he was going to need a good deal of Glenfiddich for the anger-fueled binge he intended in the aftermath. But he wasn’t about to give up yet. He had one last try in him. Too many jobs, too many billions of dollars depended on his success getting this harbor dredging bill passed, and this time he’d do whatever it’d take, even throw her own words back at her. So he took out his phone and turned on the voice recorder, setting it on the bar. By the time Lilith joined him, he was already sipping his scotch.
    “Malbec—any kind,” she said to the bartender. When he left she turned to Rex. “You were supposed to be here last night. What happened?”
    He took another sip, staring straight ahead, like he was listening to the jazz quartet or watching for a friend to arrive. “Sorry, ma chérie , but some people actually work more than two days a week. A strange concept, but true.”
    “That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Her gown rustled as she reached for the wine, a strand of silver-blonde hair slipping from her otherwise impeccable up-do. She lifted the glass to her lips. “I’ve missed you,” she said, sotto voce.
    He glanced to her husband, his stomach jiggling as he laughed. And my contributions to your campaign. “So nice to be wanted, Lilith.”
    “Two months,” she said. She snatched a napkin from the bar, blotting her lips. “That’s a long time to make me wait,” she said, looking down at the ruby-red oval her impression had left.
    “ Oui , it is. Even in the congressional time-space continuum. Two months more the goddamned bill’s been in that vacuum you call a committee.”
    “That’s right. Go ahead and blame me,” she said, crushing the napkin and tossing it. “I’ve tried to get it through, but no one wants to budge. No one wants to admit to spending a dime these days, not with the midterm elections a month away.”
    He swore under his breath. “Not with any election ten years away. It’s going to die in committee and you’re not going to lift a finger to save it, are you?”
    “Who says I’ve given up?” She reached to her hair, setting the single strand back into place. “In fact we may get it out on the floor for a vote this week. We’re just waiting on one member.”
    Rex knew exactly who. “It’s still Brendan Hitchell, isn’t it? Jesus, why haven’t you closed it with him by now?”
    “I will. He’s assures me—”
    “That it’s going to die.” Suddenly a girl across the ballroom caught his eye. She looked vaguely familiar. And she was staring at him hard, unwaveringly. He drained his scotch, signaling for another, the bartender filling it before he continued. “Madame Congresswoman, you need to tell me something new, or your campaign funding will dry up before it gets another dime out of me.”
    “Rex. Please.” She gripped his arm, but one withering glance and she snapped it away. “I’m meeting Hitchell for lunch on Wednesday. He assures me we can work it out.” Her mouth crooked. “At the Hay-Adams. You do recall the hotel, don’t you?”
    The last thing he wanted to do with her was take a trip down memory lane. “Get to the point, Lilith. Why is he taking so long?”
    She took a sip of wine, waving dismissively. “Oh, he wants to tack some waivers onto the bill. But I’m certain we can work it out.”
    “And you will. Because I’ll be there alongside you to make sure you do.” I’ve seen that girl before. She most definitely looks familiar.
    Panic flared in Lilith’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. “That’s not necessary. If you know anything about how D.C. works, you’d know it always goes down to the wire.”
    “Perhaps. But unfortunately, time is a luxury I don’t have.” The Hay-Adams Hotel . . . “I’m going to your meeting with Hitchell. Twelve-thirty, the usual time?”
    “Rex, please, it’s not