When Passion Flares (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 2) Read Free

once more retreat to figure out his next game plan, Terrence and his campaign manager Paul appeared from the study, waving the youngest Hall down. “Come in, son!” Terrence called, his sleeves rolled up and his slippers on. “Got something we want to discuss with you.”
    Although skeptical, Hunter maintained his even expression and joined Terrence and Paul in the study, a medium-sized alcove in the Hall residence that sported half a library and enough political magazines to destroy a forest. Terrence never read any of them. He had other people read them and report on the findings. That was how Hunter learned to read so many years ago.
    Like the two buddies they were after so many years, Terrence and Paul lounged on a sofa while enjoying some brandy. They invited Hunter to join them, but he chose to sit on the other side of the coffee table, in an armchair given to Terrence by a fellow representative back in Washington. Hunter couldn’t remember the man’s name. He had a hunch he was from California, the place Hunter called home when he was a small child… before Terrence uprooted the Hall family to their current state where it was easier to get elected to local offices.
    “Your father tells me that you may not be able to go to Mitchell’s next fundraiser,” Paul said after a sip of brandy. He crossed his legs on the sofa, and probably would’ve lit a cigar if given the chance. A weasel-looking man of over fifty, Paul had seen enough campaigns to write a tell-all book – most of those campaigns were for his good friend Terrence Hall, who picked him up fifteen years ago because he represented the only competition to ever crush Terrence in an election. When you can’t beat them… Since then, Paul might as well have been called Paul Hall. “Shame, since that information you gave us last time proved to be instrumental in getting us ahead a few points. Get them where they’re weak, right?”
    Hunter shrugged. “Sure.”
    “Bet you got a good look at the governor’s daughter, eh? Ain’t she around your age?”
    This time Hunter almost lost his poker face. Do they know? He had one split second to determine the amount of information Paul had. Forget Terrence – he wouldn’t know a monkey was scratching his shoulder – but Paul was paid to know everything about the opposition. “I don’t know much about her, but I’m sure I saw her.” It seemed safe enough for an answer.
    Paul smiled. “She’s hard to miss. Beautiful young lady. Hard to believe those two old fools made such a lovely one like her.”
    Watch it. Fine thing if Hunter’s relationship with Kerri was found out because he decked Paul for sounding like a bastard. Kerri would be livid to know such Neanderthal behavior occurred, but damn would it be satisfying. “I suppose. What is this about again?”
    Paul leaned back into the couch while Terrence continued to soak up the smug air in the room. “We’ve recently discovered something quite interesting about the Mitchell family. We don’t have any proof yet, but once we do, this election will be in our bag.”
    “I see.” Hunter squared his shoulders. “What does this have to do with me?”
    “Nothing. Just thought you would like to make a toast to your father’s…”
    Something beeped in Terrence’s pants. “Whoa there!” he exclaimed, jumping up to snatch his phone from his back pocket. One look at the caller made his cheeks redden. “Afraid I gotta take this one in private, fellas.” He exchanged a look with Paul that Hunter could not translate. “Go ahead and leave your old man alone for a while, son. This stuff would bore you.”
    Says the man who wants me to go into the family business. But Hunter nodded his head and took his leave of his father and the campaign manager. There were more pressing things he wanted to get back to anyway.
    Like locking himself in his room and attempting to call his girlfriend once more.
    Hunter sat on the edge of his bed, his jacket loose on his