Midnight (McKenna Chronicles Book 1) (44 page)

“Go
on,” I prompt, without confirming the truth to his last statement. “What was
sent in New York?”

“Pictures
of you on the streets in Albany, and then the two of us together in New York
City.” He takes a deep breath to calm himself.

“Just
pictures, or was there something else?” When he hesitates, I growl, “Tell me,
God damn it, Colin. I need to know.”

Closing
his eyes he hangs his head, squeezing the bridge of his nose. “There was a note
along with the photos.” My eyes widen, silently prompting him to share the
rest. Sighing, he does. “It said
I’m watching you.
”

“How
many correspondence have you intercepted?”

“Several.”                                                                              

“How
many?”

“There
has been something in every city we’ve visited. We started planning ahead; a
member of my security detail would case our hotel, trying to intercept whatever
was sent in advance of our arrival. For a while that worked. Until Kansas City,
when something was sent directly to the location of my speech.” He stares at
me, pained. “I'll protect you, Charlie, I will. You don’t need to worry about
this.”

I’m
sure my face no longer has color, and is as stark as the white ceiling I’m
staring at. I should have left in New York as I tried to do. With everything
Colin is trying to accomplish the last thing he needs is this.

Hanging
my head, I catch it in my hands, holding in a sob. I shouldn’t be surprised by
any of this; I am Charlie Carter, after all. Strange, unexpected shit happens
to me all of the time; this is just another anomaly within a long list.

Colin
is next to me, reaching his arms around my waist to hold me. I can’t help but
whisper the truth, “This is the last thing you need to be dealing with, amongst
everything else.”

“No,
Charlie. Look at me,” he implores. Our eyes connect, green and wary to blue and
determined. “I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no. You can’t leave
me. I need you. I'll figure this out and end it. I won’t let it take you away
from me.”

“Oh,
Colin.” I throw my arms around him, gripping him tight. “Who is doing this?”

“I
don’t know, baby. But I'll find out and I will keep you safe. Please try not to
worry. Security will be stepped up from this moment on and you’ll have someone
with you all of the time when you get back from Michigan.”

I
blanch, leaning back so I can see his reaction. “Do you think whoever this is
knows I’m visiting my family?”

“No,
I honestly believe whoever is responsible for this is after me, not you. He’s
trying to get to me through you.” He closes his eyes, recoiling from the
thought.

“That
doesn’t make sense. Why would someone be after you?”

“Look
at my position. Many people don’t want to see me succeed. They’ll look for my
weak spot, use it against me to bring me to heel. Hope I’ll drop out of the
campaign.”

“And
I’m your weak spot?”

“You’re
the only thing that could make me reevaluate the presidency.”

“Colin,”
I gasp, holding a hand over my heart.

“Charlie.”
He pauses for a minute. “I’ve been given a second chance with you. I’m not
willing to give that up, to let you go. I won’t sit back and do nothing while
someone tries to take away everything I’ve worked to achieve. We’ll figure this
out and put a stop to it, I promise you.” His eyes are stormy seas, imploring
in their need. Breathing out deeply, his forehead rests against mine.

“Whoever
this is, have they threatened you? Threatened to hurt your campaign in any
way?” It’s my worst fear realized that I could hurt him.

After
a moment he responds heavily, “No, everything has only alluded to watching us
closely, following from event to event.”

I
glance at the flowers, immediately remembering the lone, long red rose stem
left in the bathroom at the school, and my stomach churns.

“What
is it?” Colin’s hands grip my arms, searching my face for answers.

It
won’t do any good to tell him about it now. “Nothing. I just need you to talk
to me. Stop holding back; I need to know everything. Promise me you will.”

“I
will.”

“When
I get back from Michigan, we’re sitting down together to discuss this. I want
to see whatever you have.”

“I
wish you would let me deal with this but you won’t let it go, will you?” He
waits a minute, hoping I’ll acquiesce, and when I don’t he says, “Fine. We’ll
look at everything together when you return.”

“Good,"
I say, laying my head on his chest and holding him in my arms. “I’m sorry I’ve
made you late.”

“I
always have time for you, baby. Always,” he repeats. Closing my eyes, I let his
words sink in.
Always
. There is so much potential in that one simple
word.

~

“Stop
fidgeting, you’re absolutely gorgeous.” Colin’s voice is hot, his eyes hotter.
Before I can comment, he grabs one of my hands as we climb the steps to his
room at the conference center. He has not hidden his affection for me today,
another surprise. When we arrived, without warning he introduced me to a young
staff member as his girlfriend. I almost gave myself whiplash turning to gape
in astonishment. His only response was a slow, sexy-as-hell smile and a squeeze
of my hand in his. I’ve yet to be alone with him to discuss his errant use of
the word and bring him to his senses.

He
wasn’t kidding when he said security would be tight. I have a new shadow, and
his name is Drake. He’s tall, taller than Colin, with black, slicked-back hair,
and sunglasses on, even inside of the conference center. He’s yet to talk to
me, only hovering and watching. He scares the hell out of me, so I’m guessing
he’ll scare the pants off of anyone trying to get near me. I feel better
already. 

Evan
and the Montgomerys wait for us in a back room of the conference center where
they’re reviewing different documents, laptops and iPads out on the tables
before them, completing final prep for the upcoming debate. Colin’s hand
doesn’t falter, keeping mine tucked into his even when Ella and John stare
warily at him. A glance at his face confirms he’s shot them a resounding
mind
your own business
glare. It appears to work when both look down immediately
to continue with their respective assignments.

John
eyes Drake for a moment. I’m sure he’s wondering what would warrant this added
protection, but he receives a call and steps out of the room almost directly
after we enter. I don’t have to worry about him, only Ella.

“Charlie,
you’re stunning,” Evan says in greeting, eyeing me appreciatively. “Nice
dress.”

“Apparently
she’s not even safe from my best friend,” Colin replies, glaring at Evan in
what I hope is mock anger.

“Just
telling it like it is, my friend.” Smiling, Evan claps his back playfully.
 

I
ignore their banter. “Thank you, Evan, it makes me feel beautiful.”

Colin
brings my hand to his lips, brushing them against my knuckles, his eyes a
smoky, simmering blue. “You're beautiful, baby. Dress or no dress, you’re
gorgeous.”

I
roll my eyes, trying to ignore the heat in his. “Who’s responsible for this
lovely creation anyway? I’d like to thank whoever picked it out for me.” I eye
them both suspiciously.

“I
called upon your friend Rebecca to ship something in for you. She seemed to
nail your style so well, I thought she could do it again for me tonight,” Colin
confesses.

“Thank
you, it’s truly perfect. The only question I have is why?” I eye him
speculatively. Evan sneaks away, sensing this conversation could head in an
untoward direction.

“I
knew you wouldn’t have an opportunity to shop and I wanted you comfortable and
confident. It is, after all, your first night out officially as my girlfriend.
I knew that would be hard enough for you; I didn’t want you to layer on
self-confidence issues.”

“Colin,”
my voice is incredulous, “shouldn't we have talked about this?”

“I
thought we did?” His eyes narrow. “You’re not going anywhere; neither am I. I’m
not letting you go. You’re my second chance, and we’re about to announce it to
the world. Which, by the way, we need to talk about: I need to prep John so he
can be ready for any formal responses. I need to prep you too, baby. When this
gets out it’s going to change life as you know it, and it will reach your
family too.” His right brow rises in that beyond -sexy way. “Are you ready for
this?”

I
can’t help my eye roll. “Yes, I’m just surprised you are.”

“I’m
a simple, honest man, Charlie. It’s very true I’m not letting you go. I told
you that your picture could appear anywhere, anytime, in any paper in the
world. That’s the truth. We’re together and I’m not going to wait for someone
else to figure it out only to sensationalize our relationship. I’m not going to
hide anymore.” His voice is serious and his eyes are passionate, heated with
intensity.

“Hence
the matching color?” I ask caustically.

His
smile is breathtaking. “It’s just a happy coincidence, but we do look very
patriotic.” Colin chuckles.

“Who
are you and what have you done with my ultra-conservative, serious
boyfriend
?”
I drip the last word in sarcasm.

He
leans in and gives me a swift kiss, his grin returning immediately. “You have a
unique ability to loosen me up, Charlie—or in most cases, an uncanny ability to
keep me hard.” His voice hints at the desire bubbling under the surface of his
calm façade.

I
stare in astonishment. He’s publicly introducing me as his girlfriend. Colin
McKenna’s
girlfriend
. A silly giggle bubbles up and I lift my hand to
hide my smile as the giggle turns to a laugh. It’s crazy to think I was much
more comfortable as a hidden paramour than his girlfriend.

Colin
is still smiling, but his expression is quizzical. Laughing while I grab his
face between my palms, forcing his eyes to mine, I pull him down to my lips.
His quick intake of breath is the only thing I hear before my mouth becomes
demanding against his in a short but passionate kiss. I don’t care that Ella
and ten or so other people are in the room. He is my
boyfriend
after
all.

Pulling
back I beam at him, my hands still holding his cheeks so I can look at the
beautiful chiseled planes of his face, and into the boundless depths of ocean
that pool in his eyes. Colin is speechless. This makes me laugh anew, bringing
him down for another chaste kiss.

Rubbing
my nose against his, I whisper, “I love you.”

Oh.
Shit. I pull back, my cheeks flaming. I can’t bear to see the look on his face
so I close my eyes, squeezing them shut. How could I be so stupid?

Completely
unexpected after my confession, he wraps his arms around my back, pulling me
into his chest, my face buried in my hands against him. I want to cry; what the
fuck is wrong with me?

Colin’s
chin rests on my hair, his hands rubbing my back in reassurance. We’re at his
final debate, for God’s sake, surrounded by some of Colin’s advisors, not to
mention Ella and John. I need to get my shit together.

Willing
myself not to cry I pull away, although his arms remain locked around me. When
I force myself to look at him he has leveled his features. Something in his
eyes is sad, remorseful even.

“I’m
sorry,” I whisper. “I shouldn’t have said that.” Shaking my head, I try to find
a reasonable excuse. I can only come up with “It just slipped out.”

He
gazes into my eyes, before replying, “Don’t be sorry, baby.” He tightens his
arms, folding me into his chest to whisper in my ear, “I wish I could say it
back to you.”

A
lump forms in my throat and I try very hard to swallow it down. I can’t cry
here. Not now. “I want to take it back so it doesn’t hurt you.” My voice
waivers only a little.

After
a moment he breaks the silence. “Did you mean it?”

“Yes.”

Pausing,
he searches for something to say. I don’t want him to feel forced into
something he doesn’t feel or isn’t right for him. Gathering the courage to face
him I lean away, placing my finger over his lips. I can see the struggle in his
eyes.

“Don’t.
Let’s focus on the debate. Okay?”

He
stares for a moment longer before nodding.

Thankfully,
no one is watching, or at least they’re polite enough to pretend not to pay
attention to us. Ella Montgomery has her head hidden behind a computer; I’m
sure holding her tongue from the lashing she wishes she could let loose.

I
know Colin is wary from my unintended declaration and there’s a sure
possibility he’ll withdraw from me.

Evan
saves the day when he says, “Colin, let’s review the questions again. We have
time for one last recap and we need to review your position on homeland
security.” He winks and I wonder if he has an idea of what just transpired
between the two of us. Colin turns to face me, his poker face clearly in place.

“Is
there anything I can do to help you prepare? I was on the debate team in high
school. I’ve always liked a good argument.”

He
laughs, squeezing my hand. “Okay, you can be Roberts. Although, you’re much
more attractive than he is.”

“I’ll
try to get into character; I’ve been known to have a good scowl now and again.
Roberts has nothing on me,” I tease and his smile returns. “What’s the first
topic?”

“Gun
control.”

“Perfect,
let’s have at it, Senator McKenna.” I put on my broadest smile before taking
him to task, forcing him to clearly state his opinion.

~

Final
preparations complete, Colin is talking with the moderator of the debate in the
moments before he’s summoned to take his place. You would never know he’s about
to debate for his future position as the Republican candidate; he’s completely
calm and confident.