Politically Incorrect (39 page)

I stared at the television chewing the inside of my cheek. At any moment, Associated Press would announce the final numbers in the election.

“God, this is so close,” I crooned.

Scout nudged me in the ribs. “Stop worrying. He’s got this.”

I waved my hand out toward the screen. “There’s no guarantee he does.”

While Liam announcing to the world that he was in love with me actually helped his ratings, it didn’t stop the flood of media from ripping him to shreds. Our massive lead was now a neck and neck battle of votes. It was officially anyone’s race.

Liam stepped in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He placed a soft kiss on my shoulder. The only saving grace to having outed our relationship to the world was that we no longer had to hide our feelings in the shadows. Liam enjoyed that part a little too much.

“Nervous, are we?” he tittered, taking my earlobe between his teeth.

“How can you be so calm?”

His arms tightened around me and he rocked me slightly. “Why shouldn’t I be? I have you. And if I lose, I still have my seat in the House.”

“But it’s not the Senate,” I whined.

“And who’s to say I’ll never get there?” He pressed a kiss to my jaw. “There’s power in the House. I can still make a difference.”

“I know. You’re right. I just want this so bad for you.”

Liam turned me around in his arms. “For us. Always for us.”

I grinned. “Yes, for us.”

He rubbed his nose against mine. “I love you so much.”

My heart ran wild every time he uttered those words. “I love you, too.”

I spun back around in his arms, looking out over the room. All the faces I loved the most in the world, along with a few new ones, stood around the conference table with small plates of goodies in their hands. Aaron stood by his and Liam’s parents, who were deep in conversation with my daughter. They seemed intrigued by my overly animated woman-child, discussing her latest adventure to the Rockies. Nestled in the back was Kristin with her new girlfriend, Jennifer. A woman that Liam and I both approved of. Even good ol’ Gerald Samford was sitting amongst us, carrying on with a pretty blonde volunteer.

There was only one face missing in the crowd ─ Guy Harper. While I knew I shouldn’t miss him, I did. It was because of him that I was standing in the arms of the man I loved, but it was also because of him that I carried the ache of betrayal in my chest. Maybe one day I could forgive him. I hoped so. There was too much in our past that I didn’t want to lose, but for now, I couldn’t see a future friendship between us.

“You’re thinking about Harper, aren’t you?” Liam whispered so only I could hear him.

I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You have every reason to think of him right now.” Liam nuzzled his nose along my jaw. “I’d be disappointed in you if he didn’t cross your mind. You see, the woman I love isn’t cold or heartless and it would take a cold, heartless bitch to forget her friend in this moment.”

“Liam,” I squeaked, looking around the room. “Language.”

“What? It’s not like I said fuck.”

I shook my head, laughing.

“Only a few more minutes,” Scout announced.

A few minutes longer that our lives hung in the balance and while I was happy, happier than I had ever been in my life, there was a secret burning inside me.

I closed my eyes and let the magnitude of it all wash over me. Everything we’d dealt with and all that we were about to face. I hated keeping things from Liam, but for the sake of the day, the secret that burned in my heart would remain there.

“Lizzy?”

My eyes popped open and I lifted my face to the voice that soothed me. “Hmm?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m here,” I whispered. “Just nervous is all.”

Liam pulled me away from his chest and turned me to face him. His dark eyes reached into my soul. “No. There’s more.”

Damn his ability to read me.

“No. No. There’s not.”

Liam took me by the hand, and dragged me toward the door. “Come with me.”

“Isn’t it a little early for victory sex?” I teased, allowing him to pull me along. He ignored my comment, trailing us into the empty office space next to the conference room.

Inside the room, he closed the door behind us and pulled me into his arms. I accepted his embrace and sought his lips for a tender kiss.

Liam stepped back, holding my shoulders at arm’s length. “Talk to me, Lizzy. Tell me what’s going on inside that beautiful mind of yours.”

I stepped back. Normally I’d force a smile, but Liam would see right through it. Instead, I turned away from him so he couldn’t see my countenance. “Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. I’m worried about the race is all.”

“I call bull shit, Liz. You’ve been off since yesterday, but tonight it’s worse. So we’re staying in this room until you talk to me.”

I whipped around astounded he’d suggest such a thing. “We can’t! We have to see the election.”

He crossed his arms over his chest, standing stone cold. “Then you better get to talking.”

I sniffled, annoyed. Things used to be simple for me. I gave the orders, people followed. Liam broke my chain of command and I knew he was serious. We were stuck in this room until I spilled the beans. “Fine. I do have something to tell you.” I crossed my arms behind my back. “You might want to sit down for this.”

Liam cocked his head, curious, but obeyed.

I paced for a moment, trying to get my bearings. “I don’t know how to tell you this.”

He rocked forward in his seat, a hint of amusement and maybe a little concern painted his face. His smile, tender and happy, wreaked havoc on my heart. “Just say it.”

I stopped and faced him, swallowing down the fear knotted in my throat. I clenched and unclenched my fists as I blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”

Liam slumped back in the chair, his eyes wide, and his mouth flopped open. “You’re joking, right?”

Well, that wasn’t the response I’d expected. We’d talked about this many times, about my need to not have any more children. Liam was adamant that he didn’t care if he ever had children. He understood my not wanting to go down that road again. All he cared about was us being together.

“No,” I whimpered.

“How do you know?”

I dropped down in the chair next to him, hanging my head. “You know my doctor’s appointment yesterday?”

Liam nodded.

“Yeah, well, he told me.”

“And you’re just now telling me?”

“I didn’t know how. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. And then there was this.” I threw my hand out toward the conference room. “The election. I didn’t want to take that away from you.”

Liam stood up, turning his back to me. “And how do you feel about it?”

I wrung my hands together, staring at the back of his head. His shoulders slightly slumped and his stance seemed almost defeated. “Honestly, I was scared to death at first, but the more I thought about it… Liam, women my age have babies all the time. It’s not that big of a deal. Besides, this is me and you. I can’t imagine anything more perfect. Well, except maybe Jordyn.”

“So, you’re happy? You want the baby?”

“Yes.”

Liam spun around, a smile as wide as Texas plastered across his face. “I’m really going to be a father?”

I nodded frantically, tears spilling down my cheeks, but laughing. “Yes… yes.”

“I’m going to be a Dad!” he whooped.

Well, that was unexpected.

Liam dropped to his knees, taking my hands in his. “How far along are you?”

“A few months.”

“But how?”

“Well, you see, when a man and a woman engage in intercourse…”

“You know what I mean,” he deadpanned.

“The best I can recall, we failed to use a condom that night in my office. I guess it’s true what they say ─ all it takes is one time.”

Liam laughed in rapt amusement. “We really were reckless that night.”

“You’re telling me.”

He placed his hand over my stomach. “We’re having a baby.”

I rested mine over his. “We’re having a baby.”

Together, we stared down at our hands splayed over my belly.

“Marry me,” Liam whispered.

“What?”

“I know it’s sudden and I don’t have a ring, but I’ll get one. A quaint, classic cut diamond that suits your beautiful fingers. But there’s no one in this world I want to spend the rest of my life with more than you.”

“Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean we have to get married.”

“I’m not asking because of that. Though, I do love the idea of us being a family.” He tilted my chin, brushing his thumb along my bottom lip. “I want you as my wife. So, I’ll say it again. Elizabeth McNeal, will you marry me?”

I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth, a smile pulling at my cheeks. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

Liam jumped off the floor, pulling me up out of my seat with him. He lifted me off the ground, kissing me hard.

“Hey, you two,” Aaron’s voice interrupted our moment. “AP’s making the announcement now. You might want to get in here.”

Liam rested me back on my feet and swung around to Aaron, beaming. “I’m going to be a Dad.”

“Yeah,” Aaron stated nonchalantly. “We all heard you.”

I burst into laughter.

“Congratulations. Now let’s get going.”

“And I’m getting married,” Liam added with an almost childlike enthusiasm.

“And you could be a Senator of the United States, but we’re not going to know until we get our asses back in that room.”

Liam took me by the hand and we followed Aaron back into the conference room. We were greeted by happy faces, handshakes, hugs, and a multitude of congratulations.

“Shh! Quiet down. They’re making the announcement,” Jordyn hissed.

Liam and I moved to the center of the room. He tugged me to his chest, resting his hands on my stomach and his chin on my shoulder. We watched as the announcer spoke.

“Representative William Reid Baxter will take the Senate seat for the state of Texas.”

What came over me was a mystery to even myself, but by my reaction one might’ve thought I was at a football game and my team just scored the winning touchdown. I bounced up and down in his arms, crying out in victory.

Liam turned me to face him, his lips pressing to mine. “We did it!”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Before he could kiss me again, Liam was ripped from my arms. People crowded around him, shaking his hand, patting his back, and congratulating the newest and youngest member of the US Senate.

I moved out of the way, allowing Liam to have his moment, which he deserved. In the corner, a frail hand touched mine. I looked down to find the hunched over Gerald Samford smiling up at me.

“I knew that boy had gumption,” he bragged. “And if you ask me, madam, he’s going all the way.”

I grinned, and watched as Liam moved out toward the front of the crowd to make his speech. “One election at a time.”

“Mark my words, that man right there will be our president one day.” He patted my forearm. “And he’s going to have one hell of a wife by his side.”

“You don’t think I’m too much of a Marilyn?” I jibbed.

Samford barked a hoarse laugh. “My dear, you’re the whole package. Jackie and Marilyn rolled into one. He can’t lose with you.”

Liam’s voice resonated out over the crowd. I watched as he basked in his moment, thanking those who supported him. The media swarmed into the room, carrying video and digital cameras to get the first few glimpses of the newest Senator. The crowd went wild as he spoke. I’d witnessed many victory speeches in my day, but this was the first time I’d ever been truly proud of my client.

“But most of all, I’d like to thank my lovely fiancée and the soon-to-be mother of my child, Elizabeth McNeal. Without her, I wouldn’t be standing here today.” He extended his hand toward me. “Come up here, Lizzy.”

I blinked several times, thinking back over all we’d been through. Had I known then what I knew now, the heartache we’d endure and the love we’d share, I could honestly say, I’d do it all over again.

Samford pushed me forward. “Get up there, honey.”

My eyes focused only on my future, I straightened to my full height and adjusted my jacket. Pride filled my veins and love surged my soul. No longer was I the woman behind the curtain. I stepped out in front of the crowd and took my place by Liam’s side, forever to be in the spotlight.

The End.