At the door, Law turned back. His shoulders were hunched as if in anticipation of a blow. How many women had he run out on? No, better not think about that now.
Jori had folded her arms before her chest, her green eyes looking a bit large for her face. A half smile jerked her lips to one side. “It’s okay.”
He only meant to say good-bye but he found himself moving back toward her and reaching for her.
He felt her stiffen slightly as his hands settled possessively on her waist. How was it that he wanted to both reassure her that she was safe from him, and yet tell her to run like hell.
“I made a mistake with you.”
God, the stricken look on her face cut deep. He never apologized. But he couldn’t stop himself. “You’re worth more than a good time, Jori. You deserve someone who can give everything you need to make you smile all the time. I’m just not that guy.”
He astonished himself by kissing her forehead quickly before releasing her. “I hope you find what you need real soon.”
Jori waited until the door closed behind him and Sam before she said softly, “You, too, Law.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“I don’t give a good goddamn about excuses. Next time you screw up I’m going to come down there and give you a proctology exam with my right foot. You’re a lily-livered, sorry excuse for a whore. But you’re my whore, bought and paid for with my money. You got that? That’s what I thought. Now take care of it.” Harold Tice stabbed the OFF button on his phone.
“Easy, Dad. You’re going to bust a gut over nothing.”
Luke Tice had been listening to his father’s end of the phone conversation with a divided mind. His father certainly knew how to light a fire under a body. And how to get his way. But now that Luke was running for office, he needed his dad to pull in his horns a bit. “You want me to follow up on that for you?”
“No.” Tice swung his desk chair toward his son. “I don’t want you bothering with business, son. You’ve got other fields to plow. How’s the campaign coming along?”
“Well enough. We’ve got a fund-raiser over in Bentonville this weekend.”
His father nodded in approval. “Anything you need, you tell me. I got ways of funding the campaign that won’t show up as Tice money on your books.”
“While I appreciate the offer, Dad, what I need right now is for grassroots people to buy into my campaign. In a special election like this, small donors count more with public perception.”
“Public perception. Exactly. Which reminds me. You need to pull Erin out of Kaitlyn Ferguson’s wedding. You can’t afford the association.”
Luke smiled and rubbed his chin. “I couldn’t if I wanted to. Erin’s got her heart set on making her former sorority sister’s wedding the northwest Arkansas social event of the year.”
“That’s exactly what you can’t afford. Everybody remembers that your office prosecuted the groom’s sister. One thing if they had gotten married before the sister was released. But now, how’s it going to look, you sitting up in the wedding next to a felon you helped convict?”
“It’s going to look like I’m a big-tent politician. Jordan Garrison served her time for her crimes. She got a new start. Working with that canine service organization, Warriors Wolf Pack, that trains dogs for wounded vets. I’m big enough to wish her well for accepting responsibility and trying to steer a new path. This is a win–win. I’m courting votes from veterans, their families and friends, and dog lovers.”
His father gave him a sour look. “What I’m seeing is pictures of you and your wife smiling and drinking above a headline that reads: SENATE HOPEFUL HOBNOBS WITH FELON HE PUT BEHIND BARS.”
Luke laughed and shook his head. “That’s not going to happen. I’ve already prepared a statement for the press the day of the event. Get my message out there on my terms.”
“You’re thinking like a schoolboy. Have you forgotten that the young Garrison woman was nearly married to your cousin Brody? You don’t need to do anything that will remind voters of that association.”
“No.” Luke grew serious for a moment. Harold knew his son was thinking about his cousin Brody. They’d once been very close. He’d want to mend fences with Brody’s intended. His next words confirmed it.
“Backing out now would have the same effect since Erin’s volunteered to step in at the last minute with the wedding preparations. She’s hosting a bridal shower. Besides, it might not even be an issue.”
“Why’s that?”
“Erin heard from Kaitlyn that Kieran’s sister won’t be attending the wedding.”
Harold’s ears pricked up. “Why would she do that?”
“Doesn’t want to embarrass the family, I suppose. Erin says Jori hasn’t been in contact with any of her former friends since she was released. So if you want to do good for me, Dad, then think about tossing the Warriors Wolf Pack a few dollars.”
“How few?”