She backed off, her voice wavering. “Sorry, Jag. I just thought … you know … maybe I could help. It’s been such a long time.…”
Instantly contrite, he motioned for her to sit on the front step beside him. Yes, he’d cut her loose. Although Sherry didn’t spark his heart, she was warm and sweet, and it had become too easy to fall into bed with her. But when people started treating her like his old lady, he’d had to draw the line. He was not willing to go down that path again, and even if he were, it wouldn’t be with a woman who needed his constant attention. He didn’t have the time or the energy to deal with someone who couldn’t stand on her own two feet.
“Got a lot on my mind.”
“Sure.” She settled beside him and Jagger bit back a sigh. She just didn’t get it. Sherry lacked the political savvy necessary for the role of a president’s old lady. Jagger couldn’t afford to indulge in the usual give-and-take or friendly banter that were a natural part of a normal relationship. He couldn’t be questioned or challenged in public. Perception was everything. His power must appear absolute. A public disagreement, a sarcastic remark, or even disobeying an order, if done in public, could erode the foundation of a president’s power. And that was something he could never allow.
“Do you miss me?” She propped her chin up with her elbows, her question confirming yet again that he’d made the right decision to let her go.
“It was too easy between us, babe. And you know how I feel about getting seriously involved. Too much of a risk for you, for me, and for the club.”
She shot him a sideways glance. “You’re still not over her, are you?”
Jagger huffed his annoyance. Sherry knew better than to bring up Christel. He would carry the guilt of her death for the rest of his life. Atonement lay in ensuring it never happened again. “Don’t go there.”
“If not me, who else?” She curled her hand around his arm and scooted over the worn wooden step, closer to him. “You don’t talk about her. You don’t let anyone else talk about her. And ever since she died, you don’t let anyone in. I know I’m not her, but we were good together. I can make you happy. Lord knows you need a little happiness in your life.”
He gently detached her hand from his arm and stood, putting some distance between them. “What did I just say?”
“Don’t go there.”
“And what did you do?”
“I went there.”
Jagger ran his hand through his hair “And that is the reason it wouldn’t work. Aside from the fact that my position as president would put you in danger, you don’t seem to understand our politics: You don’t challenge me. You don’t question me. You don’t disobey me. And you sure as hell don’t presume to tell me what I need, even if it is coming from a good place. What I need is someone who can navigate the politics and work with me, not against me. You need to find someone who can look after you, make you happy, and keep you safe.”
“I thought that was you.”
Jagger inwardly cursed himself for not ending it sooner with her. He’d known from the start Sherry wasn’t right for him, but loneliness had driven him to take what she offered until he realized too late that she’d given him everything.
He remained standing in silence watching Wheels play Frisbee with Max on the front lawn. Another problem he would have to deal with. Wheels was a competent prospect and well-liked by the brothers, but something about him didn’t sit right. Sometimes he was too well spoken for someone who claimed only a high school education. Other times he seemed almost too well informed about the biker scene in Conundrum. And although he was always sociable, he never revealed much about himself. Not that Jagger was a big talker, but usually this far into a prospect’s year, he had the measure of the man. Wheels, however, was still an enigma.
“You seemed pretty sweet on that Black Jack girl you let get away.” Sherry’s soft voice derailed his train of thought. “Vexy.”
“You’re just determined to go all the places you shouldn’t go.” Jagger tempered his anger by holding out a hand and helping her to her feet. They’d had some good times together and she’d been genuine in her affections. But he needed to end this now, before she read anything into this brief encounter.