“I know a lot about you, including your likes and dislikes—politically, that is.”
He wanted to laugh, but he could tell Evelyn was doing her best to perform the job she’d been assigned. It wasn’t her fault she’d been assigned to Mitchell Preston’s uncooperative sonofabitch of a son. “I’m surprised, given that I’ve never spoken publicly about my likes or dislikes—politically, that is.”
She lifted her chin. “Your father has briefed me.”
Now he did laugh, then took a long swallow of beer before answering. “Has he? My father doesn’t know shit about me. We don’t speak much at all. And since I inherited my trust fund from my grandfather when I turned twenty-five, he can’t blackmail me into giving him what he wants by refusing to give me money, so we have no reason to communicate at all and I have no reason to give him my assistance.”
He watched Evelyn squeeze her hands so tightly together that her knuckles turned white. “I see.”
He started to get up. “So we’re done?”
She didn’t move. “Your mother wanted me to tell you that she would greatly appreciate your cooperation in this. She’s sorry she didn’t get a chance to talk to you herself, but she’s been very busy on the campaign trail with your father, and of course, you’re very difficult to get hold of now that you’re racing every week.”
Damn. “Cheap shot, Evelyn.” He could tell his father to stick it. But he loved his mother and would do anything for her. Well, almost anything. His mother was well aware of his relationship with his dad and she skated that ice carefully, usually not interfering. But for some reason she adored the bastard and supported his political career.
Evelyn gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry. I realize this is . . . difficult for you. But your support would help your father’s campaign.”
“My father is a misogynistic prick who treats women like servants. Why in hell are you working for him?”
Her lips curved. He liked her smile.
“Obviously you haven’t spent much time around your father lately, have you?”
“Obviously the old man has you snowed, or you’re utterly gullible.”
She arched a brow. “I can assure you, Gray, I am never gullible.”
He was sure Evelyn thought she knew all there was to know about Mitchell Preston.
But Gray had grown up with the man and knew him better than anyone. And the one thing he’d witnessed time and again was how his father treated women. It was a wonder there were any women at all on the campaign given his father’s condescending, dickhead behavior toward them, especially if they were young and vapid. And this was a man they were considering for the VP nomination? His father was an overbearing, unemotional douchebag. Gray didn’t know how his mother had stood by his dad for thirty-three years without smothering him in his sleep or poisoning his coffee, but he’d never understood their marriage anyway.
“So, can we count on you for your cooperation?” Evelyn asked.
He couldn’t help but laugh at her audacity to think he’d still be agreeable. “Not a chance. Let me walk you out.”
She looked stunned. Obviously, she was used to people falling at the senator’s feet.
He wasn’t one of them.
She stood. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. Sorry, Evelyn, but I don’t kiss the senator’s ass. You’re going to have to find some other way to get votes for him.”
“You do realize this could be beneficial for you. Think of the exposure you’d get, the new fans you could bring on board.”
“I have plenty of fans already, but thanks.” He handed her bag to her, rested his hand on her back, and directed her toward the door.
She stopped and turned to him. “This could be a way for you and your father to repair your relationship.”
He could tell she was grasping at straws now. “My father knows my phone number.
And my schedule. If he wanted to repair our relationship, he could have done that years ago.”
That’s when he saw the fight leave her eyes. “Then I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”
“You didn’t waste my time, Evelyn. You wasted yours.” He held the door for her and walked her down the stairs.
She didn’t even look back as she headed toward the parking lot.
Too bad she was here representing his father. Evelyn Hill was one hell of a beautiful woman, and he wouldn’t have minded spending some time with her. But now that he knew she was associated with his father, he wanted nothing to do with her.
*
EVELYN THREW HER BAG DOWN ON THE BED IN THE hotel room, kicked off her shoes, and flung herself onto the chair, wincing as she curled her toes.