Thank goodness Drake spoke up and took the pressure off of me. I relaxed and brought my attention back to the colonel. “Thank you for asking. I’ll look forward to it.”
We walked toward our table, which was right in front of the dais, and sat down. A waiter came by with bottles of white and red wine, and asked us which we preferred. After he poured us each a glass of the red, I was tempted to ask him to leave the bottle.
After taking a sip of my wine, I said, “Thank you for answering the colonel for me.”
Drake leveled a knowing look on me. “I told you men would want to be with you tonight. I don’t think you understand how gorgeous you are.”
“Well, you had me so freaked out, I didn’t know what to do.” I took another sip.
“Colonel Higgins is old enough to be my grandfather,” he said with a chuckle, “and he’s one of my most trusted confidants. When I was in high school, different branches of the military came to try and recruit the seniors, similar to a college fair. I’d always wanted to be in the Army, so I was thrilled to have that opportunity. The colonel was the recruiter I spoke to. Then when I got injured playing ball, he was the one who informed me I couldn’t enlist.”
He took a sip of his wine before he continued. “I told him I felt fine and begged him to cut me a break. All I wanted to do was to serve my country, but it was out of his hands. My medical clearance didn’t hold up, and my military career ended before it started.”
“I’m so sorry, Drake.”
“Thank you, but when I told him I wanted to pursue politics, he encouraged me and introduced me to the right people. So I owe him a lot.”
“So do I.”
Drake’s brows lowered. “What do you mean?”
“If he didn’t encourage you and give you the support you needed, you may never have run for the Senate. If you didn’t do that, you never would have been elected, therefore, you never would have come to my class.” I rested my hand on his forearm and gently squeezed. “You’re not the only one who owes him. I do too.”
Before I knew it, his lips were on mine. We lost ourselves in each other until we heard a man clear his throat.
I glanced over Drake’s shoulder to find Ben standing behind him. His body was rigid as he glowered at me, his dark eyes shooting daggers my way. Unsettled, I averted my gaze to the burgundy-and-cream patterned carpet.
“Ben, I didn’t realize you were standing there.” Unaware of the sinister look Ben had given me, Drake was his usual cordial self. He stood and greeted his campaign manager. “When did you get here?”
As the pair shook hands, I tried to make my escape.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room.”
Drake’s head tilted in question, and I gave him a tight smile.
Ben started to speak, but Drake’s index finger went up as he turned to me. “Are you okay? You’re pale.”
I nodded and made sure this time when my lips curled, my smile was genuine. “Yes, I’m fine. I think the wine got to me a little. I’ll be right back.”
Once I made my way to the ladies’ room, I went into a stall, closed the door, and leaned against it to take a cleansing breath. Maybe Ben’s eyes always looked that way, but the man seriously creeped me out.
After a few moments, I exited the stall and was relieved to find myself alone. I rested my hands on the black granite countertop and looked in the mirror. My reflection scolded me for being paranoid, so I washed my hands, freshened my lipstick, and made my way back to Drake.
CHAPTER 10
Drake
I watched Lucy until she disappeared in the small crowd that had begun to form. Something was wrong.
Then it came to me. Ben.
I turned and sat at the table next to where my campaign manager had made himself comfortable. He was scrolling through the calendar on his phone.
“Are we going to keep having this problem?” I asked in a stern voice, breaking his concentration.