That sounded good in theory, but working around the senator’s schedule and time in the district could be tough. “She’s a busy woman. I doubt we can just pop in and expect to be seen.”
“I bet we can.” He took the note and tucked it in his jacket pocket. “You don’t need to roll your eyes at me.”
She couldn’t help it. He brought it out in her. “I’ll stop once you tone down the bossiness.”
Caroline laughed. “Well, it looks to me like you’re in good hands.”
More matchmaking. Great. “Don’t encourage him.”
“Too late.” He slipped his hand under her elbow. “I’m encouraged.”
Great.
CHAPTER 23
Wren read Garrett’s smartass text asking if he’d retired and then turned the sound off on the cell. But his second-in-command had a point. Work had taken a backseat to Emery. Not his usual priorities, but he didn’t regret being with her instead of in his desk chair.
He just didn’t expect to be in Senator Dayton’s office for the second time in less than two weeks. As a general rule he avoided politicians, even the very few he respected. Waiting in the senator’s quiet office while she finished with a phone call in the other room he could feel Emery’s anxiety. It bounced off her.
They sat only a few feet apart in the chairs set up in front of Sheila’s desk. Not on top of each other but close enough for him to pick up on her nervous energy. The fidgeting. The heavy sighing.
“You okay?” he asked.
Emery glared at him. “Promise me you’ll behave.”
He wasn’t sure when he became the issue. It’s not as if this was his first time in public. “I am a well-respected businessman, you know.”
“About that.” She shifted in her chair and the wood creaked beneath her. “How can that be when no one actually is supposed to know who you are?”
He chalked up the combative mood to her frustration of not knowing why she was there, but she was shooting the wrong messenger. “Your premise is wrong.”
She treated him to an eye roll. “Of course it is.”
He bit back a long exhale because the last thing this moment needed was more drama. “People know my name, or the name I want them to know.”
“That sentence is a mess.”
He was pretty sure he’d stepped right into one of those no-win scenarios. Not exactly a new sensation when dealing with Emery. “What’s the point of being considered reclusive and mysterious if you can’t limit the number of people who really know who you are?”
She leaned over the side of the chair, closing the gap between them. “And that question is ridiculous.”
“I see you two are still getting along.” The senator’s voice boomed through the quiet room as she walked in and circled around to her desk to face them.
Damn, he hadn’t even heard her open the door. He also hadn’t realized he was leaning in to meet Emery in the space between their two chairs until right that moment.
He stood up. “And good afternoon to you.”
“Hello.” Emery nodded as she stood up.
“Well, now.” The senator’s eyes narrowed as she looked back and forth from Emery to Wren. “Now that I see your faces I think you’re getting along just fine. Very fine.”
He didn’t know if women’s intuition was a real thing or not, but come on. “There’s no way you can tell that by looking at us.”
Emery cleared her throat and plastered on what looked like a fake smile. “You called and asked to see me?”
“Have a seat.” Sheila nodded to the chairs they just left. “Now.”
Emery’s smile fell. “That sounds bad.”
“It’s never good when she starts a conversation in that maternal tone.” Wren knew that from experience, like from the last time he stepped into this office.
“Don’t try to gang up on me.” The senator sat back in her big chair. “I can have you both arrested.”
As a tactic, intimidation didn’t really work on Wren. It took a lot to scare him—strangely, his feelings for Emery qualified—but this move didn’t. “Actually, you can’t.”
“Yes, Wren. You know people, but so do I.”
“I meant that I’m not aware of a senator’s ability to have people arrested.”
After a quick scowl at Wren, the senator turned her attention to Emery. “Your father called me.”
Emery’s head whipped back. “What?”
“He demanded to know who I hired to look into Tiffany’s case for you.”
“You’re the one paying Wren and his company?” Emery’s stunned expression didn’t ease. She looked pale and confused. The way she gripped the armrests of her chair suggested she was only a few seconds away from ripping the fragile furniture apart.
Sheila shook her head. “Of course not.”
At least on this one point, he could offer some insight. “No one is paying me, which is not exactly information I want leaked to the public.”
Emery slowly turned until she faced him. “You afraid people might think you’re a good guy?”
Some of her color rushed back into her cheeks. Wren took that as a good sign. “I’m more concerned with other clients refusing to pay their bills. You should see what I charge.”