Disclosure of the Heart (The Heart Series) (7 page)

That was reassuring. Sort of. I gave him a quick smile but remained quiet. Maybe if I said nothing, the music would finish more quickly. Unfortunately, the silence made me concentrate on the lyrics. As I rested my hand on Adam’s shoulder, which seemed much broader than I’d remembered it, I realized the words were far too sexy for a dance with Adam. Thank God he didn’t know Spanish.

I had to say something to start a conversation, so I stated the obvious. “We’re dancing.”

“Yes, we are.” He took a breath and said, “I don’t believe we ever did that.”

“I don’t think so either.” I laughed.

He arched a brow, which seemed to suggest all the things we
did
do together. I had to look away as my mind raced through some very naughty memories.

“Nicki, you’re blushing. I think I know why.”

I tried playing dumb. “Why?”

“Because you’re thinking what I’m thinking.”

I’d always been a sucker for that special twinkle in his eye when he would tease me, like he was onto me and couldn’t wait to see what I’d do next. That night, the twinkle was in full force, and I gave in with a sigh. “In an effort to keep things from being awkward between us, I’ll say those were fun times.”

“I thought so,” he said in a more serious tone.

The twinkle vanished as he splayed his hand across my back and pulled me toward him. I was only an inch closer, but it was enough for my body to realize who it was next to. Staring at his chest, I saw Adam was right there and ready for the taking. My smile faded as crazy pheromones took over. All I wanted was to mash my body against his and feel him once more.

I looked up, curious what he was thinking. When I saw at least a kiss was on his mind, my lips parted in a mix of fear and want. As if the universe swooped in to save me from myself, the song finally ended.

“I should get back,” I mumbled. “Thanks for the dance.”

“I think I get another dance since I only got half of the last one.”

Stunned by his demand and my complete inability to say no to the guy, I gave him a silent nod. I hadn’t totally lost my senses to dormant teenage hormones, though. I made sure there was a safe distance between us, and somehow the separation allowed me to be direct.

“Adam, what are you doing?”

“To be quite honest, I’m not sure.”

He seemed candid, but I couldn’t handle any more ambiguity. I needed an answer to the question that had been bugging me for weeks. “Why did you take the White House job?”

“Why do you think?”

“I don’t know. I can’t tell.”

“For the record, it definitely wasn’t because I thought I might get some kind of special access to the Logan administration because of you.”

“That thought really never entered my mind. You wouldn’t do something like that.” It was true. I never thought he was trying to use our ties professionally. That just wasn’t Adam.

“You know me well.”

He smiled and pulled me closer to him—closer than even a few minutes before. The woolly scent of his sport coat drifted toward me. I could’ve easily slipped into the moment and rested my head on his chest, but that was wrong for so many reasons. At once, I stepped back and announced in as firm a voice as I could find, “I have a boyfriend. Here. In this room.”

“I know.” It came out bitterly, but his next words were softer. “Yet surely we could be friends again.”

I looked at him askance. “We were never
just
friends.”

“No…we weren’t, but we could give it a try.”

There were many reasons why Adam and I had broken up before he’d returned to England, just as there were many reasons why we hadn’t kept in touch. A paramount one was that I hadn’t wanted to only be his friend. I couldn’t bear the thought of hearing about his new girlfriends and life after I’d been left behind. Yes, it had been selfish and childish, but back then, I’d been a self-centered child. Plus, I’d been through enough pain to last a lifetime. I knew better than to pile more on.

I shook my head. “I should go back.”

Without another word or look, I dropped his hand and headed to our group. I managed to walk in a straight line, but it was an effort. I was dizzy with the thought that Adam might very well still be interested in me and felt the need to confirm it to myself.
That is what he sort of said in a non-committal way, right?

I spotted the table, though it was hardly a sanctuary. David sat right between Juan Carlos and Lisa. Juan Carlos was laughing as David appeared to give an animated retelling of a story with his arm resting around the back of Lisa’s chair. When David let it slide against her back, she shot him a look. She then noticed me coming toward her, and her eyes were aflame. I knew exactly what she was thinking, because I was wondering it as well:
What in the hell is going on?

As I approached the table, Juan Carlos rose to help me with my chair. Smiling, he kissed my cheek. “
Hola, preciosa
.”

“Thanks for saving my seat.” I gave him a peck back, fully conscious that Adam was only a foot away.

David stood up and extended his hand to me. “Hello. You probably don’t remember me. I’m Adam’s cousin, David Bates.”

“Oh, I remember you.” I smiled, thinking Juan Carlos really didn’t need to know about my little make-out session with David in Lance’s backyard all those years ago. I tried to signal that I barely knew the guy. “It’s nice to meet you again.”

Juan Carlos laughed. “David is hilarious. He tells the best stories.”

I kept smiling but only nodded. I figured the less I said about knowing David, the better.

As I sat down, Adam found a chair on the other side of Lisa, and David said, “Adam, Dr. Lisa Roberts. You remember her, don’t you?”

“Hello, Lisa.” Adam extended his hand to her. “I believe I last saw you in London.”

“Hello.” She gave him a perfunctory smile and muttered, “It’s been a while.” She then glared at me with a silent
What the fuck?

I answered by gulping my sangria. Thankfully, Juan Carlos was far more interested in the conversation with his friends across the table, who were debating the best soccer team in Mexico. Adam’s attention had likewise been grabbed by a young Hill staffer, who’d had enough smarts to realize the BBC White House correspondent was sitting next to him. I tuned out as soon as I heard the guy say, “My boss, Senator Lexford, sits on the Foreign Relations Committee.”

While I sat studying my drink, David moved a little closer to Lisa. His Cockney accent became sultry. “You know, Lisa, you’re beautiful—like a Nubian princess.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“Not at all.”

“Do you even know where Nubia is?”

“Africa, I suppose.”

“You say it like it’s a small place. Africa is a friggin’ continent.”

“What does it matter? It’s a compliment, princess.”

“Princess? I bet that’s something you call all your women.”

“Only if they’re gorgeous like you.”

“And the black ones are Nubian princesses?”

“Not all of them. You’re special.”

“Please.” She gave him a look like she’d just sucked on a lemon. “Don’t even start that shit with me.”

“Shit? I’m not talking shit. You’re a pretty little thing. Smooth chocolate skin, striking face, and lovely dark eyes.”

She snorted. “You’re going to have to work a lot harder than that.”

“I like a challenge.”

I could barely hear her whisper, “You’ve got to be kidding me. The last time I saw you, you ended up fucking Rachel, one of my best friends. Not to mention…” She gave a sharp nod toward me.

“All ancient history.”

“You’re crazy if you think I’m next.”

“Oh, you’re still a feisty one. I remember that about you. I like feisty.” He waggled his eyebrows. “I’m good with feisty. Just give me a chance. You won’t regret it.”

“Are you for real?” She shook her head.

“Oh yes, and I’m not going away.”

While Lisa and David continued their banter, Maria Ines Ortega, Juan Carlos’s friend from college, sidled up next to me. “Hey, Nicki.”

“Hi.” Maria Ines always made me grin. She was perpetually on the make, and as a gorgeous Colombian, she was quite successful in her conquests. She had the best tales to tell. “How are you?”

“I’m great.” She nodded over to Adam, who was still stuck talking to the staffer. “Juan Carlos says Adam’s a friend of yours. He said he has a girlfriend. Is that right?”

“Yes, he does,” I said slowly. I peered over at him. “Her name is Felicity Chambers. She also works for the BBC.”

“Probably one of those horsey-looking British chicks,” said Maria Ines. Tossing her hair, she stuck out her chest. “He needs a night with me. He’s probably never been with a real woman.”

Since I’d been with Adam when I was only seventeen, I couldn’t object—not that I really wanted the conversation to go any further. I did wonder what Adam would do if Maria Ines worked her magic on him, though. Men flocked to her the way women fell over themselves for David. I considered it a test.

“Go talk to him,” I said.

“I will.”

I dreaded the next question, but it was the polite one for me to ask. “Do you want me to introduce you?”

“No, thanks.” She winked. “I can handle it.”

She left me behind and pulled up a chair between Adam and the staffer. Turning her back on the poor guy, she effectively iced him out as she began talking with Adam. It was a matter of seconds before her trademark eye-fucking commenced. I looked away. I didn’t want to see Adam’s reaction.

For the rest of the night, I drank sangria and checked my watch, hoping that I would get out of there before it all exploded in my face. Of course, home would be no better because I’d be alone with Juan Carlos and my guilt, and when he left the next day, I’d be just as confused by Adam and get a lecture from Lisa. I began to plot a Sunday afternoon trip into the office just to avoid my personal life.

Fortunately, because there was such a large group at the table, I didn’t have to say much. Juan Carlos held court just as he always did. He was a charismatic guy, and people were drawn to him. Plus, he was the most successful campaign consultant in America right now and sitting in a popular restaurant in DC. The man was going to have admirers and customers. I welcomed the conversations as a diversion from Adam, though occasionally I’d peek to see if Maria Ines was making any headway. I couldn’t tell, but close to two in the morning, I did overhear David ask for Lisa’s phone number.

She gave him a deadpan look. “After everything I’ve said to you tonight, you want to call me?”

“Of course, love. Why not?”

“Whatever.” She yawned. “Adam is a reporter. He should be able to track it down.”

“Still playing hard to get?” David said with a smile.

“Oh, I’m not playing at all. I am hard to get, especially for you.”

He leaned over and gave her the quickest peck on the cheek before he rose from his seat. She touched where his lips had landed, but rather than scolding him, she gave me a stern look. I was going to get a talking to.

Adam and David said their farewells, and curiosity got the best of me. I studied Adam’s goodbye to Maria Ines. She leered at him, and he nodded and turned away.

As he spoke to the Hill staffer, Maria Ines came over to me and said, “Either he’s in love with his girlfriend or he’s gay, because he wouldn’t flirt with me.” She glared at Adam. “He’s really not that attractive, you know.”

“Right,” I said with a nod.
Crazy woman
.

When Adam and David made their way to Juan Carlos and me to say goodbye, Juan Carlos stood up, and there was much backslapping.
Great. They’re all buddies now.

David beamed down at me. “Good seeing you again, Nicki. You’re gorgeous as ever.”

I had to grin. He was too charming not to respond. “Thanks, David. It was good to see you, too.”

Adam followed up with a pleasant but far more professional, “Good night, Nicki. I suppose I’ll see you on Monday.”

My giddiness over David’s charm faded into a nervous smile for Adam. “Yes. Monday. Good night.”

I stared at them as they walked away. Two tall, well-dressed guys standing out among the crowd of sweaty salsa dancers. I watched a second too long, though—before he got to the door, Adam turned around and caught me. His eyes met mine, and I looked away.
Damn it
.

As we went home in a cab, Juan Carlos announced, “It’s nice that you’re friends with Adam. He seems like a good guy. Maria Ines seemed to like him.”

“Yeah,” I said, looking out the window at the lights as we sped down Connecticut Ave.
Friends
. There was that word again. I searched for something emotionally innocuous so I wouldn’t lie but also not raise any red flags. “It was good to see him.”