Scandal: The Lies We Tell (Volume 1) (2 page)

“I suppose you expect me to thank you for saving my life.” I gave him a look that said I felt the exact opposite of grateful.

He shot me a surprised glance. “Did I say something wrong?”

I shook my head, still feeling unsettled by the turn of events. “No, forget it. I’m still frazzled I guess.”

“Let’s start over,” he suggested, offering his hand. “I’m Nick Cooper.”

I laughed involuntarily as I shook his hand. “I know who you are, Senator.”

“Nick, please,” he said almost pleadingly. “So you know who I am, but I still don’t know who you are.”

“Charley.
Charley Tanner.” Nick raised a questioning eyebrow and I continued, “It’s kind of a nickname. I realize Charley isn’t a typical name for a woman.”

“No objections from me. I like it.” Nick smiled for the first time revealing two rows of perfect white teeth. The smile erased at least ten years from his face and he no longer looked like Senator Cooper. “I hope no one is waiting for you.”

“I’m sorry?” My mouth suddenly felt very dry.

Nick chuckled. “That didn’t come out right. I just meant
, you were on your way out when all this happened, so I hope you weren’t meeting someone or they will either be very worried or very mad.”

“Oh.” I had almost forgotten that I had been about to leave the hotel; that seemed like such a long time ago. “No, I wasn’t meeting anyone. I was just going home.”

“Was it really so boring that you needed to leave before ten o’clock?” Nick tugged at the knot of his tie, loosening it imperceptibly.

“I’m not much of a socialite.”

“So what brought you to the event then?”

I considered my answer and decided to go with the truth.
“You.”

“Me?” Nick coughed. “Well you certainly are forward.”

I shrugged. “My brain is too fried to come up with a believable lie.”

“You didn’t come here to kill me, did you?” Nick’s joke fell flat as one of the secret service agents entered the suite and went directly to the bedroom door.

“I came to schmooze you actually.” Voices were being raised on the other side of the bedroom wall. “I work for Eva Porter and Children First.”

“Ah, Eva.
I know her well.” Nick smiled reluctantly. “This is about Bill 132?”

“Your vote is
key. It can make or break your future in politics. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that.” I had read a lot about Senator Cooper in the news over the past couple of years and I knew he was as politically savvy as they came. “You want to be on the right side of this one.”

“And the right side is your side?”

“I know we don’t know each other, Senator, but one thing you should know about me is that I’m always right.”

“Nick. Call me Nick.” His blue eyes flashed and he leaned forward intently. “Tell me something, Charley. Why this bill? Why do you care enough about this bill to come to an event hoping for two minutes of my evening to give me the same pitch I’ve already heard a dozen times?”

I could’ve told him right then, the whole truth. My truth was powerful enough to convince him. But I had never told anyone that truth, and I wasn’t ready to start now. “After what almost happened tonight, do you really need a reason? Someone was able to get within a few feet of the Vice President of the United States while carrying a gun. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“No.” Nick shook his head. “It’s not enough. Passing this bill doesn’t guarantee that all the bad guys will stop finding ways to kill people. I’m sure you can agree with that.”

“Life doesn’t have any guarantees, but that doesn’t mean you give up.” I could feel a familiar annoyance building. “Look, people speed every day, but that doesn’t mean we get rid of speed limits. It’s safer to drive slower, so we pass laws to that effect. Bill 132 is the same thing. Yeah, some bad guys are still going to get guns but we should make it as hard as we can for them.”

“What about the Second Amendment?”

“Stop. You’re not honestly going to argue that the Second Amendment was intended to protect a potential criminal’s right to own an assault weapon, are you?” I groaned and felt slightly better when I saw the corner of Nick’s lips twitch as he fought back a smile.

“No, I wasn’t going to argue that. I was just trying to annoy you.” Now he let himself smirk. “Has anyone ever told you that your nostrils flare adorably when you are irritated?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you are kind of an ass?” I smiled sweetly.

“Too many people to count,” he answered easily.

I really wanted to stay annoyed but he was too darn charming. Nick wasn’t like the other politicians I had met in Washington; he didn’t seem to be at all impressed by his status and even seemed a bit embarrassed by it. We had been on lockdown for at least thirty minutes and he hadn’t checked his cell phone once even though I heard it vibrating nonstop in his pocket.

“Not that this hasn’t been a knee-slapping good time but how long do you think they are going to keep us here?” I nodded toward two agents lurking in the far corner of the room.

“No clue.” Nick shot me a sidelong glance. “For a bit longer I hope.”

“Really?”
I raised a surprised eyebrow.

Nick patted the suit pocket that held his phone. “The real world waits on the outside. Plus there’s the stimulating conversation we’ve been having.”

“I’d rather be watching bad reality television right now.” But even as I said the words I realized they were a lie. I enjoyed talking to Nick Cooper, even if it meant being locked in a room swarming with secret service agents.

“We could
bust open the mini-bar and get drunk if you’d like,” Nick offered.

“I like the way you think, Senator Cooper.”

The mini-bar was well-stocked and we had no problem finding a few drinks to take the edge off our tense situation. After three drinks made from overpriced mini-bottles of vodka, I managed to forget that I had only known Nick for the last two hours.

“Come on. You can trust me.” I exaggerated a wink. “What really happened with the
fiancé? Did you get caught cheating?”

“Wow. That’s an extremely personal question.” Nick tried to act offended but he was two drinks ahead of me and feeling good. “That’s not something I usually talk about on a first date.”

“This isn’t a date,” I reminded him. “This is an imprisonment.”

“Drinks.
Awkward conversation. Hotel room.” He ticked each item off on a finger. “Sure sounds like a date to me.”

“I’m beginning to
see why you aren’t engaged anymore.” I finished off my drink in one big gulp. We both looked up in surprise when the bedroom door opened. We hadn’t seen any activity from the room in quite a while.

Agent Flynn stepped out of the room looking like he had aged ten years. His hair was disheveled as if he had been running his hands through it and his tie was crooked. “You two are free to leave,” he said through tight lips. “An agent will drive you home, and we’ll escort you through the back exit.”

“That’s it? You aren’t going to tell us what happened downstairs?” The indignation in my voice surprised even me.

“An individual was apprehended as he approached the Vice President with a weapon. That’s really all you need to know.”

“That doesn’t explain why you had to keep us trapped up here all night.” When I stood up, I wobbled slightly. I wasn’t sure if it was from the drinks or from not moving for the past couple of hours.

Agent Flynn sighed. “Due to your proximity to the Vice President, we had to be sure that you were not an intended target. You were not.”

Nick broke the tension with a joke. “For once, someone didn’t want me dead. I’ll count that as a win.”

“You know, that’s something that was never a concern for me until you came into my life.”

“Until I
saved
your life, you mean,” Nick corrected me with a flash of his boyish grin.

“Alright.”
I clapped my hands together. “I’m ready to go. Where’s this back exit?”

Agent Flynn took us down the same elevator we went up in, but headed to the back of the hotel as we exited. I glanced quickly to the right and saw that the main lobby was still locked down
and swarming with police.

“You’ll be able to avoid the media this way also,” Agent Flynn explained. “I hear it’s a bit of a circus out front.”

“I imagine there are quite a few clowns out there,” I said, surprised when Nick laughed. Most people didn’t find my jokes to be very funny.

Agent Flynn stopped short at the end of the hallway and pressed a finger to his ear, listening to whatever the mystery voice was saying in his ear piece. “Your car is here,” he said, pushing open an unmarked door.

A black sedan waited for us in the alley.

“No offense, but I hope we don’t meet again,” I said to Agent Flynn. He didn’t look the least bit offended as he opened the car door for me.

Nick suggested that I be dropped off first so I gave the driver my address and stole a glance at my phone. Seven missed calls from Eva, which meant she had been watching the news. Nick was busy with his phone as well, his brow furrowed in concentration as he read through his email.

“Glad to be back in the real world?” he asked without looking up.

It occurred to me that the last couple of hours in that hotel room were some of the most peaceful moments I had experienced in a long time. There was something to be said for locking out life, having a couple of drinks, and turning off your brain.

“You might’ve been on to something,” I confessed.

“I know we don’t know each other very well, but something you should know about me is that I’m always right.” Nick smirked as he threw my own words back in my face.

I allowed myself a small smile. “This is me,” I said as we pulled up in front of my building. “Maybe I’ll see you around town.”

“Maybe.” Nick looked like he was going to say more but changed his mind. “Have a good night.”

I was halfway out the door when Nick stopped me.

“Charley?”

“Yeah?”

Nick’s eyes narrowed as he thought for a second. “It was really nice to meet you.”

“Ditto,” I said. “Thanks for the stimulating conversation.”

“Anytime.”

With that, I shut the door on Nicholas Cooper, certain that our paths would cross again someday. I had no idea just how soon it would be.

Tuesday, October 6
th

The Daily Scandal– Washington’s #1 Source for Breaking Political News and Politicians Making News

Last night, an attempt was made on the life of the Vice President. Eye witnesses say that a man attempted to attack the VP while at a fundraiser at The Capital Hotel.
No one was harmed in the incident but the hotel and surrounding vicinity were in lockdown for hours.

Other sources tell the Daily Scandal that Senator Nicholas Cooper was escorted to a private suite accompanied by a
beautiful young woman. It is not known whether this woman was another of the senator’s many conquests but it was confirmed that the two of them disappeared for hours. I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll hear of this mystery woman.

CHAPTER TWO

              “That’s all you’ve got for me?” Eva slammed her coffee mug onto my desk, spilling it in the process. “You were locked in a room with Senator Cooper for a couple of hours and you didn’t walk away with any clue as to how he’s going to vote?”

   “I had other things on my mind right then,” I said, using a tissue to wipe up the spilled coffee. “Besides, I don’t think the senator even knows how he’s going to vote yet.”

   “Really?” Eva sat up straight. “So you did have a heart-to-heart with him then?”

   “That’s a bit of an embellishment. We talked a little, that’s all.” Eva and I had already been through this line of questioning several times. I was relieved when Eva’s assistant, Mindy, knocked on my open office door.

   “I have a delivery for Charley,” she said, stepping into the room holding an embarrassingly large display of flowers. Mindy was grinning like a fool as she set the vase on my desk. “Looks like you have an admirer.”

   Eva nearly knocked over the entire thing reaching for the card. Fortunately
, my reflexes were quick and I snatched the card just before her hand closed over it. “I believe Mindy said these flowers are for
me.
” I gave Eva a pointed look as I opened the miniature envelope and slid out the tiny stationary inside. The handwriting was neat and precise, clearly legible.

             
Charley- I enjoyed our time together last night. Any chance you would be interested in doing it again? Minus the near-death experience, of course.  We can even argue politics again. Just say yes.  ~Nick

   Well, that certainly was an interesting twist. I could feel both Eva and Mindy watching me and my cheeks flushed. If I told Eva who the flowers were from, she would never stop trying to use it to her advantage. On the other hand, she wasn’t going anywhere without some kind of explanation.

   “Nothing to see here,” I said, pretending to shoo them away with the card. Eva wasn’t having it.

   “Spill it, Tanner. You’re blushing too much for it to be nothing.”

   “They’re from that blind date I went on last week. Remember the one my friend Tara set me up on? The guy that made me pay the bill? Anyway, this is his way of apologizing I guess.” I turned to my computer and pretended to be busy answering emails after sliding the card under my keyboard, out of sight.

   “I don’t buy a word you said.” Eva slid off my desk and smoothed down her dress. “I have to run to a meeting, but this isn’t over.”

   Eva was right- it wasn’t over. As much as I tried to forget about Nick and focus on work, the flowers weren’t exactly easy to ignore. And every time I saw them, or caught a whiff of them, I started thinking about the note. Nick wanted me to say yes, but he didn’t leave a phone number or email address. I couldn’t say yes even if I wanted to. The question remained- did I want to say yes?

   I had a bad track record when it came to dating. Twenty eight years and I had never been in a serious, adult relationship. My friends teased that I was a commitment-
phobe but the reality was that I had a very low tolerance for people. That’s not to say that I was terribly picky, I just didn’t like to put up with people’s crap. Fool me once, get the hell out of my life.

   Nick Cooper was the exact type of guy I typically avoided so when I found him sitting on my doorstep after work, I thought about running away. Unfortunately, he spotted me just as I was about to flee.

   “Charley,” he said, rising fluidly. He was wearing a dark gray suit with a robin’s egg blue shirt that was just a shade darker than his eyes. Last night I had been in a bit of shock and hadn’t been able to fully appreciate his subtle beauty- the sharp cheekbones and strong jaw. His tall, lean body and inviting smile. Nick was classically good-looking, but not obnoxiously so. I couldn’t help but return his smile.

   “Nick.”

   His smile grew wider at the sound of his name. He straightened his tie as he stepped closer. “You got my note?”

   “I did.”  My brain had gone blank and I had to struggle to remember what the note had said. “You forgot to leave a number.”

   “I didn’t forget.” Nick shoved his hands in his pockets and lowered his voice. “I prefer to get my answers in person.”

  
“Even if it’s a rejection?”

   He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I never take no for an answer.”

   “So you really are just as cocky as they say.”

  
“As who says?” He tilted his head just a little.

   “
The Daily Scandal
, for one.” I was challenging Nick and he knew it. For his part, he didn’t take the bait.

   “People like to talk. The internet let’s them do that anonymously. I’ve got more important things to worry about than what the internet says about me.” Nick tried to sound nonchalant but I detected annoyance in his tone. “You’re not avoiding the question, are you?”

   I honestly didn’t know. He had given me the entire day to decide what my answer would be and I was still undecided. “Thank you for the flowers,” I said instead. “That was very sweet of you.”

   “I have my moments.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You still haven’t answered my question. Should I be worried?”

   A cloud passed over us, literally, blocking the sun momentarily. The sudden darkening was ominous. Nick’s face was more angular in the shadow and made him seem slightly dangerous, like his inner bad boy was being exposed. I had a weakness for bad boys.

  
“Fine.”

  
“Fine?” His eyebrows rose hopefully.

   “My answer is yes, I guess.”

   Nick laughed awkwardly. “Please, try to contain your excitement.”

   “I’m sorry. You’re right.” I was being rude and we both knew it. “Let’s give it a shot.”

   “I was hoping you would say that.” He gestured down the road in the direction from which I had arrived. “Let’s go.”

   “Let’s go?” I asked in alarm. “Like, right now?”

   “Sure. Unless you have other plans...” A quick smile that made it impossible to say no.

   “Okay, let’s go,” I agreed. “What’s the plan?”

   “What makes you think I have a plan?” This time his smile hinted of mischief and there was no doubt that he actually did have a plan.

   “So I’m just supposed to blindly follow you?”

   “It’s called trust, Charley.” Nick held out his hand. “So do you trust me?”

   I gave his hand a long look before cautiously placing my hand in it. “Don’t make me regret this.”

   I didn’t know what to expect as Nick led me down the street. He walked leisurely but with confidence, keeping up a steady stream of small talk. I wasn’t usually a big fan of small talk but Nick had a special charm in his demeanor that I couldn’t resist. Before sitting down for dinner, we had both run through our biographies and we were ready to tackle more serious matters.

   “How did you find this place?” I asked, looking around the bar. It was nearly empty and we were seated at a small table near the back, while four other patrons lined the bar. We were able to talk freely without anyone overhearing us.

   “My ex lived a couple of blocks over. I spent a lot of time in here when I needed to get away.” Nick took a long drink of his beer.

  
“The ex-fiancé?” My interest was piqued. It was no secret that Nick’s recently failed romance had been the talk of the town. His broken engagement had made him the most eligible bachelor in Congress.

   Nick’s jaw clenched for several seconds
before he nodded and said, “Heide.”

   I leaned forward and lowered my voice even though no one could hear a word we were saying.
“Details please.”

   “What details?”

   “All of them. How did you meet? How long did you date? Why did you break up?”

  
“At a charity event. Two years. And it’s a long story.” Nick tilted his beer at me. “Your turn.”

   “Fire away.” I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms.

   “Why do I know your name?”

  
“Because I told it to you?”

   Nick shook his head. “That’s not what I mean and you know it. I’ve heard your name, and it happened long before these last 24 hours.”

   “It’s a common name. I’m sure there are dozens of Charley Tanners floating around.”

   Nick smirked.
“Female Charley Tanners? I doubt that.”

   I shrugged. “I’ve lived in Washington a long time. We run in similar circles.”

   “Everyone in Washington runs in the same circle. This town is one giant political circle.” Nick twirled his beer bottle in a slow loop on the table. “I could just pull out my phone and Google you.”

   “Our first date and you’re already talking about
Googling me? Scandalous.” I tried to keep my tone even but we both knew he had me. Even if I kept my mouth shut on the matter, it would take less than thirty seconds for him to find out on his own.

   “Wait.” Nick held up a hand to stop me. “Where are you from?”

   “Wisconsin.”

  
“Where in Wisconsin?”

   The second I answered that question, Nick would figure it out
on his own. I didn’t so much as blink when I answered, “Morville.”

   I could see the recognition pass over his face. Any flirtation that had been skirting at the edge of our conversation was now gone completely. “How old are you?” Nick wasn’t at all embarrassed by his bold question.

   “Twenty-eight.”

   “Charley Tanner.” This time when he said my name his voice sounded haunted.
“The lone survivor of the Morville High School Massacre.”

   “You make it sound so creepy.” It had been at least two years since I had heard anyone mention that part of my past. The shock of it never faded. “So that’s my big secret. Now you know.”

   Neither of us said anything for a long time. Nick finally waved the waitress over and ordered us another round of drinks. When she was gone, he said, “I’m sorry I pushed the issue. It’s none of my business.”

   “Don’t worry about it. You were much more tactful about it than most people.” I couldn’t remember a time when I hadn’t been bombarded with questions once someone found out about my past.

  “Let’s try a different line of questioning,” Nick said as the waitress returned with our beers. “Charley- is that short for anything?”

   “Charlotte.” I allowed a small smile. “My mother was a big Bronte fan.”

   “Not Emily or Anne?”

  
“Apparently not.”

   “I always thought Charlotte was the most interesting Bronte sister.”

   I laughed. “You’re telling me that you have actually spent time considering which Bronte sister was the most interesting?”

   “What can I
say, I’m a man of layers. You just have to peel them back one at a time to get a full appreciation of my many facets.”

   “Kind of like an onion.”

   “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

   “Take it any way you’d like.”

   Nick smirked. “I like where this date is headed.”

   Twenty four hours earlier, I had never met Nick Cooper. I had heard his name on the news and read about his personal life in the gossip blogs. I thought he was arrogant, condescending and smug. Fast forward one day and I was on a date with that very same man, no longer caring if he was arrogant or smug. I no longer cared because he was also charming and funny. Despite all the reasons to the contrary, I liked Nick Cooper and for some unknown reason, he seemed to like me, too.

   It took another five rounds of beer and four more hours of conversation before either of us thought to check the time. I was the one to call it quits first.

   “I had a nice time,” I said as Nick walked me back to my building. It was late, and there was no one else on the quiet side-street.