someone’s certain she’s winning. Already planning on moving over to Dirksen, eh?”
Christine arched an eyebrow. “Are you saying I’m going to lose?”
Caroline smiled. “You’re going to blow your opponent away. But things would have changed anyway, Chrissy. You’d be in the upper chamber with Ellen, leaving me all by my lonesome in the House.”
“I know.” Christine looked out the window. “But we would have been in the same city. I still would have searched you out every day. I’m just going to miss you when you’re in Harrisburg. That’s all.”
That was probably about as mushy as Christine was going to get. “You make it sound as if a victory for Jack is a foregone conclusion,” said Caroline.
“You don’t think so?”
“I honestly have no idea.”
“Right now he’s polling well ahead of his presumed opponent. I think he’s okay unless he does something stupid.”
Caroline tried not to spend too much time thinking about Jack’s presumed opponent. Jeffrey Murdock. Not only her least favorite fellow Democrat, but a loathsome person as well. He had yet to declare but would probably be holding his own press conference soon. She decided to lighten the mood. “Something stupid? You mean, like marrying a liberal?”
Christine smiled. “I think that’s going to help more than hurt. But enough of that. What brings you by my fine office anyway?”
Fine office indeed. Caroline looked around. “Oh, before I forget. Ethan Allen called. They want their showroom back.”
“I don’t like spartan office furniture,” Christine said haughtily. “So what if I brought my own desk in here?”
And redecorated the entire room, from the look of it. “Isn’t this a rental space?”
Christine swung her legs up on the desk. “It’s my show. I do what I want.”
Caroline smiled. Christine was a complete control freak, much like a certain man who had purchased a far too large engagement ring for his fiancée. Caroline supposed that was why she had such a hard time getting along with Jack, although she’d never say that to Christine’s face.
“Hey, do you want to see my wedding dress?” she asked.
“Oh, please. I hope that’s the sole reason you came over to see me.”
“I can’t think of any other excuse to spend time with you.” Caroline stood up and handed Christine her phone.
Christine swept her legs back under the desk and scrolled through the page on Caroline’s smartphone. “It’s lovely, Punky.” She gave Caroline a devilish look. “But should you really be wearing white?”
Caroline lightly backhanded Christine on the arm. “Don’t be a jerk.”
“That’s not very nice. And from America’s Political Sweetheart, no less. The press may need to reconsider that nickname they coined for you.”
Caroline snatched her phone out of Christine’s hands, sitting back down on the couch. “Eh, I don’t care what you think.” She grinned mischievously. “Shouldn’t have worn white for the first one either.”
They both started laughing.
Christine’s eyes were shining. “Those nuns you had in grade school must be crying their eyes out every day over what you’ve become,” she said, still laughing.
“Praying for the salvation of my soul, more likely. And technically the dress is a cream color.”
“Whatever makes you feel better. Sinner,” Christine added.
“We’re all sinners, Chrissy.” Caroline laughed again. “Except for you.”
Christine wiped her eyes. “Not to digress, and please God, no more innuendos, but how is that birthday present working out? Does it turn on a dime?”
Jack had gotten her a dark blue BMW as a gift. She’d always wanted a luxury sedan but could never justify spending that amount of money on a vehicle. It would have been too impractical and extravagant. But it was a tiny expense to him. Caroline was surprised that liberal bloggers hadn’t raked him over the coals for it. Normally they’d be all over a high profile Republican who gave that kind of unnecessary, ridiculously expensive gift to anyone, especially before an election.
Maybe she was still in a post-shooting grace period, or maybe they’d decided to lay off because the recipient of said gift was a Democrat. Or they were too focused on ripping apart her feminist street cred. She wasn’t going to analyze it too much but she knew the phase wouldn’t last. Once the campaign started going they’d probably be back in full force, taking her along for the libelous ride.
She fucked Jack’s brains out in the garage after he gave it to her. His words, not hers. One of the best sexual experiences of his life, he said afterward. A very high compliment, since her left arm was still weak. She decided not