The Father of Her Son - By Kathleen Pickering Page 0,52
reached for the ever-present television remote and made the sound louder. Sure enough, Evan was on air with the exact scene occurring outside Neverland featured behind him on an oversize monitor. Evan was addressing the camera.
“Kelly Sullivan is my friend. Moments before we went on air she sent me a text saying that protestors were picketing outside the Neverland diner with malicious accusations. The slander being tossed around since the irresponsible reporting against presidential hopeful Buzz Campbell pulled Miss Sullivan into the spotlight. It is causing irreparable damage.”
He took a moment to pause and looked thoughtfully into the camera. “I’m here to tell you folks, the truth of the story is far different from what has been reported. This reporter is taking those accusations against Kelly Sullivan to heart. If Buzz Campbell or Jay Doyle wants to take issue with Kelly Sullivan, they are going to have to come through me.” He pointed at the camera as if pulling a trigger. “We’ll be back after this station break.”
The scene faded to a commercial.
Kelly’s supporters in the diner broke into cheers, standing and clapping on her behalf.
“Go get him, Kelly!”
“Evan McKenna for president!”
“Nail the bastard!” one raucous truck driver yelled.
“Oh, God.” Kelly’s heart practically stopped in her chest. He’d done it. Evan had exposed her on the air. In that moment the possibility of trusting Evan shattered.
Damn his ambitious self. She was nothing but a story to him. He had probably planned on kissing her last night to soften her up for an interview. She beelined for the kitchen. She needed to scream and no one would hear her from the walk-in freezer.
* * *
EVAN WASN’T BACK in his office for two seconds before Sarah charged through the door. She indicated the blinking light on his desk phone.
“The senator is holding.”
He blew out a breath. He had been expecting this moment. “Thanks, Sarah. Close my door, please?” He loosened his tie before pressing the speakerphone.
“Good morning, Senator.”
“It was an excellent morning until I heard your show. What the hell are you doing, son?”
“Listen, Buzz. Let’s not mince words here. You and I both know the truth. Kelly Sullivan doesn’t deserve to be dragged through the mud to cover your ass.”
The senator was silent for a moment. Evan was more than willing to let him ponder his words.
“That woman was trouble from the first day she walked through my door.”
“Sir?”
“Irish redheads. Always trouble.”
“I’m not so sure I know what you mean, Senator.”
“Let’s just say there is something you should know.”
“Shoot.”
“Your buddy Dean has been very helpful. He’s secured the DNA sample I needed. Matthew Sullivan is my son.”
Evan closed his eyes at his own idiocy. The juice box in the trash can. Dean was a dead man. But the traitorous slimeball could wait. Right now, Evan needed to protect Matt from this pompous ass. He schooled his voice to sound confident, even after Campbell had dropped this bomb to throw Evan off balance. “I had no doubt of that fact, sir. Tell me something I don’t know.”
Campbell chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure there’s not much you don’t know.”
Evan released a breath. “Look, Senator. Right now, my objective is to ensure that a woman whom you once hurt very badly doesn’t get swept up in your net of filth a second time. I don’t care what you do, but take your focus off Kelly Sullivan.”
“Sorry, son. Not going to happen.”
“Excuse me?”
“As this country’s next leader, I am not going to let some simpering hussy who seduced me in my sleep keep me from recovering my son. It will be my word against hers. Do you really want to try me?”
Evan’s skin crawled at how easily the man let a lie roll from his mouth. “And to think you almost had my vote.”
“Oh, I’ll get your vote, as well. You’ll see.”
How could Campbell be so damned sure of himself? Did he really believe there would be no punishment for his criminal behavior? “Senator, I cannot imagine that you would take a boy from his mother when you are nothing but a stranger to him.”
Buzz sighed as if he was making a difficult decision. “Actually, he is my son. It is taking every ounce of my self-control not to go after him right now. Whether I do or not depends on how much Kelly cooperates. I know the law, Evan. Should I decide to be nice enough to claim joint custody at best, that pretty redhead will be in my sights on a regular basis. I