Power Switch (Power Play #3) - Kennedy L. Mitchell Page 0,43
to the hard edge with a tight grip. “So you're my girlfriend now, huh?” A devious smile spreads across his face. Something about it urges me to smile back. “Not a hardship to endure, I’ll give you that. But I won't be made a fool, Randi. If we're going to pretend to do this, then I need you to keep your distance with that agent and anyone else. It doesn’t seem like you're too concerned with your reputation in this town, but I am. I won't look like the idiot who doesn’t know his girlfriend is sneaking around behind his back again.”
“Again?” The word’s out into the world before I can stop it. I snap my mouth shut hoping he didn’t hear me. But I am curious.
“I’ve been burned in the past. Let’s leave it at that. Getting to my role as AAG took a lot of long hours. Hours away from home. Hours your wife is filling with one of your old business partners while everyone else knows but has too much pity to tell you to your face.”
“Wow,” I breathe. “That’s… she sounds terrible.”
Sam laughs. Inhaling deep, he leans forward and drops his head. “You being with that agent is a bad idea, Randi, for a lot of reasons. If that gets out, your political career could be over. Think about what the media will spin. Making it seem like you’re doing nothing in your role here except sleeping around with the entire team.”
“It’s just—”
“That’s not what they’ll spin. I’m not here to tell you how to live your life or what you should or shouldn’t do. But if we figure out a plan, a plan that keeps me as your boyfriend, then I’m asking you to lie low. You have someone in your group who can out us fast if they see you with someone other than me. I can’t go through that kind of humiliation again.”
I nibble on my pinkie nail, debating what to tell him. What good would come from telling him the truth about everything? From Trey and Jessica's fake engagement, which she seems to now think is real, to me partnering with his mom. Oh, and being besties with the Russian president. None of that matters right now, which means none of it would keep me from being hands-off with Trey. At least until this whole mess is done.
“Things aren’t what they seem,” I say around my finger. Let’s see how Sam likes the ambiguous lawyer talk. “I might have a way to get the information we need, but it’s not the most legal of strategies.”
Sam tilts his head, his gaze slowly assessing. “I don’t like the sound of that. Would it hold up in court?”
I laugh and swipe my hand down my thighs. “Absolutely not.”
“Then we figure out a more legal avenue first. If worse comes to worst, we’ll use whatever connections you have, but until then, I want something we can present to the attorney general.” The light reflects off his dark shiny hair as he stretches his neck. Reaching up, he massages the tight muscles while he stares at the floor. “I think we can use the couple story to our advantage.”
“And how will we do that?”
“You’re invited to all the galas and parties in this town because of your title.”
“And because they know I won’t go.”
“We’re changing that. With you, I have an invitation to the functions I’ve never been able to infiltrate before.”
“You don’t get invited?” I ask, surprised. With the way he looks, I figured everyone would be lining up to have him as eye candy at their party.
“I don’t come from the type of family people want to associate with. Plus, no one likes attorneys, remember? This could be my way to listen in on conversations, pick up on connections and relationships. Maybe all I need is to find a few key members, connect them, and the rest will become clear.”
“I hate getting dressed up,” I whine, crossing my arms over my chest. The snug dress shirt tightens around my shoulders and elbows, restricting some of my movement. Shifting in the seat to get comfortable, I roll my shoulders, trying to loosen the tight material.
“You're either one of them or no one. Haven't you learned that yet?”
I lift a single shoulder in a noncommittal shrug. “Yeah, but I don't want to be one of them. That's the point of not going.”
A groan passes his lips, drawing my attention to them. “It's just like this fake relationship