hallway.”
A few seconds later he heard the locks slide open. The door yawned to reveal Cara wearing a baggy, gray T-shirt and a pair of black yoga pants. Her feet were bare, her hair was slightly mussed and her face was free of makeup, showing the few light freckles that made her that much cuter.
“Hey,” he said softly, resisting an urge to reach out and touch her.
“I’m really doing fine,” she told him, lips compressed, jaw tight, her knuckles straining where she held the door.
He nodded as he moved inside, easing the door from her hands to close it behind himself. He looked meaningfully at the spiral staircase.
“Five minutes,” she repeated.
“I can finish a soft drink in less than five minutes.”
She shook her head in disgust but headed up the stairs anyway. Max followed, resisting once again the urge to reach out and touch. There was a time, a very short time in the scheme of things, when he’d felt free to do that.
“Cola or beer?” she asked, coming to the top of the stairs and padding across the smooth floor to the kitchen area.
“Beer,” Max decided, shrugging out of his tux jacket and releasing his bow tie.
He moved to the furniture grouping of two low, hunter-green leather couches, a pair of matching armchairs and low tables with lamps, all tastefully accented by a rust, gold and brown patterned rug. Her view of the city was expansive. The night had turned clear, with a new blanket of snow freshening up the buildings and the trees, reflecting the lights in the park across the street.
Cara returned with a can of beer for him and a cola for her. She handed the can to Max and then curled into one of the armchairs, popping the top on her own drink.
“Four minutes,” she warned him.
He opened his beer and eased onto the corner of a couch. He pulled off his wristwatch and set it on the coffee table, faceup where he could see it.
He caught her slight, involuntary smile at the gesture.
“You okay?” he asked in a soft voice.
“I’m fine,” she assured him one more time.
“Did you know?” he couldn’t stop himself from asking.
“You know I can’t answer that.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I was counting on being able to read your expression when you told me to back off.”
She lifted her brows. “And did you?”
“You’re as inscrutable as ever.”
“Thank you. It helps in my business.” She took a sip.
He followed suit. Then he set the can down on a coaster. “You know I’ll have to go after the story.”
“I know you will.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. And I respect the hell out of this president. But a secret daughter?”
“We don’t know for sure she’s his daughter.”
Max stilled. He was surprised Cara had offered even that much insight. “We will soon enough.”
She nodded.
“Have you talked to Ariella?” He knew the two women were friends. Cara had casually introduced Max to Ariella at a fundraising event right before the election.
Cara set her cola down on a table beside her. “Do you honestly think that would be in anyone’s best interest?”
“That’s neither a yes nor a no.”
Cara’s expression remained completely neutral.
“You’re very good,” he allowed.
She sat forward. “I know you have to go after this, Max. But can you at least be fair about it? Can you please take into account all the facts before you help ramp up the public hysteria?”
Max leaned forward, bringing them close enough that he could feel her faint breath, inhale the coconut scent of her shampoo, close enough that it was hard to keep from kissing her.
“I always take all the facts into account.”
“You know what I mean.”
He reached for her hand.
But at his faintest touch, she snapped it away. “This is going to get ugly.”
He knew that was an understatement. The press, not to mention the opposition, smelled blood in the water, and they were already circling. “Are you going back to work tonight?”
“Lynn’s taking the night shift. I’ll go in early tomorrow morning.”
“It’s going to be a long haul,” Max noted, wishing there was something he could do to help her. But he had a very different job from Cara, a job that was certain to be at odds with hers.
“Yes, it is.” She sounded tired already.
“I’ll be fair, Cara.”
“Thank you.” There was a wistful note to her voice. For a moment, her blue eyes went soft and her expression became less guarded.
He reached for her hand again, this time squeezing before she had a chance to pull