Austin - Piper Stone Page 0,17
he pulled something from inside, I knew instinctively what he was going to show me.
“I’ve carried this with me every day,” he said in such a quiet voice I had to strain to hear him. In his hand was the same photograph. “It’s important to remember every day, every experience.”
Important.
Maybe he was right. Then why did I feel like tossing the picture into the embers?
Chapter 4
Francesca
“Are you okay, Senator?”
I opened my eyes, immediately reaching for coffee number three. Okay wasn’t a word that I could use in my vocabulary at this point. When I finally glanced at Janine, the assistant who’d been with me the entire tumultuous time I’d been a senator, she appeared sheepish, which wasn’t like her. “Why do you ask?”
Janine sighed. “Did you have a bad night?”
A bad night. If you mean because I picked up a stranger on a lonely road and followed his command to have rough and filthy sex at a cheap motel that burned to the ground, then sure, it was a bad night. I resisted rolling my eyes given my inner voice picking at me, which it had done for hours. “I just couldn’t sleep very well. A lot on my mind.”
“I understand. At least your schedule isn’t that busy today, although you do have a meeting with the Montana Ranch Association.”
How could I forget about another nasty meeting with a group of old farts who demanded that taxes be lowered on their ranches? Uh-huh. Like that was going to happen. Granted, they were powerful men in the state, but I was through kowtowing to anyone. “I didn’t forget. I’ll be there with bells on.” I grabbed the television remote from my desk, flipping on my usual news station. “No burning calls? No fires to put out this morning?”
Fires.
I hadn’t been able to watch the news before leaving the house. The reason? I’d remained in bed long after the alarm had gone off, trying to rationalize how I could have been so reckless. An image of the roughhewn man rushed into my mind, the clear image of his buff body and thick cock more like a masterpiece of sculpted art.
The second I leaned forward, I was reminded of the very harsh punishment I’d received, the redness glaring at me in the reflection of the mirror before my shower. Even my nipples ached after the incredible abuse they’d received. But the experience had been hot as Hades, delicious in its dysfunction. The second I pulled my arm to my nose, Janine squinted, her mouth twisting.
His scent had continued to remain all over me even after a hot shower.
“No. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just the usual requests for things that are out of our jurisdiction,” she said in a labored voice.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
She seemed more uncomfortable than usual. “Just that a note was received. I left it for you on your desk.”
“A note. I’m guessing you mean a threat?” I laughed, the sound likely coming off as cackling.
Janine’s face paled. “I’m so sorry, Senator. You shouldn’t have to deal with assholes.”
I only half paid attention to her as I studied the television. “Don’t worry. I’m used to it.” I was aware she’d moved closer, trying to find out what I was looking at.
When a report about the fire flashed across the screen, only then did I turn up the volume. The local reporter stood directly in front of the charred remains of the small motel, describing the event without providing any cause for the fire itself. Of course, the fire inspector hadn’t been able to discover the reason just yet.
“Does that mean something to you?” Janine asked.
I gave her a sideways glance then rose to my feet, inching closer to the television.
“While no determination for the cause of the fire has been made, questions have been raised as to whether a serial arsonist has targeted Montana, this being the fourth suspicious fire in less than six months.”
As the reporter prattled on, the news station providing pictures of the previous occurrences, a cold chill trickled down my spine. “Janine, do you know anything about the previous fires?”
“No, but I rarely have time to watch the news at this point. Is there something wrong?”
I shifted my gaze to the open door, the two other employees that worked for me when Congress wasn’t in session. “Will you try and find out everything you can about the four fires?”
When she hesitated, I cocked my head.
“Sure, but is there a reason?”
“I’m just curious since it seems