Follow Your Heart (Catalina Cove #4) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,11
Christmas party.”
He nodded. “I haven’t attended one in a couple of years. I was hoping to attend the last one, but the senate had a special session that lasted through most of the holidays.”
“I understand. The one in December was the first I’d attended since leaving home for college. I was lucky and got a college roommate who enjoyed traveling as much as I did. We used our time out of school around the holidays to travel.” She chuckled and then added, “My family threatened to disown me if I didn’t start coming home more often.”
“Don’t feel bad because I love traveling, as well. Now as an elected official, I don’t get to do it as often, but I plan to get away for three weeks. My political manager found me a quiet place not far from here. A coastal town called Catalina Cove.”
“You’ll be in Catalina Cove for three weeks?”
“Yes, but I’m not telling a lot of people. I need some R and R so I’m keeping it on the down low. You’ve heard of the place?”
“Yes, in fact I live there. I stumbled on to it when I covered their seafood festival a couple of years ago and loved it. I decided it was worth the hour drive into work every day and was lucky enough to find a place to rent that was perfect for me.”
“How long have you lived there?”
“I moved in right before Christmas last year.”
He nodded. “Is the town as nice as my political manager claims?”
“Yes. I am definitely Team Catalina Cove. The people are friendly and respect a person’s privacy. So even if you are recognized, they will understand your desire to be left alone. And if you’re someone who likes to fish, which I am, then you’ll—”
“You like to fish?” he asked, surprised. Most women didn’t.
“I go fishing every chance I get, which means when I’m not working or sleeping, I’m on the dock with my pole. I’m Nolan Madaris Junior’s daughter, and I got to go on all Dad’s fishing trips with my brothers. Fishing relaxes me.”
Roman smiled. “It relaxes me as well, and I definitely need some relax time. Things have been crazy in DC.”
“Do tell. I’ve noticed the politicians have a lot going on.”
The politicians? “You say it like politicians is a bad word.”
She shrugged. “Wish I could apologize, but I can’t. They’re not my favorite people. No offense, Senator.”
“None taken, but one day you’ll have to tell me why.”
“Maybe one day I will.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to go to a meeting. Good luck on your interview, and maybe I’ll see you around in the cove. It was nice seeing you again.”
“It was nice seeing you again, as well, Victoria.”
Roman watched as she hurried off and noticed that she had an eye-popping walk in those stilettos. It was only when she rounded the corner and was no longer in sight that his heart stopped racing.
“They’ll be ready for you in five minutes, Senator Malone. Do you need anything?”
The perky production assistant’s question intruded into his thoughts. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell the woman that a cold shower would be nice right about now. Instead he said, “I’d like a glass of water, please.”
“Will a bottle of water be okay?”
“Sure.”
He watched her walk off, thinking she didn’t have that seductive bounce in her step like Victoria Madaris had. And there was no sway in her hips, either. He could tell Victoria’s walk wasn’t done to intentionally grab anyone’s attention. It just came naturally to her.
Just to think of all the Christmas parties Marilyn and Jonathan had given that he’d missed. He could easily envision what might have happened had their paths crossed at one of them. He would have definitely asked her out. But then, hadn’t she said she’d missed a number of those parties herself? Obviously, it hadn’t been meant for them to meet again until now.
“Here you are, Senator.” The production assistant handed him the bottled water.
“Thanks.” He unscrewed the top and took a long swig. He glanced at the woman and saw her watching him. “Is anything wrong?” He racked his brain trying to recall her name and was glad when he finally remembered it. “Terica?”
She quickly shook her head. “No, there’s nothing wrong. And they are ready for you now, Senator.”
Senator. A number of people addressed him as such, and he was okay with it. But for some reason he hadn’t cared much for it when Victoria