that she was the woman for him and had fallen for her immediately. The same thing had happened to his older sister, Erika, and the man she’d married. Erika swore she’d known Silas was the man she loved after less than a month.
Roman figured that’s how it would be for him. He would know the woman he was destined to love when he saw her, or soon thereafter. For him, marriage was a lifetime commitment, and he wouldn’t marry for any other reason than love. His parents were great role models.
“Over the years, you have dated quite a number of beautiful, intelligent and sophisticated women.”
“That might be the case, but I’m not ready to settle down to just one woman, Mint,” Roman said. “I’m flying to Texas tonight to visit my parents in Austin for a couple days. Before returning to DC, I think I’ll make a pit stop in Houston and seek counsel with Senator Lansing.”
Senator Nedwyn Lansing had been in the US Senate for over twenty years and when he’d been ready to retire, he hadn’t wanted to turn his seat over to just anyone. He had called Roman and convinced him he was the most qualified person to take his seat to represent the good people of Texas. Because of Senator Lansing’s support, Roman had won in a landslide victory seven years ago. Last year Roman had been reelected to that same senate seat.
“I think talking to Senator Lansing is a good idea,” Mint said. “And don’t forget about that interview in New Orleans next Wednesday. You’re to appear on a morning talk show.”
“Thanks for the reminder.”
“While the senate isn’t in session, now is the best time for you to get away. I’ve cleared your calendar for the next three weeks to take some much-deserved R and R. It will start right after that interview in New Orleans, which means you won’t return to Washington until a week and a few days after Labor Day.”
Roman grinned. “That sounds good to me.”
“I figured it would. There’s a shipping town an hour outside of New Orleans and it’s reputed to be the best place for fishing and boating. A place called Catalina Cove.”
“Umm, I’ve never heard of the place, but that’s great. Just make sure you book me somewhere close to the water so I can get a lot of fishing in.”
“I already have. And another thing, Roman, the Capital Ball at the Kennedy Center will be in a couple of months. Should I add Audria’s name to the RSVP as your plus-one, or will you be taking someone else?”
“Audria will not be my date, Mint. You can be sure of that.”
Audria Wayfare, daughter of Senator Wayfare, had somehow convinced herself that she was the woman Roman needed in his life, saying she had the right pedigree to be a senator’s wife, especially one with aspirations to live on Pennsylvania Avenue. He’d known it was time to end things between them after she mentioned in a magazine interview that they were contemplating marriage. That had been a lie.
“Okay, then let me know who it will be before the end of next month.”
After Roman ended the call with Mint, he snapped on his seat belt thinking he wasn’t even sure he would take a date. He had no problem attending the ball alone if he chose to do so.
No matter what, he would not be taking Audria.
* * *
“TANNER JAMISON? SERIOUSLY, VICTORIA. Do you honestly think he’s the man Mama Laverne has chosen for you?” Christy Madaris fixed Victoria with her gaze and took a sip of wine.
Victoria sat across the table from her cousin. She had picked up Christy from the airport and they were sharing dinner at Sloan’s, a popular restaurant in New Orleans.
Although Christy was six years older, the two of them had always been more than just cousins. They’d been gal pals. Victoria thought Christy was beautiful, with her high cheekbones and abundance of reddish-brown hair that flowed down to her shoulders. The mother of three was, and always had been, absolutely stunning. And it was a known fact that she was adored by a husband whom Christy had loved since her early teens.
Victoria could credit Christy with helping her through those growing years, when her three older brothers, Nolan, Corbin and Adam, would get on her nerves by being so overprotective. Christy had also been the recipient of such overprotectiveness from her own brothers—Justin, Dex and Clayton—while growing up. Christy had made things easier by