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The Marshes greeted them on the dock. Jack said, “Tag, beautiful landing, son, as usual. It’s going to be darn convenient for you, when you’re elected, to be able to fly in and out whenever you fancy.”
Tag smiled. “Thank you, Jack, I appreciate your confidence.”
“Welcome,” Gwen said, hugging each of them in turn. “I’m so glad you guys could make it.”
Tag said, “Thank you for having us, Gwen. Are you sure it’s not too much of an inconvenience if we stay here at the house?”
“Positive,” Gwen assured them. “Look at this place.” She pointed at the mansion behind her. “We have to justify all this space somehow.”
Jack agreed. “She’s right. The party starts at seven, which gives us plenty of time to get changed. We’ll show you to your rooms. You guys can freshen up or take a rest or wander around the estate. We’ll meet out on the deck as soon as you’re ready. That way, we can discuss a few matters and have a drink before we head out.”
Jack’s phone rang, so Gwen showed them to the second floor, where they had side-by-side suites overlooking the water. Tag entered his and headed over to the window. Discarding his earlier thoughts about distance and perspective, he pondered texting Ally. Maybe she’d texted him. That would give him all the impetus he needed to call and hear her voice. Patting his pockets, he realized his phone wasn’t there. He checked his backpack and tried to remember the last time he’d had it.
Last night, for sure, because he and Ally had taken a walk along the bay. He’d snapped a photo of her with his phone; the wind had been tossing silky strands of her long black hair while she laughed and struggled to gather them up.
He didn’t think he could ever get tired of looking at her. He could speak to her right now if he had his phone. He rummaged through his suitcase, thinking about how he’d pulled her close after the photo and kissed her for the first time. The first time he’d kissed her. The first time since he’d established the hands-off rule.
Every time they were together seemed better than the last, and all week he’d waited for her to cave and kiss him again. It had been a blast spending time with her and letting the attraction simmer right along with their friendship.
But last night, the idea of going away for the weekend without kissing her had been out of the question. And even though he’d prepared, braced himself for it, as soon as his lips touched hers that fire had ignited in him all over again, even stronger, fueled now by an almost overwhelming affection that seemed to grow bigger with every second they spent together.
Checking the time, he decided to get ready so he could head down to the dock and fetch his phone from the plane where he must have left it. After a quick shower, he brushed his teeth and donned his tux. He knocked on Bering’s door and told him he’d meet him downstairs.
Once at the plane, he executed a thorough search but didn’t find his phone. Nor did he see it on the dock or along the path as he made his way back to the house, where he found Bering visiting with Gwen and Jack and a few other men who’d come to discuss the campaign. He officially reported that he’d lost his phone.
“I’ll text Milt at your office,” Bering said. “Then I’ll call Shay and have her let your mom know if there’s an emergency they can call me.”
“That would be great, Bering. Thanks.” He wanted to add Ally to the list but felt awkward saying so in front of the crowd. He’d borrow his cousin’s phone later and contact her himself.
They discussed Tag’s campaign staffing needs and political strategies until it was time to depart. It was a short ride to the venue and Tag decided that at least half the population of Juneau must be in attendance. He met one person after another, members of Congress, judges, business people, professionals of all sorts.
Things went smoothly for the first hour, right up until he saw Senator Marsh approaching with a curvy blonde by his side. They first appeared in his peripheral vision, and his initial thought was that a woman was in attendance who was only a few inches shorter than he was when she was wearing heels, a trait he would have found attractive a couple of weeks ago. Everything, it seemed, no matter how circuitous, came back to Ally. But when the senator and the blonde stepped into full view, it took every bit of his self-control to keep up his smile as he focused on the face of his ex, Kendall Meade.
