Page 10 of Brought By the Storm

“I’m thirty-six,” he stated. “Any Yastarus natural-born citizen aged thirty-five or older is eligible for the presidency.”

“So, your mother was the first lady at one time,” I concluded.

“Yes,” he affirmed. “She didn’t love it. Mother didn’t want me to run for the office, but I was sure it was what my father would have wished. Also, I couldn’t bear to think about the country continuing to move in the direction it had under Vishkov.”

“Where are your Secret Service agents?” I wondered.

Carrington laughed. “We don’t call them that. My protection, on this trip, is Stefan.”

Stefan’s name reminded me that his alleged relationship was now in question, based on Carrington’s earlier confession to liking women. “So, you two aren’t lovers, are you?”

Carrington blushed. “No. That’s one of the lies I didn’t feel comfortable perpetuating. You overheard Stefan ask me if you knew about us. I wasn’t prepared to tell you who I was. I’ll explain why in a moment. But at that point, I tried to think of something that would be innocuous to an American that would divert you from the truth. Knowing that your country is far more accepting of homosexuality, especially in the Northeast, I formulated that excuse. It turned out to be coincidence that you were, in fact, gay yourself.”

“How could you be traveling with just one guard?”

“Yastarus isn’t the United States. We’re a very small country with a fraction of your national budget. The trip was deemed inconsequential, and we made the decision to leave the rest of our security behind to protect the Yastarus government officials who remained. It wasn’t until we were departing Boston that we received intelligence reports that there is a Russian threat to my safety.”

“Wait. What?” My stomach flipped.

“I don’t believe we’re in danger,” he rushed. “Of course, upon receiving the news, I was eager to return home to safety. That was why I was so frustrated earlier today when we were stranded. However, I would think we’re off the radar. Who would ever suspect I’m staying at your home?” He smiled. “I’m sorry. I know there is a small element of risk. If you wish us to leave, we will do so, post haste.”

Send them into a hurricane and a possible Russian threat? That wasn’t an option. “No, I wouldn’t do that.”

Carrington sighed with relief. “Thank you. I promise that if I have any inclination that my whereabouts are compromised, your safety will be my priority. I will leave before you can even say goodbye.”

I was surprised that his promise made me sad. The revelation also made me suspect that his earlier praise of me had been an attempt to convince me that he was gay. “Okay.”

He quirked his head and tried to read my mind. “What’s going through that pretty head?”

I swallowed hard again—he must have thought I had a medical issue. “You don’t have to keep up the guise. You’re straight. I get it. I’m not going to ask you to leave. You don’t need to pretend that you think I’m attractive anymore.”

Carrington blanched and appeared alarmed. “I wasn’t pretending. It’s true that I’ve never been attracted to a man before you…” He reacted to his own words with surprise. “Oh. I think I just said I was attracted to you.” He ran a hand over his face, then looked back to me with shock. “I think you were right. Maybe it’s best we retire for the evening.”

Carrington pushed the bowl of popcorn a few inches away, avoiding my gaze once he had seen my surprise. “Um, maybe you can cover this,” he suggested, pulling away from the counter stool. “I’ll bid you good-night then.” With that, he nodded and scurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs before I could say anything further.