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She enjoyed a bite of the salad that had been placed down in front of her. “This is delicious. I love the blend of sweet and bitter.”
“Yes, that’s one of Esteban’s signature dressings, a pomegranate vinaigrette.”
“So you’re not only successful, but cultured, too.”
“I guess you can say that my mama raised me right.” Monique laughed and he continued. “We were always learning, school or no. The world was our classroom and it was always in session. She encouraged us to be curious, to ask questions and to not be afraid to try new things. Then, it wasn’t always appreciated, but now I’m reminded of the foundation she and Dad provided every single day.”
“Do you personally know the other men running? Dick Schneider and Buddy Gao?”
“Dick’s a good old boy I’ve known for most of my life. He’s old-school, traditional, conservative. His father’s a retired judge with connections. Fortunately they’re largely Republican while ours is a more liberal town.”
“And Buddy?”
“Good kid, former immigrant reform activist who cut his political chops in Berkeley after graduating from the university there. He’s only twenty-six years old, but will probably be a contender in the future.”
“He’s twenty-six and you call him a kid? How old are you?”
Niko smiled. “Thirty-one. My grandparents say I have an old soul. What about you? Or are you one of those women?”
“Thirty-three,” she responded, ignoring his jab. “And, by the way, you do look good.”
“Thank you,” he responded, obviously appreciative of her remark.
“For an old man.”
“Ha!”
The easy banter continued through an entrée of perfectly prepared chateaubriand served with grilled asparagus and jasmine rice, and a three-berry crisp with whipped cream for dessert. They talked generally about the political landscape and the upcoming national elections, but also learned a bit more about each other. Niko was pleased to learn that Monique was an avid tennis fan who played on occasion, and Monique found it interesting that the chic, fashion-forward Niko rode horses and liked to fish. One topic was pointedly not discussed: their romantic lives.
After being let out through a private side door, Niko walked with Monique through the parking lot. “Thanks again for a lovely evening,” she said, after he’d insisted on opening her car door. She held out her hand.
He looked at it and then at her. “My roots are Southern,” he said easily. “We prefer hugs to handshakes.”
He took a step and in the next second she was enveloped in his strong, comfortable arms. As soon as her soft breasts met his hard chest, she felt it, an attraction so strong it was electric and real, traveling from her core to her toes and back up to her heart. Her nipples pebbled and once again muscles that hadn’t been used for months tightened with desire, even as she felt her mouth go dry. Niko must have felt something too because he abruptly ended the hug and stepped back.
She didn’t want to look at him, sure that blatant desire, ardent lust and thoughts of good old booty bumping showed on her face. But since it would seem even stranger to say goodbye with her face obscured, she did face him, totally prepared to see a cocky, knowing look in his eye.
But she saw something different—hunger, desire—before he blinked and the moment was gone.
“See you on the campaign trail,” she sang, trying to sound casual and unaffected, getting into her car before she did something crazy like throw caution to the wind and kiss the lips that had tempted her all evening.
“Be safe,” he responded.
She pulled away, then looked into the rearview mirror to find him still standing there, staring. Something had happened tonight, when they’d hugged; something innate yet palpable, something ethereal yet all too real. Monique had no doubt that she’d felt it and she was positive that Niko had sensed it, too.
On the drive home she tried to redirect her thoughts about him, focus solely on the fact that they were opponents in a coveted mayoral campaign. But such attempts were futile. The race was on, of that there was no doubt. Whether it ended in a boardroom or a bedroom, now, that was the question. That Monique was leaning toward the latter as her ending of choice was creating a problem, one that would only escalate in the coming months if there were more intimate meetings like this.
