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"What is?"
Holmes looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "The party hacks are driving me nuts. They would rather sit around and piss and moan than go out and do something about it."
With a knowing nod Stealey said, "They've never worked in the private sector."
Holmes pointed at her and said, "Bingo. They have this trench warfare mentality, and they're deathly afraid of change or new ideas. All they want to do is kiss the unions' asses and beg me for more money."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, the other side is the same way. They've both been running off the same playbook for a hundred years."
"Except we have more fun, right?" Holmes recited the party's line and held up his drink.
Stealey laughed. "Correct."
The wine steward approached the table with his extensive list, but before he could open it, Holmes stopped him. Looking at his guest he asked, "Are you going to stick with white or have some red?"
"I'll drink red with my meal."
"Good. George," he said to the wine steward, "You know what I like. Why don't you go ahead and select something on the lighter side." The man gave a half bow and retreated.
When the two of them were alone, Holmes leaned in and asked, "Let's get business out of the way. Why did you suggest we have dinner tonight?"
Stealey gave him a coy smile. "Do I have to have a reason to want to have dinner with a handsome, fabulously wealthy, powerful man?"
Holmes's response was a mix of primal grunt and laughter. "Oh, Peggy, you know I'd screw your brains out in a New York minute, but we both also know you're a dick tease. So unless you've decided that tonight's the night we consummate this little friendship, let's just keep our attention above the table."
"That won't be any fun." She gave him a pouty look.
"Seriously, I can't afford another set of sore balls from all your games. I've got too much to do tomorrow."
She reached out for his hand. "I've been very up front with you. Sleeping with men in this town can be very dangerous. Women's careers have a way of petering out, so to speak, right after the man has his last orgasm."
Holmes squeezed her hand and then quickly let go. "That's fine. I'm not that hard up that I'm going to beg for it. Either we sleep with each other, or we don't, but no more jerking my chain."
Stealey acted as if her next words were heartfelt, but they weren't. She'd used the same excuse hundreds of times to keep men at bay, but also keep them interested. "I'm very attracted to you, it's just that there's someone else right now, and it's kind of complicated."
"Anyone I know?"
"No. He doesn't travel in your circles."
Holmes grinned. "One of those gun-toting G-men you've been working with?"
"I would prefer not to talk about it."
"That's fine." In truth, Holmes thought Stealey was a bit of a nutbag, but he was too far into this game to lose interest, even if he was trying to act like he didn't care. He'd sealed more business deals by getting up and walking away from the table than by any other tactic. Stealey would come around sooner or later, and until then, she offered great insights into how Washington worked and what was going on at the Justice Department.
"So back to my question. What's on your mind?"
She frowned and shook her head. "That damn Patriot Act."
"What about it?" asked Holmes.
"I know you like to joke that the only reason you became a Democrat is that they have more fun, but you need to be more aware of the issues that affect the base."
"And you think the Patriot Act is one of them?"
"Yes," Stealey answered forcefully.
Holmes, unconvinced, rolled his eyes.
