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Jake looked at the screen too. “Better have your victory speech ready,” he said. “Anyway, I say Curt asks her sometime around Allison’s wedding in the spring.”
“I told you, you’re wrong,” Trent said, joining them. Trent and his wife, Addie, were both in attendance tonight too. “They’ll be engaged by the New Year’s Eve party at Cliff House.”
If his brother arrived at the annual Sherbrooke New Year’s Eve party engaged, Brett wouldn’t be surprised. He planned on being engaged for the event himself.
“And the Senator here will be engaged in time for my sister’s wedding,” Trent said.
“I disagree with you on both,” Jake said. “Help me out, Senator. Tell Trent he’s wrong as usual.”
An arm slipped around his waist, and he hoped Jen hadn’t caught any of their conversation.
“Jake, didn’t he tell you?” Jen asked with a laugh. “It’s Senator Buster.”
“I like it. Sounds dignified,” Trent said.
“So, Senator Buster, who’s right?” Jake asked again.
“That information is need to know only. You’ll have to place your bet and wait for the results like everyone else.”
Jen looked confused, and he didn’t blame her. She hadn’t been in the room when they’d talked about adding his name and Curt’s to the pool of Sherbrooke men likely to get engaged next.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about, but Carl’s headed this way,” she said. “And he looks happy.”
He’d never seen a bigger smile on Carl’s face. The man was about to deliver good news. “I just heard from Kevin McGinnis. Gina’s getting ready to call and concede the race to you.”
***
Jen sipped her champagne and watched another group of well-wishers circle around Brett. Family members as well as campaign workers had been offering their congratulations since he took the call from Gina and then announced she’d conceded. He’d delivered his victory speech well over an hour ago. The celebration wouldn’t be ending anytime soon if the atmosphere around her was anything to go by. Even if it went on for another eight hours, she didn’t care. Brett deserved every moment of it. He, as well as his campaign staff, had worked nonstop to win, especially right after the story about her biological father broke.
Although Ted Smith had never taken a lead in the polls prior to the primary, he had temporarily narrowed the gap back in October. Thank God, it hadn’t lasted. Brett insisted the press conference she gave and the statement from Debra McCormick and her husband killed any lead Ted had garnered following the initial story. Whether those things had helped or not, she didn’t know. Either way, she was glad the media had lost interest in the whole topic. She was even happier her past hadn’t cost Brett the future he wanted.
“When I worked on the Hill, I lived in Alexandria. You two should look for a house there. It’s a great city, and the commute into Washington isn’t too bad,” Sara Hall, Brett’s cousin, said. “Well, compared to driving in from other areas. It’s still not a pleasant ride.”
She’d first met Sara, President Sherbrooke’s youngest daughter, at Allison Sherbrooke’s engagement party. A woman well versed in politics, she’d made several trips back since then to help consult on Brett’s campaign. Jen had gotten to know the woman well in the past two months.
“Are you going to move down when he does or wait a little while?” Sara asked.
They’d spent so much time getting him elected, they hadn’t talked about what would happen between them once he won. Jen knew he loved her. Brett told her and showed her all the time. But this win and the move it required would add a new and unwanted challenge to their relationship.
No one appeared to be listening to them, and she trusted anything she told Sara would stay between them. “I don’t know,” Jen admitted. “He hasn’t asked me to move down with him. Actually, neither of us has ever brought up the fact a win today would mean he has to relocate.”
Sara looked across at her cousin. He’d left the previous group he’d been with and now stood with his cousins Derek and Scott as well as his uncles Mark and Harrison. “Long-distance relationships can be hard, but they’re doable. Christopher and I did it for a while.” Sara met her eyes again. “Brett won’t settle for that. He’s not one to settle for anything. He loves you. Before my cousin moves, he’ll ask you to go with him. I suggest you start thinking about whether or not you want to go now so you’re ready when the time comes.”
If he asked, Jen already had her answer. She’d miss being close to her family, but the drive from the Washington area to Rhode Island was less than ten hours. A plane ticket to and from DC wasn’t expensive either, so she could easily visit when she wanted. She liked working for Pattersen Financial, but she could find a new job.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Christopher, Sara’s husband, said as he and Brett joined them. “Why are the two of you hiding over here?” he asked, handing Sara a new glass of champagne.
Sara accepted the glass and took a sip before she answered. “I was filling Jen in on a few more of my cousin’s faults. She deserves to know what she’s getting, and I doubt anyone else has told her.”
“Thanks a lot, Sara. Don’t worry, I’ll remember that and repay the favor someday,” Brett said, before ignoring his cousin and her husband. “I’m sorry I left you alone for so long. I need a break from this. Let’s go.” Brett took the half-empty wine glass from her and passed it to his cousin before taking her hand. “Sara, if anyone’s looking for me, tell them I’ll be back soon.”
“Since this is your big night, I’ll do it. But don’t make asking me for favors a habit, cuz.” Sara winked at her and smiled. “Jen, make sure he comes back soon.”
He’d already started leading her away, so she had to look back to answer. “I’ll do my best.”
Brett exited the hotel ballroom that had been converted into campaign headquarters for the night. He glanced left and right before heading straight for an elevator. When the doors opened, he tugged her inside behind him.
“I thought we were going outside for a minute.” She watched him press the button for the eighth floor.
