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Jaxson was on her other side. She suspected he didn't realize he was squeezing her hand so hard it was starting to hurt. He'd been unusually quiet the last twenty-four hours since they’d all debated back and forth the pros and cons of them all attending the gala tonight. Truth be told, Emma wouldn't be surprised if he changed his mind yet again before they exited the limousine, and sent his lovers back to the loft to wait for him.
The summer evening was warm, drawing out tourists and residents alike. The driver took them past the White House on their way across town to the Grand Hyatt Washington DC. With each block they drove, Emma's dread grew. The words were on the tip of her tongue. She didn't really want to do this. Had she made the right decision when she and Chase had insisted on attending to support Jaxson?
Jaxson picked up on her hesitation. "It's not too late, you know. I can send you two back to the loft. I'll just stay until after the announcement and then be done with it."
He wasn't talking to Chase. He was talking to her. Giving her the option to hightail it out of danger.
Oh how she wanted to leave, but as she glanced back and forth between her handsome lovers, her heart expanded with love. She loved them with all her heart. She'd known when she agreed to follow them as they'd left Wisconsin that there would be days like this. Days where she'd feel inadequate. Out of her element. She'd promised herself she wouldn't hide away, too afraid to be seen for fear of negative gossip.
Four hands massaged her, gently knocking out the kinks brought on by tension. Emma closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being taken care of by her lovers.
When the car stopped, she knew she was out of time. She opened her eyes to look between her men, greeting them with a smile.
"Where you go, we all go," she replied.
She’d made the right decision when she recognized the relief on her Dom’s face. "Yes, ma'am," Jaxson teased back.
The driver had come to open the door nearest their seat. They let one secret service guard out first, followed by Chase. They could make out clapping by the crowd surrounding the red carpet lining the path from the carport to the grand lobby. Jaxson kissed her nose, careful not to mess up her lipstick and then stepped out next.
The men spent a minute waving and posing for the paparazzi like the celebrities they were. Only after the hubbub died down did Jaxson lean back in the car, offering her his outstretched hand like an olive branch. Emma grabbed on, hanging on for dear life as she allowed herself to be pulled from the safety of the car. The last guard brought up the rear as their small entourage made their way through the clicking cameras and press of fans trying to get photos and autographs.
Emma went through the motions, floating through the scene like an outside observer, watching the spectacle as a bystander instead of the co-star of Jaxson's life. It was the only way she got through the crowd without feeling claustrophobic.
Things got marginally better once they were in the lobby of the upscale hotel. Bonnie met them as they crossed the space.
"Thank you for coming, Jaxson. Your father was very pleased to hear you and Emma had arrived." She glanced nervously at Chase standing next to Emma. "I didn't inform him that Chase had come against his express wishes. I thought I made that clear yesterday when we were shopping. I hope he doesn't decide to make it an issue."
Jaxson tensed, ready to fight to keep them together, but Chase disarmed the problem, flashing his signature smile that brought out his dimples. "No offense taken, Bonnie. And here I thought I was your favorite.”
The professional woman in her forties actually blushed like a schoolgirl, "Don't be such a flirt. You know I love having you around, but I do work for Senator Davidson and so what he wants, he gets."
Jaxson groused, "That's why we're here. Mind if we get out of the main thoroughfare here?"
Bonnie and the security guards escorted them past the line of political supporters who had undoubtedly paid an exorbitant amount per plate for the privilege of attending the grand event. The irony was not lost on Emma that she'd have paid just as much to stay at the loft.
Just inside the ballroom, Jaxson's parents stood to the side in a receiving line of sorts, greeting guests as they arrived, thanking contributors for their support. Emma had seen pictures of the senator and his wife of course, but they seemed so much larger than life in person. Mr. Davidson was every bit as tall and even handsome as his son while his wife looked positively regal.
Emma glanced around the room realizing there were hundreds of people just like them, dressed to the nines, putting on a show of wealth and power meant to impress. No wonder Jaxson had left home at an early age and didn't want to return. If these were the people he'd been surrounded by throughout his childhood, no wonder he appreciated the real relationship he had with her and Chase.
They were almost to the front of the line, ready to be introduced when Jaxson leaned in to whisper to her, "Last chance. Do you want to leave?"
She hugged him closer, going on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "Where you go, we all go."
She swore she saw tears in his eyes as he whispered back, "Christ, I love you."
Absolutely nothing that happened that night could possibly ruin the joy she felt in that moment, surrounded by the love of not one, but the two men whom she adored.
Chapter 20
"Father, Mother, I'd like to introduce you to Emma Fischer, and of course, you remember Chase."
The smile on the senior Mr. Davidson's face never wavered as he leaned in to shake his son's hand and speak into his ear. "I thought we agreed you'd be coming without your hanger-on crowd tonight." The tone of his voice was like ice.
Jaxson felt Emma flinch as if she'd been physically hurt by his father's words. Jaxson watched as she reflexively reached out to link her free arm through Chase's arm to show her support for their lover. God, he was so proud of her for not shrinking with fear before the asshole that was his father.
He kept his cool. "I assumed you’d want as much free publicity as possible, Father. Having Chase here to endorse you is a coup, not to mention, the paparazzi is used to seeing us together."
"That's the damn problem," he groused. "You two need to stop being joined at the hip. There are rumors all over town that you two are queer, doing all kinds of unnatural things. I can't have false accusations flying around. Having Emma with you was going to put those rumors to bed." He glanced sideways, "I'm sure you understand, Chase. Perhaps you can say you've developed a headache and need to leave."
