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The wind howled outside the window. It was possible the storm was picking up speed. The wind gusts seemed stronger and more sustained.
“Yes.” I saw the way her eyes flickered quickly before she looked away.
“I’m glad you wanted to talk. I didn’t expect it to be the in the middle of this.”
“Why wait?” She smiled. “I don’t think business should be put off.”
“All right. Let’s put it all out there.”
She made her way to the bar across the room. The fabric caught the tops of her thighs when she walked.
“Drink?” she offered.
It was clear I wasn’t going anywhere. “I’ll have whatever you’re pouring.”
I studied her back while she dropped ice cubes into the glasses. “What rooms are these?” I asked.
“I did some remodeling a few years ago,” she explained, turning to present the drinks. “I combined two suites to make this apartment.”
“It’s nice. It suits you.”
“Does it?” Her eyebrows raised.
“Sophisticated. Feminine. Expensive.” I smirked. “I think so.”
“Thank you.” Her pink lips raked over the glass when she took a sip.
“I got your note the other morning when you left.” Her eyes shot to mine. “And the necklace,” I added.
“I’m glad you brought up BONO.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about the PAC. I want to apologize for how you found about it. We could talk about that part.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Apologize? How are you going to do that?”
“I just did. I’m sorry. I need those senators for one of my projects. It wasn’t supposed to be personal. I see how you took it that way.”
She laughed. It caught me off-guard. “If I took every backroom business deal personally, I wouldn’t have the position I do.”
“Hmm.” I stared at her. “So none of this is personal? Refusing my calls? Rejecting the flowers I sent? The champagne gift? The necklace?” I licked my lips. “The fucking necklace, Kennedy? It doesn’t get more personal than that.”
“I didn’t want it anymore.” She turned from me.
“That message was received.” I walked toward her, looking through the window at the storm. The lights flickered with another burst of lightning and thunder. She jumped. “Do you have a generator if you lose power?” I asked.
“It was overloaded in the hurricane last month. The replacement hasn’t been installed.” I heard her voice, but it was as if she was somewhere else. Her thoughts were on the rain or the streaks of lightning.
“I’m going to light some candles. Okay?”
She stood still while I struck matches and lit the tapers lined along the fireplace mantle. I made sure to light the ones on the coffee table and next to the bed as well.
The roof shook and the power surge lasted longer. I knew there was no way the power would last. Not in this kind of storm. Had she known that all along?
“There. I think we’re good,” I announced.
“No, Knight. We’re not good.” She faced me. I saw the fury in her green eyes. It was layered with hurt and distrust.
“I was talking about if the lights go out.”
