I’ve seen him over the years, of course, on television, but that screen and distance diluted the full impact of those gemstone eyes and the burnished dark hair. I couldn’t smell him, couldn’t feel like I’m standing in the shadow of a great wall. My body clenches reflexively, reminding me just how long it’s been since he was inside me. The blood melts in my veins, slowing to a languid crawl under the fixed heat of his stare.
Leaves crackle under someone’s feet down on the sidewalk. Autumn wind whistles through near-barren branches. My surroundings feed me sensory information to ground me in this moment where I can’t seem to look away from Maxim, and he doesn’t even seem to be trying to look away from me.
“Ahem,” Kimba clears her throat and shatters the charged silence, moving toward Maxim for a hug. “So good to see you, Maxim. Been too long.”
He pats her back, his eyes still set on me. When he looks down at her, my breath whooshes out, and I realize I haven’t breathed since he opened the door.
“Good to see you, too.” Maxim’s smile for Kimba is warm and sincere. “You’ve been shaking up the world, I see.”
“Had to.” Kimba laughs and tips her head. “Me and the Kingmaker over here. Can you believe this one?”
Maxim’s smile dissipates, and he turns his attention back to me.
“I believe it, yeah,” he says, his voice quiet. “I’ve always known Nix was exceptional.”
The painfully awkward silence stretches until I’m sure my ears will bleed.
“Hello, Maxim.” I don’t make any move toward him and he makes no move toward me. “Good to see you again.”
“Same,” he mutters. His eyes chill when they rest on Wallace. “Introduce me to your . . .”
No way in hell am I completing that sentence for him.
“This is Wallace Murrow,” I say, slipping my arm through Wallace’s. “Wall, Maxim Cade.”
“So pleased to meet you,” Wallace says, extending his hand. Maxim just stares at it for a few seconds, waiting just beyond polite and shy of rude before accepting Wallace’s outstretched hand.
Wallace shoots me a glance, equal parts bewilderment and irritation. “Um, I saw you testifying before Congress a few weeks—”
“It’s cool outside,” Maxim cuts in over Wallace and opens the door wider. “You guys come on in. Everyone else is here.”
I walk in first, evading the hand Maxim extends for my arm. Without looking at him, I follow the sound of voices.
Our hand-selected core team is spread across couches and tucked into corners, drinking and nibbling from trays of hors d’oeuvres. I walk over to Joe, our field director, and his wife Erin. They’re standing with a woman I recognize as Millicent Cade, one of the most powerful political wives and hostesses in the city. An invitation to one of her parties cements one’s place in DC society, and a snub from her solidifies one’s place outside of it.
“Good evening,” I greet the three of them. “Mrs. Cade, I’m Lennix Hunter. Nice to finally meet you.”
“Oh, I’ve heard so much about you, from Owen and Maxim,” she says, her cornflower blue eyes sharpening with speculation. “We need to chat real soon.”
“Yes, we have a lot to talk about. There’s a team member assigned to you for the campaign trail,” I say, deliberately misunderstanding her. “I think you’ll love June.”
“I’m sure I will,” she purrs, her smile deepening to pop dimples in her cheeks. “Be warned. I choose my own clothes.”
“You have perfect taste. June will just make sure it’s displayed perfectly on the trail.”
Our smiles reach a mutual understanding before she drifts off to check on her other guests.
“Impressive, these Cades,” Joe says. “Thanks for bringing me in.”
“I loved your work in Maryland for the governor’s race. Voter turnout was record-breaking, and I know that was your doing.”
“We’ll do that for Senator Cade and then some.” Joe glances over at Owen and Maxim standing by the fireplace chatting with Howard, our volunteer coordinator. “Quite the one-two punch, those brothers. We’ve got an embarrassment of riches to work with.”
Wallace joins us, a drink in each hand. Joe drifts off to join his wife Erin.
“Here’s your martini, um . . . darling,” Wallace says, handing me a glass.
“Be still, my heart,” I whisper. “That was so convincing. Can’t believe you’re not down on your knees proposing yet.”
“Thanks to you,” Wallace grinds out, “Maxim Cade has been treating me like a pariah all night.”
“And by all night, you mean in the fifteen minutes since we’ve arrived?”
“He’s staring daggers at me.” Wallace demonstrates with a pseudo-scary glare. “Like this.”
My involuntary snort-laugh morphs into a gut buster, which often happens with Wallace. I lean into him, burying my face and chuckling against his shoulder.
“Thanks a lot,” Wallace says, but I hear some answering humor in his voice. “I’m getting even more daggers now.”
“Has he been rude to you?” I glance up at him, still leaning on his shoulder. “I mean since he looked at you like you were a bottom feeder and practically refused to shake your hand?”
“I tried to talk to him about his work with recycling systems in developing countries, and he walked off.”
I wince. “He’s being ridiculous. I don’t get it.”
“I think he heard me say I love you.”
“Which is none of his business. I’m none of his business.”
“You’re going to have to talk to him.” He chews on something delicious-smelling wrapped in bacon. “How long do we have to do this pretend relationship?”
“Would you just shut it?” I glance around to make sure no one heard. “You’re the worst beard ever.”
“Am not.”
“Are too. He’s more likely to believe I’m dating Kimba at the rate you’re going, falling at his feet and shit.”
“I just admire him and would like to have actual conversations with him about real world issues.”
“Would you also like long walks on the beach with him?” I take a much-needed sip of the martini. “Maybe wear his letterman jacket? Date to the prom?”
“If I didn’t love you so much . . .” He fixes a deer-in-headlights stare over my shoulder. “Uh, Maxim. Hi. We were just . . . that new electric car you’re developing. I think it’s great.”
A chilly silence meets Wallace’s comment. I don’t look over my shoulder to acknowledge Maxim.
“Thanks,” he replies to Wallace after a few more frigid seconds. “Dinner’s about to be served. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a second, Nix?”
“I don’t think so,” I murmur into my martini glass. “But thanks for the heads up on dinner. Ready, Wall?”
Wallace looks at me like I kicked his puppy for a second and then grits out, “Yes, dear.”
I drag him to follow everyone else into the dining room. Wallace and I are seated at one end of the table with Kimba and a few others from the team. Maxim sits near Cade and Millicent at the other end, and they’re joined by the Cades’ tow-headed twins, both of whom have excellent table manners and infectious laughs. “Uncle Max’s” rich baritone drifts down to my end of the table more than once, punctuated with childish giggles. The shield over my heart almost slips at the sight and the sound of Maxim connected to his family. In Amsterdam, I could tell he missed them. From what I know, his relationship with his father remains strained, but it’s good to see him with Owen’s family.