The Gentlewoman Read online

  “What the hell?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I would be offending you so deeply by mentioning your experience. I had hoped we could be friends and work together. I have some experience in law enforcement and I head several subcommittees doing good work that I’d hoped to tap you for.” He stood in the middle of the hallway and stared earnestly into her eyes again, a little too close for comfort.

  “Well you’re not forgiven, and I don’t need your apologies. Just stay the hell away from me. We’re not going to work together, and I’ve heard exactly how you like to tap women. I don’t need your friendship, and I certainly don’t want to spend any more time in your presence than necessary.”

  “That may be rather difficult for you to stick to,” he said with a snort.

  “Why would that be?”

  “Because I live across the hall from you.”

  That fucking figures, she thought, as he let himself into the door directly opposite hers.

  She let herself into her condo and dropped her bags to the hardwood floor. Leaning back against the door, she took several deep breaths. She held her hands out and watched them shake. She always shook when she got angry. She thought she’d learned to deal with this better. This wouldn’t be the last time somebody brought it up. Jackson Dorn just seemed to do it in such an intimate manner.

  She walked down the hall and into the bathroom to wash her face. She stripped down to bra and panties and sifted through several boxes for running pants, then draped on a sweatshirt, gloves and hat for a quick run. After a drink of water, she pulled on her running shoes and headed for the door. She wanted to put some miles between herself and that unfortunate car ride. She couldn’t fucking believe he lived next door. She attached her iPod to her upper arm and turned up the music. Maroon 5 blared in her ears as she headed down the street.

  It was starting to get dark. DC was still mild, even with the full winter upon them. As she ran down the street toward the university, she remembered her fall wedding four years ago and memories came rushing back.

  She could picture Aidan and how he looked on their wedding day. How the church looked decked out in flowers and the runner up the long aisle. She remembered how her dad looked in his tux as he smiled at her with a hint of bittersweet anguish. Both of them had wished her mother could have been there, that she hadn’t succumbed to cancer the year before. As it turned out, it was probably a gift from God that she wasn’t there to witness what happened after Aiden and Rory got married. It would have killed her too.

  She stopped on the street and put her hands on her knees, breathing hard. She forced the thoughts from her mind. She rubbed her left hip bone and could feel the scarring even through her pants. It ached as though the attack had happened yesterday instead of three years ago. It didn’t matter. It happened and there wasn’t anything she could do to change it. She turned and started to run back home.

  She was feeling a little foolish about going off on Dorn. She had been harsh. He didn’t deserve it. It was a legitimate question to ask after she had helped the FBI try to take Aidan down. People were always interested in her story and she knew it was because she had killed her own husband. She had saved herself, but she wished every day that she could have saved her father.

  She renewed her mental note not to verbally eviscerate anyone who mentioned what happened to her in her marriage. The week’s events had frayed her nerves. So many events she’d hardly had any time to herself. Nicole always said Rory spent too much time alone. It was just easier.

  She returned to the building to find a delivery boy standing outside the door, leaning on the bell.

  “What number do you need?” There were only three condos in the building. Rory’s was on the right half of the first floor and she had a neighbor above her, a professor of literature at Georgetown who was in England for the year. Dorn, apparently, was on the left half of the building and she knew that condo had both floors.

  “One, Dorn,” he said, ringing the bell.

  She took her sweaty running money out of her shoe and offered it to the kid. “Here, I’ll take it.”

  “Twenty-five fifty, ma’am.”

  “Keep the change.” He didn’t seem to mind it had just been in her shoe. She was going to keep her losses to a minimum and try for a peace offering.

  She entered the building and knocked on his door. He answered after a couple minutes, wearing nothing but a towel. Her mouth fell open as she gaped at him. He looked at her, narrowing his eyes and smiling. He shifted on his feet and leaned against the doorjamb, obviously feeling no discomfort in his state of undress. Holy shit, was he carved. Broad, muscular shoulders led to a hard chest and lean six-pack abs, nice biceps. She loved a man with biceps. She looked at the floor when she realized she was staring and held up the food.

  “Here, peace offering. Sorry I went ballistic on you in the car.”

  “Well, sorry may not cut it around here, Morgan.”

  “Sorry, and I paid for your dinner.”

  “I see. Have you eaten?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Well, I’ll forgive you if you join me for Chinese food. How about it?”

  “Hmmm, since I haven’t unpacked a single kitchen implement, I accept.” She surprised herself. Maybe it was the towel he was wearing, but something inside her was now eager for his company. “You will put on some pants?”

  “If it would make you feel more comfortable, I’ll even put on underwear. Come on in.”

  His place was obviously bigger than hers, and she noticed right away that it was decorated in a very comfortable, upscale manner. A cream sectional sat in the large living room with a wooden coffee table in front of it. Glowing lamps were on tables on opposite ends of the sofa. To the right, a staircase led to the second floor, and to the left, a large open kitchen lined with maple cabinets glowed with light. A dining area was to the left of the kitchen. Hardwood floors and crown molding reminded her that she was in Georgetown, but if she didn’t know better, she’d expect to go outside and hunt moose. She felt as if she were at a lodge in Maine.

  “Make yourself comfortable while I go get decent. Help yourself to wine or beer in the fridge.” He jogged up the stairs. She watched him go and noticed how every muscle in his legs rippled. He was in shape for his age. Although forty-something wasn’t old.

  She walked into the kitchen and opened his fridge. She didn’t know what possessed her; she usually felt comfortable only in her own home. Maybe she was just lonely for company on her first night on her own in DC. It had been a long stressful week, and she would like to let her hair down, so to speak. Nicole was right; she needed a break to relax. Why not with Dorn? Her apartment was not exactly stress free with the number of boxes that required unpacking.

  She found a bottle of water in the fridge and decided she should start with that since she had just run three miles. She wished she had showered before coming over. She checked her reflection in the mirror back in the living room and dragged her hair from the ponytail holder. Holding it in her teeth, she bent over and ran her hands through her hair. She heard throat clearing behind her.

  “Looks good to me, Morgan,” he said, amused again. He looked heavenly in jeans and a baby-blue T-shirt.

  “Bent over or loose hair?” she asked playfully, wondering what had come over her.

  “Both would suit me. Did you get a drink?”

  “I have water. I’ve just run three miles.”

  “Is that what improved your mood?” He poured himself a frothy beer.

  “Maybe. Look, I’m really sorry. It’s been a long week with all kinds of public appearances and not-so-nice questions being tossed around about the incidents that happened in my life. I guess I’ve just had enough. I’d really rather people forget about what happened and let me represent the real needs of my district.”

  “I can understand that,” he said as he piled Chinese food onto plates and set the kitchen island for two. “But you may want to regard the incidents that ha
ppened to you as some of the issues that need action for your district. But I won’t bring it up again.” He was very measured in his words now, almost compassionate. “I know the first week is stressful. That’s why most people fly back to their districts on the weekend.”

  “Thank you. Maybe we can just relax and get to know each other.” They were neighbors, after all.

  “Have a seat, let’s eat.” He pulled out a stool with his foot and took a seat at the counter. “So have people been asking about your age? You’re considered young for Congress, just like I was when I started here.”

  “Yes, everybody. I like to think of it as a compliment, although I know they don’t mean it that way. Everybody has compared me to my predecessors, repeating ‘thirty-five’ over and over like I was a babe in the woods. I’ve done more legislation than most of the people I’ve met this week, albeit on a smaller stage.” She took a bite of the pepper steak.

  “Same thing they did to me five years ago. You were clerk of courts, right?”

  “Yes.” She was surprised he knew anything about her and found it suspicious. “You know of Landon McCollum, right?”

  “The director of the Department of Commerce. I remember when he first came to Washington.”

  “Well, I started right out of college with him when he was the mayor of Cleveland. He was my mentor and like an uncle to me, still is. I worked on everything from tax legislation, to health and human services, to judicial items. It was a good overview and training ground. Twelve-hour days, seven days a week.”

  “That is good training. Where did you go from there?”

  “I kept that pace until I was twenty-seven and decided I would run for clerk. Uncle Landon and my dad, who was the Cleveland police chief, helped me. They co-chaired the party for ages. I was sworn in on my twenty-eighth birthday. Council came later when I was thirty-one and I served there until being appointed here. Unfortunately for my constituents, they’ve had to deal with a lot from my predecessor. What about you?”

  She was ready to get the conversation off herself. It had taken Landon weeks to talk her into accepting the appointment after the former congressman from her district was arrested with hookers and enough alcohol and drugs in his system to embalm him. Landon had pushed the party and governor to replace him with somebody who cared about the region and the people, and who was electable. That person had been Rory, even when she didn’t know if she had her heart completely in it after all that had happened to her. Landon and the party pushed and they were right. All it took to get her into the game was for the first reporter to cut into her with, “Why should we give her the job when she didn’t even know her husband was a criminal?” Her teeth bared. Nobody cared more for northern Ohio than she did, and if they wanted the right representation, they’d go with Rory Morgan.

  Dorn began to talk about his journey. “Well, as you pointed out today, after my wealthy upbringing, I decided I needed to step out of the Dorn mold of businessmen politicians so I went to the academy after completing Princeton. I spent fifteen years chasing bad guys and made a good name for myself at home in Maine. I finally felt the need to run for Congress five years ago. I’ve been here fighting for Maine ever since.”

  Rory had tensed. “What academy, FBI?”

  “Yes, I was an agent.”

  “Oh, but not for five years?” How much did he know?

  “Not for five years. Would you like a beer? I’m having another.” She smiled and nodded. He might not know all her secrets.

  She followed him to the sofa and he held his hand out for her to sit. To her surprise, he sat down close and turned to face her, intently studying her face. She felt self-conscious in her running gear.

  “So you run a lot? What else do you like to do?” He measured her with those baby-blues.

  “I do run a lot. It keeps me in shape. I also do some kayaking at home. That’s all I do, except work.” Not very impressive, she admonished herself.

  “Kayak? Where do you kayak?”

  “Well, I’ve kayaked on both the Atlantic and Pacific. But mostly when I’m home, I walk out my back door and drag a rig into Lake Erie and take off.” She said this with a great smile and flourish.

  “Ohio. I’ve never been. It’s never sounded like somewhere people want to go.” He was grinning and obviously looking to get a rise out of her.

  “Oh, well, you should visit because you are really missing out. I live in Bay Village, right outside Cleveland. Schools are top ten in the nation, cost of living is incredibly low, and the beer and rock ’n’ roll are always flowing. Not like Portland, Maine. I was there several years back and couldn’t find anything to do after dark. The whole town seemed to go to bed.” Actually she’d loved Portland. It was really beautiful.

  She couldn’t seem to stop herself from flirting. It was so hot the way he was gazing at her. He had the reputation of a gigolo anyway.

  She wondered what it would be like to sleep with Jackson Dorn. He was rumored to have had plenty of lovers. She’d only had one lover since her husband. It had been to try to get past her marriage, if she was being honest with herself. Shane Sutton, the FBI agent assigned to cover her in case her in-laws struck back after she killed Aidan. She had known Shane was interested. He was like a puppy dog following her around. She had decided to try with him, to see if she could return to some semblance of normalcy. When she had slept with him, she had her answer. She could still fuck, but the rest of her was completely numb. The pangs of loneliness soon intensified. Sex had to be enough because happily ever after didn’t exist. It was okay with Shane for a while, until he wanted to couple up. Then she had sent him packing. She told the FBI to go to hell. She didn’t need Shane or them. She had been numb ever since.

  “Yes, I agree people in Portland close it down early. It’s a very sleepy town,” he stated.

  “Wonder what else there is that’s fun to do in Portland?” She was horny; she admitted it. Maybe she should let go and get laid.

  He was staring at her. She could tell he was mentally weighing his options after the mood swings she had displayed in the car.

  He leaned in and looked down at her lips. “I’m going to kiss you, Morgan. If you don’t want me to…” He put his hand on the back of her head and pulled her toward him gently. His lips slowly touched hers. They were very warm and soft, and she felt an electric transfer of heat. He pulled back and looked at her quizzically. He kissed her again, deeper and harder, leaning into her. He pulled back again. He looked very deeply into her eyes and she saw a look of questioning. A strong wave of desire rushed through her, the likes of which she had never felt before.

  She started and froze. She couldn’t do this. It felt like too much and she didn’t have anything inside to spend. As bad as it sucked, she pulled back. His eyes widened and after a deep breath he looked away. When he turned to her again he had a calm smile on his face.

  “I should go. It’s getting late.”

  “Okay, I understand.” They walked to the door together.

  “Thanks for dinner.”

  “No, thank you, you bought.” He smiled.

  “Catch you later,” she said as she walked out the door.

  “Good night, Rory,” he said, closing the door.

  Damn. She needed to stay away from Jackson Dorn.

  Chapter Two

  It was Saturday and Rory was working to make her condo more livable. She liked her new place. It had all the requisite dark maple hardwood floors and white crown molding. The walls were muted apricot and it had a nice warm feel. The kitchen was open and had maple cabinets and pot lighting, with beige-and-black granite countertops. She unpacked the boxes room by room and by Saturday evening had a pretty well-organized kitchen, bedroom and closets. She had no living room or bedroom furniture, and decided she needed to do something about that before she got too busy with the work of Congress. She had been sleeping on a mattress and box spring that were delivered with her boxes, and that was quickly getting old. Time to be more domesticated, le
ss early college years. She headed out the door.

  “Hello, Congresswoman, what are you up to today?” Jackson smiled brightly as he walked to his door and unlocked it.

  “I was unpacking and making the place habitable. How about you?” She tried to sound friendly.

  “I was at the office, several things I needed to get done there before the session’s in full swing and my committees require all my time. Where are you off to?”

  She started to feel guilty. Maybe she should have been at work all day. She couldn’t let other people get ahead of her.

  “I’m headed out to pick out some furniture. I figure I might want to sit down at some point.” She blushed as she checked the contents of her purse.

  He looked up from the mail he was sorting through. “That sounds fun. Can I come along? We could get some dinner together.”

  That sounds fun? She gazed up at him. This guy was trying to cozy up to her, and for more than what his reputation was famous for.

  “Sure, if you’d really like to. I’d like the company.” Congressman Dorn might think she was a babe in the woods, but she would have fun figuring out his game. Plus, he was a nice piece of eye candy.

  “Great, hang out for ten minutes while I change?” He held open his door for her.

  When he emerged, she was sitting at the kitchen bar sorting through emails on her iPhone. Her breath caught at the hot congressman in jeans and a navy-blue cable sweater.

  “You don’t have a car, do you, Morgan?”

  “No, not in DC. I thought I’d just use the Metro.”

  “That might prove challenging once you get into the swing of the session. There’re lots of different meetings scheduled across the city. It’ll keep you running. You may want to think about it. Or lots of people use a car service.”