“It’s true, though.” He laughed. “You were massive, and you never said anything. You just stared at me, like a hippo about to charge. Scared the shit out of me, if you must know.”
It was pretty much the rudest thing anyone had ever said to her, but somehow, coming from Michael, it was funny.
“How did you lose the weight?”
“I ate less.”
“Good strategy.”
“Thanks.” They both smiled. “I don’t know,” said Summer. “I got happier, I guess.”
“You know what’s funny?” said Michael, finishing his beer and ordering another.
The fact that I’m supposed to be heartbroken, but at this moment I feel totally happy?
The fact that I know you’re a player and you’re full of shit, but I still want to go to bed with you?
“No. What?”
“I’ve known you since you were five years old. But I don’t really know you at all.”
Reaching across the table, Michael touched Summer’s hand, flipping it over and slowly caressing the inside of her wrist with his thumb. Chad Bates had never done that. Summer felt the blood rush to her groin like it had a plane to catch.
Michael grinned. “Let’s go to bed.”
“What are you thinking?”
Teddy De Vere looked over at his wife. In the moon’s half-light, Alexia’s skin looked flawless, like it used to when they were courting. The night’s shadows had erased the wrinkles and age spots, leaving nothing but the beautiful profile he remembered: strong jaw, long, aquiline nose, high brow. Alexia was nearly sixty, but she was still a sensual, desirable woman, at least in Teddy’s eyes. He had loved her for most of his adult life, and she had changed his life, completely. If he could choose only one word to describe her, it would be strength. The beauty of Alexia’s strength was, it was contagious. She had made him strong. Teddy loved her for that.
The De Veres were having dinner on the deck at the Gables, just the two of them. A crescent moon hung in a star-flooded sky, and bullfrogs croaked sleepily from the pond at the bottom of the property. The guesthouse lights were still on, but neither of the children was home. Roxie was having supper with a friend, a rare occurrence indeed these days, and Michael was somewhere with Summer Meyer. Ever since Lucy and Arnie’s dinner party Michael had been following the Meyer girl around like a lost puppy. Though it pained Teddy to admit it, it was rather sweet. He couldn’t remember ever seeing his son so besotted, unless you counted Michael’s infant crush on his mother.
Alexia let out a long sigh.
Teddy asked, “What was that for? Something on your mind?”
“No, not really. I was just thinking how lovely it is here. How peaceful.”
She was right. It was a perfect Martha’s Vineyard night, warm, the air slightly sticky and sweet with the scents of roses and violets and lavender, competing with the succulent aroma of lemon-garlic chicken wafting out through the kitchen window. Even so, Teddy sensed that Alexia was only half in the present.
“You’re worrying. I can tell. What is it, my darling?”
Cupping her glass of Pellegrino in both hands, Alexia drew her knees up to her chest. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to me.”
“If I tell you, do you promise not to overreact?”
“I’ll do my best. What is it, Alexia?”
“Do you remember that man who came to the gates at Kingsmere, the night after I was elected?”
“Dimly. I remember you left the table. But didn’t you say it was nothing?”
“It was nothing. It probably still is nothing.”
Teddy raised an eyebrow. “Probably?”
“I didn’t tell you, but a few weeks ago in London, I saw him again. The same man.”
“But . . . you never saw him. I remember now. He’d gone by the time you got to the gate, and the camera wasn’t working.”
“It was working,” Alexia said sheepishly. “I lied because I didn’t want to worry you.”
“For God’s sake, Alexia. I’m not a child. I want to know these things.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Anyway, I gave the footage to the police and they found out who it was.”
“Well? Who was it?”
“An American. He’s an ex-con with a history of mental illness.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds. He’s not violent or anything. But the thing is, he turned up again. In Parliament Square, a couple of weeks before the summer recess. He grabbed me as I was getting out of the car with Edward. We—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on.” Teddy sat up. “He grabbed you? What do you mean? Did he hurt you?”
“No. I was shocked, but no.”
Teddy absorbed this information. He hated it when Alexia kept secrets from him, especially secrets like this. It was his job to protect her. His duty. He felt completely emasculated.
“Where were the police when all this happened? Your so-called security?”
“They were there. They pulled him off me.”
“I hope you pressed charges.”
Alexia looked uneasy. Teddy’s eyes widened.
“You did press charges?”
“I didn’t need to. Edward dealt with it.”
“How?”
“We deported him. Quietly. I didn’t want the press to make a story out of it. I just wanted him gone.”
Teddy nodded approvingly. This was the one reassuring thing he’d heard all evening. For a few minutes he sat in silence, sipping his Bordeaux contemplatively. Then he asked Alexia, “What was his name?”
She seemed surprised by the question. “Does it matter?”
“It matters to me, yes. I’d like to know.”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”
Teddy looked at her, disbelieving. “What? Don’t be silly, darling. Who was he?”
“I would if I could, Teddy. But I can’t. You’re just going to have to trust me on this one.”
“Trust you? That’s rich! You clearly don’t trust me enough to confide in me.” Teddy stood up angrily and began pacing the deck. Suddenly all the peace and ease of the evening had gone. He felt like he’d been punched in the stomach.
Alexia pleaded. “Don’t be angry. You knew what we were getting into when I put my name forward for this job.”
Did I? thought Teddy bitterly.
“I’m not some back-bench MP anymore. I’m the home secretary.”
“I know your job title, Alexia.” It was unlike Teddy to lose his temper, especially with her, but he couldn’t seem to help himself.
“Then you should also know that there are going to be things, many things, that I’m not able to share with you.” Alexia fought back. “It’s just the way it is.”
“So why tell me anything? Why tell me you’re worried about this man and then not let me help?”
Alexia sensed the frustration in his voice, and the hurt. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said anything. But after the other night, in Lucy Meyer’s kitchen, she’d felt a growing need to talk about her fears.
“I told you because you asked. And because I wanted to be honest, as honest as I can be.”
“Yes, well. It’s not bloody good enough!”
Standing up, she wrapped her arms around Teddy’s waist and pressed her body against his. It was an affectionate gesture. Vulnerable. Needy. Contrite. Despite himself, Teddy felt his heart melting.
Turning around, he pulled her into his arms.
“I want to protect you, Alexia. That’s all. Can’t you understand that?”
“You are protecting me.” Alexia whispered. “Right now. I need you so much Teddy. I couldn’t do any of this without you.”
Teddy kissed her hard on the mouth. He would never stop wanting her.
Never.
Lying naked and sated in bed, wrapped in Michael De Vere’s arms, Summer Meyer stared at the ceiling, grinning from ear to ear.
It was official.
She was over Chad Bates.
Michael’s breath tickled her ear and the warm weight of his body pressed against her back. He smelled of sweat and cologne and sex, and Summer didn’t think she had ever wanted a man quite so badly. Kissing him, she whispered, “I was thinking about what you said before.”
“You mean about your arse being the eighth wonder of the world?” Michael’s hand crept downward.
“No, not that.” Summer giggled.
“Because it is, you know. Honestly, if you were English, I’d be having that thing preserved for the nation. Of course, you Yanks have no sense of heritage.”
“I mean what you said about us not really knowing each other, even after all these years.”
“Oh. That.”
“It’s true.”
“Well, hopefully it’s a little less true now.”
Reaching for her breasts, Michael lazily traced a line around her nipples with his index finger. Summer moaned with pleasure. His hands on her body were pure bliss. She shuddered to think of where and how he had picked up his technique.
“I’m serious. I mean I know your whole family better than I know you. Your mom’s a machine. Your dad’s a saint.”