The campaign bus just pulled out of the hotel parking lot five minutes ago, and already my staffers are having a heated conversation about something. I’m oblivious, my mind still on last night.

I’ve never had a more erotic experience than last night’s FaceTime with Jude. Even actual sex with other men has never given me as deep a thrill as his low, husky voice did as he told me to come for him.

That’s exactly what I did. I came for him, getting a rush out of my body unconsciously obeying his command. And it had been an orgasm that went on and on, with waves of pleasure still washing over me after I ended the call.

If phone sex with him did that to me, what would happen if we did the real deed? My pulse picks up at just the thought. After I’d fallen into a deep, satisfied sleep last night, I’d dreamed of Jude’s bare, muscled body against mine. I’d woken up hot and achy this morning, my body wanting more.

“It’s not like we have a choice in the matter,” Lexi says, her tone sharper than usual. “It’s my job he’s taking, you guys, so if I can deal with it, you can too.”

I snap out of my daze and furrow my brow. “You mean Tom? He is not taking your job, Lex. No one will ever do that.”

She shrugs. “We’ll see. Tom’s got a reputation for running things his way.”

I can’t deny that. “We can hear what he has to say, but that doesn’t mean we have to do it.”

“I think we probably should listen,” Lexi says, her shoulders sinking. “We had some poll numbers done after the debate last night. It was only a sample of those who watched it, but…”

“It was bad,” I finish.

“Really bad.”

I shake my head in disgust. My opponent smoked me in our debate, and I FaceTime fucked him after. Well, not right after… Right after, I made out with him in my dressing room and got busted by my campaign manager.

Where the hell is the real Reagan Preston? The tenacious woman of steel who lets nothing stand in her way?

I bury my face in my hands. If my father only knew…

I can’t help laughing at the thought. If he knew, his head would explode. I’m being stupid and careless. And I already know I’ll do it again. This thing with Jude is the first time in my life I’ve done something completely for me.

“Are you losing your shit?” Lexi asks.

I stop my crazed laughter and sigh deeply. “No, I’m good.” I look around at the solemn and confused faces of my staff. “Look, guys. I want to win this election. We’re all working our asses off here, and I couldn’t be prouder. Sometimes in politics, you get an order from above that you can’t ignore, and that’s why Tom’s coming. It’s not because anyone on this staff is lacking in any way. Let’s get our game faces on and remember that this isn’t life-and-death. No matter what the outcome of the election is, life will go on. We’ll all be okay.”

Lexi nods but looks utterly perplexed. This isn’t something I would have said yesterday. I thought then that my very life depended on winning this Senate seat. But then I conclusively lost a debate. And I survived. I did more than survive, actually. I let myself feel something other than defeated. Jude helped me remember there’s life outside this race.

“Let’s get doughnuts,” I suggest.

Lexi glances down at her watch.

“We’ll be late meeting Tom if we stop.”

I smile. “Even better. Doughnuts it is.”

Roy somehow manages to park our giant bus in front of a small bakery in downtown Chicago. After we’ve stocked up on doughnuts and coffee, everyone’s spirits are higher.

Tom is waiting in front of the Palmer House when we pull in front of the hotel. His black hair is starting to gray at the temples, but other than that, he looks the same. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders before I walk off the bus to greet him.

“Reagan,” he says, his gaze sliding down my body. “It’s been a long time.”

Not long enough.

“Are you ready?” I ask.

“What, no hug?”

I give him a fake smile. “No hug. I assume you need help with your bags? You are getting on in years.”

He narrows his eyes. “I’m only forty-three, Reagan. I’m going to have the bellhop load my bags on the bus because this is an expensive suit and it’s hot outside.”

He turns to board the bus, and I step in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. “Listen, you need to keep this completely professional, okay?”

Tom’s smirk, which I found charming seven years ago, now just makes him look like the asshole he really is. “Already having impure thoughts about me?” he says in a low tone.

I roll my eyes. “Absolutely not. I made a mistake once, and I own it. But never again.”

“As I recall, it was three times. Once in my hotel room, once on the elevator—”

“Stop,” I say, my cheeks burning. “Either forget about the past and be a professional or don’t even step on this bus.”

“Well, well, well. Tough girl now that you’re all of thirty?”

I cross my arms. “It’s your decision.”

“Your father never mentioned these terms.”

I hold his gaze, which no longer intimidates me like it used to. Jude would tell this asshole to fuck off, and knowing that gives me the courage to do it, too.

“What’s it gonna be, Tom?” I ask impatiently. “My coffee’s getting cold.”

“Professional, of course,” he says smoothly. “We have a lot of work to do, from the looks of things.”

“I suppose we do.”

“So let’s get started.” He waves a hand toward the bus door. “Ladies first.”

I nod and climb the stairs to the bus, the brush of his fingers across my ass making me tense.

Fucking asshole. I pretend I didn’t even notice because it’s not like I can call him on it in front of my staff. Once the introductions are made, I sit down next to Lexi, making sure I’m in a spot with no room on my other side.

So now, in addition to my Senate race against a tough opponent, I also have to fend off Tom’s advances. It wasn’t so easy when I was a young virgin basking in the attention of an older man. I hate that Tom was my first. I thought I meant something to him back then, but I was just one of many.

My phone buzzes with a text, and I look down at the screen.

Lexi: He seems nice.

I look at her, and she rolls her eyes. At least I’m not alone in disliking Tom.

“I’m glad to be working with you all,” Tom says to my staff. “I think we can get this campaign back on track. I’m experienced at winning against the odds. Reagan, you’re familiar with my experience, right?”

I want to slap him. Or better yet, kick him in the balls. Tom is deliberately flaunting my young stupidity in my face. This is exactly why I didn’t want him here.

“I think so,” I say, drawing my brows together. “It’s been so long, it’s hard to even remember.”

“I’ll jog your memory,” Tom says with a wink.

“Ew,” Lexi mutters.

My thoughts exactly.

* * *

Some of Tom’s ideas are good. He wants me to emphasize my legislative experience and rally the Democratic base in our heavily Democratic state. It’s like home-field advantage.

But mostly, we’ve spent the morning and early afternoon arguing about his plans to discredit Jude.

“Let’s focus on me, not him,” I say for at least the fifth time.

“We have to work both angles.”

I get up from my seat, my muscles sore from sitting on the bus all day. We’re heading to Southern Illinois for a rally tonight, which gives us all day to strategize during the drive. I managed to escape Tom for an hour when we stopped for lunch, but other than that, I’ve been dealing with him all day and I’m on edge.

“Lexi, get me a spreadsheet of all county party chair email addresses,” Tom says. He’s looking over the top of his glasses, which are perched low on his nose.

“Don’t order her around,” I say before Lexi can respond. “Ask her.”

Tom glares at me. “We need to dispense with formalities.”

“That’s fine, but let’s not dispense with common courtesy.”

Tom flips the pen in his hand across the bus, and it bounces off the window. “Look, Reagan. I’m not doing this back-and-forth with you all the time. Your father sent me here to run this campaign. Run it. Not hold hands with your circle of friends and share ideas. Are we all clear about who’s in charge?”

The bus is completely silent. No one is moving a muscle as Tom and I stare each other down. I unclench my jaw and force a smile.

“Yes, we’re clear.”

“Good. When we get to the hotel, you and I will be tweaking your stump speech in your room.”

“You, me, and Lexi,” I correct. “Lexi and I share a room at hotels.”

We’ve gone back and forth up to now, but things have changed now that Tom’s around. I want Lexi rooming with me at every hotel from here on out.

“Sure,” Tom says, looking back down at the paper on the table. “She’s welcome to sit in.”

He’s so condescending. I wish I could vent about him to Jude, but that’s not happening. When I take out my cell phone to sneak a look at his mid-orgasm pic from last night, I see a waiting text from him. He sent it more than an hour ago.

Jude: Thinking about u.

Me: Same. Sorry it took me so long to write back, I was working out a deal with the Trib to sell that photo of you from last night.

Jude: Funny. Tell them u got me off with ur sexy moaning.

Me: Where are you today?

Jude: Near the MO border at St. Louis. You?

Me: Rally down south.

Jude: I hear you hired The Barber.

Tom’s known in political circles as Tom “The Barber” Harbor because he cuts off opponents. I wonder if Jude is intimidated that he’s on my team now. I also wonder how he got the news so quickly.

Me: Are you spying on me?

Jude: Always. Don’t forget it. Tom’s a perv, so steer clear of him.

Me: He’s not a personal fav of mine, but I need help.

Jude: I wish we could both get what we want. I want to win, but there’s a part of me that hates you having to lose to make it happen.

Me: I’ll be okay either way. I’ve gained a new perspective.

Jude: So after the election, can we start seeing each other?

I shake my head and smile.

Me: November’s a long way away, Titan. And the race only gets tougher from here. You may hate me by then.

Jude: Never.

Me: So you want to crush me and then date me?

Jude: Something like that.

Me: You sure it’s not just the thrill of the forbidden with your political opponent?

Jude: I’m sure. I’ll make a Republican out of you yet. ;)

Me: Never.

Jude: I like your fire. And I’ll always respect you, even when we don’t agree.

I soften inside as I read the words.

“Reagan?” Tom says, pulling me out of the moment. “We’re just about there. Can you finish up whatever very important work you’re doing?”

Again with the condescension. Tom’s such a dick. I roll my eyes and look back down at my phone screen.

Me: Will you still want to date me after the election if I win?

Jude: Hell yeah.

Me: Okay. Because I plan to. Game on, Titan.

Jude: Game on. And let’s FaceTime later.