CHAPTER 12
Jimmy hadn’t been in his apartment since the day he’d left for Kosovo six months before.
Luckily he shared it with Jack, so except for the now-sour milk in the fridge that Jack had forgotten to pour out before he left on furlough two weeks ago, it was in pretty much the same shape Jimmy had left it. Comfy, sort of clean and home away from home.
He threw his duffle on the bed and then himself on the couch. TV remote in hand, he decided women were put on earth strictly to torture men.
One minute Lia was kissing him, the next she was engaged to Senator Dickhead’s son and then an hour later she was telling him she wasn’t. Now he was waiting at home like a damn high school girl for her to call. It was crazy.
He checked his cell phone to make sure it had a signal and was charged then shook his head at himself.
Frigging crazy.
The show on television held no appeal but he stared at it anyway. He guessed he dozed for a bit because the ringing of his cell phone startled him out of his sleep. Even while hating himself for being so anxious to speak with her, Jimmy jumped to answer it.
He fumbled with the phone until he swiped to answer the call and said, “Hello.”
“In the limo on the way home I told my father I’m never going to marry the senator’s son, no matter how much he and Dickson push us together. I also told him I’ve met someone else. Someone I’m very interested in.” She let out a short laugh. “Needless to say, it was a very long car ride home.”
Jimmy swallowed the lump from his throat. “I can imagine it was. Did you tell him exactly who it was you met?”
He firmly tamped down his growing hope. This was a start, but he couldn’t let himself think there could be a future for them. She was still the governor’s daughter and he was the abandoned son of a drunken father.
“Not yet.”
And there it was. She wanted him as long as he could remain a secret. He let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“No, Jimmy. You’re wrong. I didn’t tell him because I want you to meet him first.”
He shook his head at her excuse. “I have met him, Lia.”
“I mean meet him on equal footing, as my date. I have to attend a black-tie cocktail party tonight. Any chance you have a tux lying around?”
She was asking him on a date? An actual public, meet-my-daddy date. Maybe she was serious about trying to make this thing between them work. Though he had to laugh at her tuxedo question.
“Yeah, sure. My tux is hanging right next to my opera cape and ascot.”
Lia ignored his joke. “You can just wear a suit then. Whatever you’ve got will be fine.”
He sighed. There was nothing he could think of that he would enjoy less than being at this party with a bunch of rich guys in tuxes.
Even terrorist torture was looking good next to this thing, but he was starting to realize if he wanted to be with this woman he was going to have to work at it. This party tonight was just part of the dues he’d have to pay to be with Lia, but boy would he love to not go.
He’d have to suck it up and deal with it. Tonight would be the test, as least as far as her daddy was concerned. If he could make it through this party and survive the governor’s scrutiny, they might have a chance together.
Though there were more people involved here than just the governor.
“Are Senator Dickhead and son going to be there?” he asked.
“Yes.” She hesitated before asking, “Is that going to be a problem?”
Yes, but he’d be damned if he told Lia that.
This new bit of info changed everything. Now he wanted to go, if only to stake his claim for Lia. He’d knock any idea Dickhead and son had about her right out of their heads.
“Nope. No problem. I’ll be there. Give me the address. I’ll meet you.”
After getting the time and address, he hung up with Lia and hoisted himself off the couch.
In his bedroom, Jimmy stood in front of the open closet. Inside, covered in a dry cleaning bag, were the dress blues he hadn’t worn in a long time. He hadn’t gained any weight so he figured they would still fit fine.
More importantly, he’d feel better wearing this than any tuxedo or suit. But seeing Lia while wearing his uniform also meant tonight was the night he’d have to confess to her who he really was.
After he’d slept with her while letting her believe he was just a waiter, and then kissed her when she believed he was a farmer, he had a feeling she wasn’t going to be very happy about finally learning the truth.