A Political Affair by Mary Whitney Read Free Book Online Page B

challenger over my daughter’s internship?”
    “I guess not. I’ve got to say I was surprised Langford was so rude to me.”
    “Oh, that’s his way,” he said dismissively. “Even for a politician, he’s not good at hearing things he doesn’t like.”
    “He was pretty offensive. He said the McEvoys weren’t decent people, and he brought up Patty McEvoy being a lesbian.” She knew that would get a rise out of her father. His beloved sister, Aunt Jean, had a longtime companion.  
    “Typical,” he muttered, disgust clear in his tone. “Why does he care?”
    “I don’t know. He also said Megan McEvoy was married to a foreigner.”
    “She is?”
    “No. He’s just Hispanic.”
    “He better not say anything that stupid on the campaign trail.”
    “I agree.” Knowing she had to tell him the worst part, she winced. “And he told me I’m—and I quote—‘unsafe’ in Senator McEvoy’s office because of his reputation with women.”
    “Unsafe? What does he think is going to happen to you? McEvoy will attack you?”
    “I told him I can take care of myself.”
    “Of course you can,” he said with pride. “And Langford better not be thinking he’s going to win this election simply because Stephen McEvoy gets around. Hell, I didn’t agree with his dad very often, but Patrick McEvoy was a decent man and a smart politician. His son seems to be the same. He’s not going to chase after women in his office, especially when he’s trying to get reelected.”
    “Yeah,” she said with a small sigh. She hated having to admit he was right. “From what I know of him, I don’t think he would either.”  

    The following Thursday night, Senator McEvoy’s secretary ushered the group of interns toward his open door and announced, “He wants to see everyone in his office first.”  
    “I’m stoked. It’s really cool that he’s doing this.” Keith grinned before whispering in Anne’s ear, “Especially considering what an asshole he’s been to everybody lately.”
    “Well, at this point, I’ll take any help I can get.” She refrained from agreeing the senator had been a jerk.
    As the four interns took their seats, Keith babbled away about the test while Anne’s eyes wandered once again around the beautiful office. The antique furniture didn’t appear to be the standard, government-issued office suite; she guessed it had belonged to Patrick McEvoy at one time. The expansive bookshelves held hundreds of books, and crammed in between The Almanac of American Politics and Black’s Law Dictionary sat a tattered copy of Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose. She loved that book. She wondered if the senator had read it or if it was a leftover from his father, like the furniture and Ansel Adams photos.  
    An arrangement of smaller color prints that hung off to the side of the bookshelf caught her eye. She wished she could walk over and see them because she thought she recognized some of the places in the images. She had a hunch he’d taken them himself, and at that moment, she felt like her heart was sighing—he’s such an interesting person.  
    As he walked in, rolling up his sleeves, Stephen greeted the room, “Thanks so much for staying late today and indulging me.”  
    The interns all returned the thanks, saying he was indulging them.  
    When he sat down, he asked each of them about their interest in law school and any worries they had with the test.  
    Anne listened to her peers’ answers, but she was more intent on staring at the senator’s arms. Even from his forearms, she could tell he was muscular, and the black hair on his arms matched the hair on his head. She abruptly looked away when it occurred to her that black was probably his hair color everywhere.
    While the other interns answered his questions, Stephen listened to their answers, but occasionally glanced at Anne. He couldn’t catch her eye, though, because she seemed to stare at something behind him. He decided it would be too