Complications by Cat Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

she managed to smother it. “What about your senatorial campaign? I doubt your potential constituents will look more kindly on you living in sin with a woman than with a man.”
    “If we were married, that wouldn’t be a problem.”
    What? Was he serious ? “Eric, I’m not marrying you just to have a place to live!”
    “Think about it, Ally. It makes sense.” He scooted closer, though she wasn’t sure whether to relax or bolt for the door. His hand smoothing down her back didn’t make her tremble any less. “You spend every weekend here anyway. We get along better than Barbara and I ever did. We already know we’re sexually compatible. I can help you with your career, and vice versa. We could build a good life together.”
    When he explained it like that, it didn’t sound so bad—except for one thing. “I don’t hear any heartfelt declarations of love.”
    “Were you really expecting any?”
    No. Still, it would’ve been nice if you’d made the effort. But she didn’t say that. Couldn’t even bring herself to look at him.
    “You’d like it better if lied to you? I witnessed too many lies in my parents’ marriage—or omitted truths, which amounts to the same thing. I suspect it was what Barbara and I didn’t say to each other that destroyed our marriage. We hardly spoke after the first few months anyway, except in public.” He got up and went to the bar to pour himself a scotch. “I’m not heading down that road again. If we can’t be honest with each other, we shouldn’t be together, married or not.”
    She sat studying the dreggy depths of her coffee cup while the clock over the bar ticked away like a bomb counting down. Eric was right; it did make sense, when he laid it all out like a grocery list. And she wasn’t exactly fighting off other offers. She’d had two serious relationships in the past decade, neither of them resulting in a proposal. Maybe this was the best she could hope for.
    It wasn’t like Eric’s proposal was a fate worse than death—quite the opposite, in fact. He was an honorable, decent man, an absolutely devastating lover, and he’d just promised never to lie to her. At least neither of them harbored unrealistic expectations. Still, it was a lot to absorb.
    “I’d like to think about it for a few days,” she said at last.
    He nodded. “Of course. Take all the time you need.”
    * * *
    Ally didn’t get much sleep the next few nights with all the choices whirling in her brain. More than once she came close to accepting Eric’s offer, until this tiny, annoying voice echoed in the depths of her consciousness, telling her she was crazy for even considering such a thing. Talking it out with Holly only left her more conflicted. What she needed was the straight dope from someone who’d been there.
    Barbara’s number was unlisted, but luckily, having access to a major news network’s info database proved advantageous. Ally tracked down the number, then sat staring at the scribbled digits on her notepad, drumming her pencil on the desk. At last she screwed up the courage to pick up the phone.
    She’d half expected to get voicemail, but a crisp, low-pitched voice answered instead. “I, I’d like to speak to Barbara Courtland,” she stammered, fighting the urge to hang up.
    “Speaking. And it’s Thornton, not Courtland. I’ve gone back to my maiden name—which you’d know, if you’d done your research. You do realize it says MSNBC on the caller ID, don’t you?” There came an exasperated huff of breath before she added, “You’re wasting your time. I don’t give interviews.”
    “That’s not why I’m calling. You probably don’t remember me, but my name is Allison Taylor. We met a couple of times while you were married to—”
    “Of course I remember you. You’re one of Eric’s friends from college.” Barbara’s tone softened. “Or should I say, you’re Eric’s current…friend.”
    Ally let out a nervous laugh. “God, does everyone