think I’m not keeping a low profile?” Eric countered.
Jason slid a single sheet of paper across the desk.
His lips pressed into a thin line, Eric snatched up the page and scanned the contents. A smile slid up the sides of Eric’s face. “So?” He laid the paper back on the desk.
Ben rose from his chair and strode across to pick up the thin white sheet.
“So,” Eric repeated. “I helped pull a woman out of the swamp today. I should think that would help my campaign, not hurt it.”
The page had a badly reproduced black-and-white photo of Eric helping a sopping wet woman from the swamp by what looked like the dock at Thibodeaux Marina. Despite her hair hanging limply in her face, Ben would recognize that figure anywhere.
Lucie.
And, obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes and one of these flyers, her blouse wasn’t hiding much, if any, of her luscious, fully endowed features. The caption at the bottom of the picture read, “Congressional Candidate Eric Littington in Wet t-shirt Contest With Hometown Hottie.”
“You’ll be the next Washington scandal if you keep seeing that woman.” Not a hint of humor graced Jason Littington’s countenance. A little twitch on his left jaw was the only indication of any emotion whatsoever.
“Why shouldn’t I see her?” Eric stopped pacing to stand directly in front of his father’s desk. “Lucie LeBieu is a very nice young lady.”
“With the reputation of being a little on the loose side. She’s flirted with every man in the county, and rumor has it she’s slept with them all.”
The back of Ben’s collar heated. Although he and Lucie didn’t have a future, he couldn’t stand back and let Jason Littington repeat nasty gossip about her. “Lucie has a twin sister, Lisa, who has that unfortunate reputation. Lucie isn’t anything like her sister.”
“If I can get the rumors confused, the media will make an even bigger mess of the situation.” Jason Littington picked up the page and waved it at his son. “Stay away from her if you know what’s good for you and your campaign for congress.”
Ben could have predicted Eric’s response. He’d seen it at least a dozen times when he’d witnessed Eric go up against his father’s demanding presence. Eric always managed to come off looking like the more reasonable of the two. A quality he admired in his friend, and one that made Eric an excellent candidate for government. The man could keep calm in the most unnerving situations and make sound decisions based on facts. When he believed in something, he didn’t back down.
And apparently, he believed in Lucie.
Ben remembered a time when he’d believed in Lucie, too. Until she’d shown her true colors. She’d only been interested in status.
Growing up as one of nineteen kids, Ben never much cared for status. Nor did he let the lack of status slow him down.
“Dad, I’m not a teenager anymore, and you can’t tell me who I can and can’t see.” Eric didn’t whine, he just stated the facts in a clear and concise manner.
“If you insist on seeing that woman, you’ll only ruin your chances of getting elected,” the elder Littington persisted.
“Now, wait a minute, Mr. Littington.” Ben raised a hand to stop further testimony against his ex-girlfriend. “Lucie isn’t a bad person.”
“Maybe so, maybe not.” Jason flicked his hand toward Ben, although his attention remained on his son. “Eric can’t afford to let her bring him down.”
“Lucie is a beautiful woman who’s smart and determined.” Determined to marry well . He didn’t add that part. He just couldn’t stand by and let Jason bad-mouth her. Lucie may have done some rotten things in the past to him, but nothing that deserved such censure.
“It’s too late, anyway, Dad.” Eric crossed his arms over his chest. “I like her and I want to see her again. I’ve asked her to be my date for the campaign barbecue Friday night.”
Eric’s announcement was a punch in the gut Ben
Jason slid a single sheet of paper across the desk.
His lips pressed into a thin line, Eric snatched up the page and scanned the contents. A smile slid up the sides of Eric’s face. “So?” He laid the paper back on the desk.
Ben rose from his chair and strode across to pick up the thin white sheet.
“So,” Eric repeated. “I helped pull a woman out of the swamp today. I should think that would help my campaign, not hurt it.”
The page had a badly reproduced black-and-white photo of Eric helping a sopping wet woman from the swamp by what looked like the dock at Thibodeaux Marina. Despite her hair hanging limply in her face, Ben would recognize that figure anywhere.
Lucie.
And, obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes and one of these flyers, her blouse wasn’t hiding much, if any, of her luscious, fully endowed features. The caption at the bottom of the picture read, “Congressional Candidate Eric Littington in Wet t-shirt Contest With Hometown Hottie.”
“You’ll be the next Washington scandal if you keep seeing that woman.” Not a hint of humor graced Jason Littington’s countenance. A little twitch on his left jaw was the only indication of any emotion whatsoever.
“Why shouldn’t I see her?” Eric stopped pacing to stand directly in front of his father’s desk. “Lucie LeBieu is a very nice young lady.”
“With the reputation of being a little on the loose side. She’s flirted with every man in the county, and rumor has it she’s slept with them all.”
The back of Ben’s collar heated. Although he and Lucie didn’t have a future, he couldn’t stand back and let Jason Littington repeat nasty gossip about her. “Lucie has a twin sister, Lisa, who has that unfortunate reputation. Lucie isn’t anything like her sister.”
“If I can get the rumors confused, the media will make an even bigger mess of the situation.” Jason Littington picked up the page and waved it at his son. “Stay away from her if you know what’s good for you and your campaign for congress.”
Ben could have predicted Eric’s response. He’d seen it at least a dozen times when he’d witnessed Eric go up against his father’s demanding presence. Eric always managed to come off looking like the more reasonable of the two. A quality he admired in his friend, and one that made Eric an excellent candidate for government. The man could keep calm in the most unnerving situations and make sound decisions based on facts. When he believed in something, he didn’t back down.
And apparently, he believed in Lucie.
Ben remembered a time when he’d believed in Lucie, too. Until she’d shown her true colors. She’d only been interested in status.
Growing up as one of nineteen kids, Ben never much cared for status. Nor did he let the lack of status slow him down.
“Dad, I’m not a teenager anymore, and you can’t tell me who I can and can’t see.” Eric didn’t whine, he just stated the facts in a clear and concise manner.
“If you insist on seeing that woman, you’ll only ruin your chances of getting elected,” the elder Littington persisted.
“Now, wait a minute, Mr. Littington.” Ben raised a hand to stop further testimony against his ex-girlfriend. “Lucie isn’t a bad person.”
“Maybe so, maybe not.” Jason flicked his hand toward Ben, although his attention remained on his son. “Eric can’t afford to let her bring him down.”
“Lucie is a beautiful woman who’s smart and determined.” Determined to marry well . He didn’t add that part. He just couldn’t stand by and let Jason bad-mouth her. Lucie may have done some rotten things in the past to him, but nothing that deserved such censure.
“It’s too late, anyway, Dad.” Eric crossed his arms over his chest. “I like her and I want to see her again. I’ve asked her to be my date for the campaign barbecue Friday night.”
Eric’s announcement was a punch in the gut Ben
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