Lonely Hearts by Heidi Cullinan

few special events.”
    Aaron blinked. Rapidly. “You don’t have to—”
    Baz cut him off patiently. “Let her do something for you. Besides, how much do you think Giles would enjoy a romantic getaway?”
    â€œIt will be wonderful ,” Gloria promised, clearly warming to the idea. “I’ll call Oliver Thompson and have him find a perfect show for you.”
    Aaron protested a little more, but not long before switching to thanking Gloria, accepting her polite hugs and giving Baz one last double-check before accepting Baz’s key fob and disappearing into the hall.
    â€œStephan, you’ll set everything up for Aaron?” Gloria spoke with the same careful lilt she always did, but there was an edge to her tone this time, one Baz knew meant It’s time for you to leave me alone with my son.
    Stephan inclined his head in a nod. “Absolutely. Shall I arrange a telephone meeting with Mr. Thompson as well?”
    â€œPlease. Oh, and tell Erika she can work in her room for the rest of the evening. The same goes for you.”
    Baz tried not to panic over the DEFCON levels his mom was setting off. Getting rid of the staff? Making it clear she and Baz weren’t to be interrupted? Baz began to regret letting his buffer get away. God, he wished his mom would threaten to chuck him out penniless as Aaron’s parents had. That he could deal with. But she’d never behave so crudely in a million years.
    No, Gloria would politick Baz to death.
    Once the door to the suite was closed, she threw the deadbolt and crossed to the bar, where she poured herself a glass of cabernet and made Baz a scotch neat. She passed Baz the drink and sat on the other side of the sofa beside him. “Well. Here we are, darling. I hope you’ve been well?”
    Baz set his scotch beside his coffee and glared at her. “Mom, if you’re going to yell at me for not graduating, do it already. Don’t puff me up first like a goddamned lobbyist.”
    â€œI’m not yelling at you for anything.” She sighed and put her glass aside as well. “I’ve been approached about running for political office, and this time I don’t think I can do anything but accept.”
    Relief rolled off Baz in great steaming clouds. “Mom, that’s fantastic. Of course I want you to run for office. Haven’t I said so for years?”
    â€œNothing is official, and it’s vital you not share this information with anyone. Not even Marius or Damien.”
    â€œOf course I won’t tell anyone. But you were born for this, Mom. This is your first step toward climbing your way to the top. God, I hope it doesn’t take you long to be running for the other US Senate seat beside Uncle Paul.”
    â€œThat’s just it, sweetheart. The US Attorney General will be stepping down by the end of the month. Your uncle is the favored candidate for the soon-to-be-open position. His nomination would be tricky, but we believe the Republicans won’t be able to resist the bait of his open seat. Especially when they see what a greenhorn the governor is offering as his replacement.”
    Baz stared at her as everything clicked, at last, into place. “You. You’re the greenhorn. Except you aren’t. It’s a pretty big leap from no office to US Senator, but if anybody could do it, it’s you.”
    â€œYes. But not many people know. Which means if we set up the dance correctly, I can capture the flag—giving a plum position to your uncle and setting him up for bigger things, helping the President and the Democratic Party. I can finally have my dream of taking my place in the Barnett political dynasty.”
    Baz squeezed his mother’s hand. “Mom, of course you have my blessing. This is amazing. You have to say yes. Right now.”
    She shook her head. “Sweetheart, you don’t understand. If I do this, if I say yes, the Beltway press and the