Someone To Believe In by Kathryn Shay

anything illegal, you’ve broken the law.
Again.”
    “Oh, and did you, or whoever it was that saw
me, overhear our conversation?”
    “No, I’m not privy to what was said.” He ran
a hand through his hair. “Don’t you care about your safety? You
have a child to consider, for Christ’s sake.”
    That stopped her. And made her tongue loose.
“Look, I met with Taz in a very public coffee shop at ten o’clock
in the morning. It was perfectly safe.” She frowned. “How do you
know she was in a gang?”
    “She was gang material, though she wasn’t
flying her colors.” He peered at her. “She was one of yours,
right?”
    “Well, I’m trying to get her out of a
gang.”
    “Did you?”
    Her smile was sun bright. It knocked him off
kilter for a second, and he braced himself against the wall. “No,
but I got her into a shelter.”
    Clay didn’t say anything.
    “See, Senator, I do some good.”
    Again she tried to move around him to get to
the elevator. He blocked her way a second time. “You met a gang kid
alone. That is definitely not a good thing.”
    “I wasn’t at risk. For one thing, she was
tiny. I could take her if I had to.”
    “Oh, that’s just great. What if she had a
knife? God help that four-year-old who depends on you.”
    Furious because he kept hitting that hot
button, Bailey snapped at him. “What do you know about me and
Rory?”
    “Enough to know you shouldn’t be risking your
safety, for him if nothing else. He’s a wonderful boy. Inquisitive.
Happy. How would he be changed if he lost his mother at such a
young age?”
    “How do you know all that?”
    “All what?”
    “All that about Rory.”
    “Because I met him.”
    “Where?”
    “Your brother and son were at the opening of
Tales for Tots. I gave a speech and cut the ribbon.”
    “Why didn’t Aidan tell me he saw you?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “What else happened?”
    “We got ice cream. Aidan and I talked for a
while.”
    Her gaze narrowed, and she assessed him
shrewdly. “About me?”
    “Some. Don’t worry, he didn’t tell me
state secrets.” Uncomfortable with the direction of the
conversation because of what Aidan had told him, Clay glanced at his watch. “We’ve
got to get going.” He circled around her and they strode to the
elevator. Immediately, the doors opened and she stepped inside. He
followed her.
    Bailey was acutely aware of Clay’s size as he
stood next to her. His shoulders were linebacker material, and
she’d forgotten how tall he was. He smelled like expensive
cologne. And she liked his brown pinstripe suit. It did nice things
to his eyes.
    Damn, she was acting like a school girl
noticing how a guy was dressed. She needed to annoy him and keep
her own annoyance with him in
the forefront. Luckily, it wasn’t at all difficult. “So, what, you
had me followed?”
    “Somebody ought to have you followed, for all
the common sense you have. And don’t even ask. I won’t tell you
how I know. “
    “It had to be that. Who else could have seen
me?”
    “Any number of people. Including other gang
members who wouldn’t want you to get your claws into one of
theirs.”
    “In that place? Never.”
    No comment.
    “Look, I’ve worked with girls like Taz for
years. They respond well to me.”
    He sighed heavily. “Is she in high
school?”
    “Yes, and she’s smart. I think she’s going to
be one of my success stories.” When he didn’t respond, she added
forcefully, “Damn it, Senator, give me a break.”
    He let out a frustrated breath, then reached
out and hit a button. The elevator came to a jolting halt.
    Bailey jerked forward. “What the hell are you
doing?”
    “Look, I’m worried about you, all
right? On top of disagreeing with just about everything that pops
into that pretty little head of yours, I’m worried .”
    “Why?”
    “Damned if I know. Meeting you. Your family.
Hearing about your life. I’ve been thinking about you a lot
lately.”
    I’ve been thinking about
you, too