Jessica Bird - His Comfort and Joy

“See, this is my point exactly. That’s what everyone will think when really I’m just trying to keep my Senate protected.”

His Senate. Not the American people’s.

Gray felt a wave of exhaustion come over him, like someone had thrown a wet wool blanket over his head. He was getting tired of Capitol Hill and its intrigues, he really was.

“Look, Gray, I’ll give you the names of my sources. Check out the stories yourself. And then help me put an end to these salacious articles. That reporter is making a mockery out of our political process and that gum-flapping Democrat is helping her do it.”

The door to the study burst open.

Joy pulled up short, an empty tray hanging from her hand. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was looking for the library.”

Becks smiled paternally, the hard tone in his voice disappearing completely. “Not to worry, my dear. An interruption from the likes of you is no hardship.”

She looked flustered. “I’ll just come back for the empty glasses in here later—”

“Not at all. I’m leaving.” The senator put down his drink and smiled at Gray. “We’ll talk soon and thank you again for including me tonight. It meant a lot just to see Walter again. He did so much for me when I was getting started.”

As Becks left, Joy stared at his face as if trying to place the man. Then she shook her head. “I’ll sweep this room later.”

She turned away. And Gray couldn’t let her go.

“Joy. Wait.”

She hesitated, back straight as a wall. When he went over to her, she did not look at him.

Good Lord, she was so lovely.

The light from overhead fell down on the delicate planes of her face and brought out the golds and pale reds of her hair. Her long, slender neck was set off by the short white-lace collar of the uniform, her collarbones just barely exposed by the cut of the blouse. Even at the end of a long night, she smelled like lavender.

Gray burned.

“Let me help you,” he said roughly.

Let me kiss you, he thought. Just once.

Impatience flickered over her features, tightening the lips he stared at. “That’s not necessary. Really.”

As if she’d have preferred to be aided by a gorilla.

“I want to.”

He polished off the bourbon he’d put down, reached for the senator’s glass, which was close by, and cocked his eyebrow. She brought up the tray and he put the crystal on it.

“I don’t need your help.”

“Yes, you’ve already pointed that out,” he murmured, taking the tray from her.

Joy swallowed a groan. She didn’t want to get anywhere near Gray. Not now. Not when she was trying so hard to put her crush to bed.

She winced. Bad choice of words.

“Shall we?” he said in that low rumble of his.

She glanced up and was unable to look further than the top button of his shirt.

The width of his shoulders was enough to block her view of the room entirely and he towered over her, making her feel small. She looked down a little, hoping he’d feel shorter that way. Instead she just noticed that he’d taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. His forearms were muscular with veins that ran down into his long, sure hands.

“Don’t you have something else to do?” she demanded.

Couldn’t he go save the world or something and let her finish her job in peace?

“Nope.”

Joy gritted her teeth and walked across the hall into a parlor. Going through the beautifully appointed room, she picked up empties and put them on the tray he held. As they moved around, she could feel him looming behind her and she could have sworn his eyes were on her body.

Stop it, she told herself. She knew damn well that was just her fantasies talking. He was only helping her out, probably thought he was being chivalrous.

When they were finished there, they went into the library she’d been looking for in the first place. With only the sound of his loafers and her flats on the marble floor, the silence started to get to her.

She couldn’t stand it anymore.

“So who was that man you were talking to? I feel like I’ve seen him before.”

“Just a politician.”

Somehow she doubted that. “I think I’ve seen him on TV.”

“You might have.”

“Actually, I think I’ve seen a lot of the people here tonight on CNN.”

She walked past an antique table and realized she’d missed a glass. Stopping abruptly, she bent over to grab it.

And Gray walked right into her body.

His hips connected with her backside, brushing against her intimately. The fit was shocking.

But what really got her attention was the fact that she felt something hard.

He hissed and stepped back. “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

She grabbed the glass with two hands, afraid she was going to drop it. As she carefully put it on the tray, she looked up.

Gray’s eyes drilled into hers, twin beams of pale blue shooting through the tense air between them.

She forgot how to breathe.

After years of fantasizing about Grayson Bennett, the legend, she was actually being stared at with wild lust by Grayson Bennett, the man.

A woman’s voice broke the moment, splitting through it like an ax. “I finally found you.”

Joy looked around Gray’s shoulder.

The redhead walked into the room, as comfortable and relaxed as if she owned the place.

“I’m heading up for bed,” she said. And then had the gall to smile at Joy.

Joy grabbed the tray and made a beeline for the door, feeling like a fool. As she rushed for the kitchen, body shaking like a paint mixer, she cursed herself.

When heavy footsteps came after her, she walked faster.

“Joy.” Gray’s voice was all command. “Joy!”

She stopped. And truly hated him at that moment.

God, was he going to apologize? Or worse, suggest they meet up after he’d finished with his girlfriend? Damn it, she’d known he was out of her league, but had assumed it was because he was rich and handsome and powerful. Instead he was all that and a total player.

“Joy, I’d like you to meet Cassandra.”

Joy closed her eyes and prayed for composure.

Oh, this was great. He wanted to introduce them.

She squared her shoulders before turning around.

The redhead was at Gray’s side, looking both sad and a little amused as she smiled in greeting.

“I’m Reese’s wife,” the woman murmured softly.

Joy felt the blood drain out of her head. “Oh, I didn’t know….”

“Of course you didn’t,” Cassandra said graciously. “I think you came downstairs just after the introductions were made.”

While Joy stuttered out her condolences, Gray put his hand on the redhead’s shoulder. It was the perfect reminder of the kind of relationship the two had, and as soon as Joy could, she retreated into the kitchen. She felt awful for Cassandra’s loss, and the woman did look pained. But it wasn’t hard to believe that seeking solace in Gray’s arms would be a relief from her sorrow.

Joy put the glasses down next to the industrial dishwasher that had almost finished a load. The kitchen was spotless. Nate, Frankie and Tom were an efficient team and had gotten the cleanup done in record time.

“We’re ready to head out,” Frankie said to her. “The Honda and Tom’s truck are all loaded up.”

“I’ll just wait to put in these last few glasses and then I’ll head home.”

“You want me to come back and get you?” Nate asked, untying the long white apron that covered his jeans.

“I’ll be fine. It’s not like there’s a lot of traffic on the Lake Road this time of year.” And she could really use the air to clear her head.

Frankie gave her back the clothes that had suffered the tortellini onslaught. They were folded in a neat pile. “Libby washed these for you. Now be careful riding home, all right?”