Free Campaign For Seduction by Ann Christopher

as determined to control his anger and remain professional as she was; only his flashing eyes told her how furious he was.
    “You are an invited guest here,” he reminded her. “And if you can’t remember that, I will get on the phone with your executive producer right now and get you out of here. I knew you had a reputation for being brash, but I thought you could control yourself.”
    Arrogant jackass. It’d serve him right if some sniper nailed him right in the middle of his oversized head. “A thousand pardons, Senator.” She smiled pleasantly. “Please forgive me. Can I ask my questions now? I need to get ready to go live.”
    Without waiting for any answer—maybe he wasn’t done with her, but she didn’t give a damn—she wheeled around and stalked out, leaving him gaping behind her.
    “Let’s go,” she snapped to Takashi when she got back to the main conference room.
    “What the hell was that?” he asked her.
    Liza glowered. One of the benefits of being the news division’s brightest star was that she could occasionally throw her weight around and get away with it. “Don’t lecture me, okay? I spoke up in the meeting, I shouldn’t have and now we’re moving on.”
    Takashi didn’t look as if he was moving on, so she squared her shoulders and put her hands on her hips.
    Takashi blinked first.
    Score one for Liza.
    “What’re your plans?” Scowling, Takashi flipped through his clipboard. “You’re asking him about the secret service issue and the Francesca Waverly thing, right, and the—”
    Liza, who’d pulled out a compact and begun dabbing powder on her face, froze and frowned. “I’m not asking him about that Waverly thing.”
    Takashi glanced up. “Why not?”
    The real answer was, Because I don’t want him to think I’m jealous and/or care about his personal life, but Liza wasn’t about to say that. Instead she shrugged, put the makeup down and inserted her earpiece. “It’s a little beneath us, don’t you think?”
    “No, I don’t think,” Takashi said, looking at her as though she’d started clucking like a chicken.
    “Why not let the tabloids hash it out?”
    “Because his poll numbers have taken a hit and it’s a real issue, not to mention the fact that every other network is going to be covering it. What’s gotten into you, Liza?”
    Good question—one she’d been asking herself. But the senator appeared at that moment and saved her from having to answer.
    Within five minutes Liza and Senator Warner were seated facing each other under the lights, boom and umbrella, Brad was filming and Adena, Takashi and other staffers were watching.
    Though she was still fuming—what kind of macho idiot refused to ask for the secret service protection that was his due?—Liza put her game face on for the camera and dove into the questions.
    “Senator, other news outlets and bloggers have repeatedly commented on your lack of secret service protection.”
    An infinitesimal tightening of his jaw told her he didn’t appreciate her broaching a topic he’d said the campaign wouldn’t discuss. “Mmm.”
    Liza kept her expression polite and curious as she framed her question so no one would ever know that she thought the senator was making foolish choices. “The FBI has reported a steady stream of Internet chatter against you and the kinds of racist threats that Senator Fitzgerald doesn’t receive. As a presidential candidate, you’re eligible for Secret Service protection. Why are you refusing to ask for it?”
    Whoa. He looked as if he wanted to lunge for her throat.
    “I don’t see the need for it at this point, Liza.” The senator shrugged, recapturing his bland expression. “I’m very well protected. My security team has been with me for years, and they continue to work with local authorities on all our campaign stops. I’m fortunate enough to have the resources to pay for it myself, so why burden the taxpayers with the $45,000 per day expense?”
    “The taxpayers