Free Valentine Vote by Susan Blexrud Page B

press badge but was only able to read
Washington Tattler
at the top, not his name, before he scurried off into the crowd.
    “I guess we’ll be the talk of the town tomorrow,” Eric said.
    Courtney thought he looked remarkably calm … under the circumstances. “I’m sure the headline will be a shocker,” Courtney said. She pressed a hand to her chest to still her racing heart. And then her brain kicked in. Again, she hadn’t been firing on all cylinders. She’d just told her boss that Eric was
persona non grata
. She’d have to add “lack of credibility” to her growing list of character flaws. “If they call us an item, they’ll be off base.”
    “That’s a shame. I’d like to be your item.”
    Courtney sucked in her cheeks to suppress a smile. But it didn’t work. She felt her eyes crinkle and her lips turned up. “What if they used the word ‘romance’?”
    “That’s even better.” He ran his tongue along his bottom lip.
    Courtney wanted to leap back into his arms. She took a deep breath and blew it out.
All right, I let my heart rule my head, and you know what, I feel like shouting it to the world.
Maybe being with Eric isn’t the smartest decision, and yeah, I’m scared, but for once, I let my heart decide.
“Well, I guess we’ll know what they call it when we read tomorrow’s headlines.”
    Travis stepped between them and tugged on Eric’s sleeve. “Come on. They blew the whistle. Let’s go.”
    Eric ruffled Travis’s shaggy mop of hair. “Okay, buddy.” He looked at Courtney before he turned. “I’ll call you.”

Chapter Ten
    The next morning, Courtney and Eric were front page above the fold in the
Washington Tattler
. Given that the photographer must have barely made the deadline, there was no story. Just a caption that read, “Is There Romance in the Air for Senator Morrison?” Courtney moaned when Helen poked her shoulder and slapped the paper on the kitchen counter.
    “Nice work. Looks like you’re getting ready to suck his face off.” Helen chuckled.
    Courtney hunched over the counter and clunked her head on the butcher block top. Ouch. “My boss is going to kill me.”
    “That’s your first thought? Gee, if it were me I’d be thinking about how to parlay this story into a million-dollar book deal.” Helen patted Courtney’s back. “Look at the bright side, Champion will probably take you off the account. Then you won’t have to worry about public exposure. You can just date Mr. Wonderful in the open.”
    Courtney straightened. She rubbed her brow. “I don’t want to give up this account.”
    “In that case … ”
    “Yeah, yeah, I know. Goodbye, Eric Morrison.” Courtney opened the refrigerator door and stared at the orange juice. She shut the door when her cell phone rang. Her first thought was that the caller was a reporter, but then she saw the i.d. It was Eric. Panic stricken, she dropped the phone, which bounced off the linoleum … in two pieces.
    Still ringing, Helen retrieved it, snapped the cover back on, and answered. “Capitol Hill Escort Service; we aim to please.”
    Courtney could hear Eric laughing in the background. Great.
    “She’s here. Just a minute.” Helen handed the phone to Courtney.
    Courtney took a deep breath before answering. “Do you think they’ve tapped our phones?”
    “Not unless you’re a security risk.”
    “I may be.”
    “And I thought you couldn’t get more interesting.” Eric laughed, again.
    “I can’t believe you think this is funny.” Courtney huffed.
    “It’s just a blip, Court.”
    She loved that he called her Court.
    “Tell you what,” he said, “we both need a break from this town. I have to go to Winston-Salem next weekend to check on my parents’ house while they’re in Europe. Why don’t you escape with me?”
    Helen, who’d had her ear pressed to Courtney’s, nodded emphatically and mouthed,
yes
!
    This getaway could be her last hurrah with Eric. She’d tell him they couldn’t continue