Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
At the Texas border. Matt had mentioned something about a human smuggling ring they were tracking a few days ago… So that left Ethan.
“Then it’s settled.” Todd gave a self-satisfied smirk. “If you want a divorce, the three of you will come to DC as soon as you’ve visited your father so I can get you ‘pregnant.’”
She glared his way. “You’re not touching me.”
“God, no. I’m working on a new pet. Even if I had the time to knock you up, I don’t have the inclination.”
“Who’s the girl?” Madison asked without a drop of jealousy. “I already feel sorry for her.”
“A French attaché’s daughter. She’s got the untouched heart of a child and the mouth of a whore.”
Madison recoiled. “Is she legal?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Todd quipped.
“You disgust me. Has she even had her first period?”
“Now you’re just being a bitch. We’re done here.”
“We’re not,” she insisted. “I need some time to myself each week.”
“No, you don’t. Because I won’t be languishing at our place with you and your babysitters. Most of the time, you’ll have the whole apartment to yourselves. Do whatever you want.”
She didn’t bother pointing out that, if he was supposedly getting her pregnant, he had to be home often enough to do the job. Instead, she repositioned her demand. “That’s a relief, but I meant away from that stifling cage.”
Because he’d always had uncanny foresight into whatever she was up to, Madison deeply suspected he’d had the apartment surveilled. If she wanted any privacy, especially with Matt, she had to have the freedom to leave.
When he looked like he was about to refuse, she cut in again. “If I’m trying to get pregnant, won’t it look good if I’m exercising? Seeing my doctor? And if I’ll be photographed more, won’t I need to have my hair fixed? My nails done?”
Todd clenched his jaw tight. “Fine. One day a week.”
Madison wanted to push for more, but his limits and patience were clearly at their end. Besides, time away wasn’t her biggest battle. “I won’t be telling you where I’m going.”
“You will.”
“Only if you share wherever you are every moment you’re away…” She stared expectantly, knowing damn well he wouldn’t.
“That’s not fucking happening.” He snorted. “Your day away is during the week, and you’re always home by nine p.m. Nothing can interfere with scheduled campaign stops, most of which are on weekends. Sunday family dinners are sacred.”
Those parameters weren’t perfect, but she’d won a major concession from Todd. That was enough for now. And since she was about to be under a microscope, she would have to choose her “public” outings wisely if she didn’t want Todd and the world knowing her business.
“I’ll make that work. When are we announcing my ‘pregnancy’?”
Todd didn’t scramble for the calendar on his phone, which told her that the Pershings had preplanned everything. “There’s a community event in a key suburban center on the last Saturday of September. We’ll announce there that we’re expecting. At that point, you’ll be six weeks pregnant, not enough to show…but enough to know. Roughly five weeks later, days before the midterms, we’ll give Grandpa’s constituents the sad news of your miscarriage.”
“How am I doing appearances if I’m supposed to be recovering?”
“You’re a trooper. It’s far more important for you to help your beloved family spread the message of democracy for all than to cry in your bed. But since you’ll be bereft, I’ll do the talking. The morning after the midterms, you can leave quietly to ‘visit home.’ A few weeks after that, I’ll announce that I’ve filed for divorce. I’ll break down in mourning over the loss of our child and the devastating news that you’ve begun fucking your former lover since returning to this godforsaken bayou. I’ll use nicer words, but that’s what the public will hear.”
What a bastard, and Todd’s snickering proved he not only knew it, he took pride in his deception.
“I love how you managed to make yourself the victim in this scenario. Wouldn’t all those same constituents be shocked to know the last girl I caught you in bed with was a full two years from being legal.”
“You can’t prove that ever happened. If you said that publicly, I’d bury you in the press.”
Exactly the reason she’d never bothered to tell anyone. “Todd, I don’t care what or who you do anymore. Just…get out of my sight. I don’t want to deal with you again until I have to.”
Her husband looked her up and down, his stare lingering on her tender nipples prodding the front of Matt’s oversized T-shirt, making her want to cover herself. “I’ve seen more than enough here. Who’s getting me out of this shit hole?”
Jack Cole, the cabin’s owner, looked at Todd expressionlessly, despite the fact her husband had derided the place the Cajun’s beloved late grandfather had built with his own two hands. Clearly, Jack didn’t give a crap about Todd’s opinion.