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)
Like they wanted her to suffer.
She’d been wilting by the time her “shift” was over and he’d escorted her inside.
A makeup artist had retouched her face and restyled her hair in preparation for her upcoming appearance with the family, but he still didn’t like how pasty she looked. Her eyes were unfocused. The pulse beating at her neck too fast.
He fucking wanted to kill Toddhole and the Pershings.
She nodded listlessly. “I’ll be okay.”
Matt wasn’t buying it. She looked clammy as hell. He clenched his fists to keep himself from touching her forehead. “Need a medic?”
She shook her head. “I’m just a little tired and lightheaded. It will pass. I should find more water, though.”
“No.” Matt grabbed a nearby plastic chair and put it under Madison. “Sit. I’ll find you a bottle.”
“I can’t. Sitting will wrinkle my pantsuit.” She dropped her voice. “Agatha will have a hissy.”
The Dom in him wasn’t having any of that bullshit. “Sit. Down. Do you understand me?”
Madison blinked up at him, wide eyed. He was relieved to see life in her eyes and color flush her cheeks as she complied. “Yes, Matt.”
He flashed her a smile of approval. “Wait here.”
As much as Matt hated to leave Madison unprotected for even a moment, if he did nothing, she’d pass out. Besides, Ethan wasn’t far. Despite having personal issues with the kid, he was good at his job. He probably had eyes on her now.
After scrambling, he found a volunteer with bottles of water. He also swiped an unopened package of crackers and a candy bar from a stash of snacks on a shelf, then raced back to Madison.
As he careened around the corner again, she looked up and smiled. God, she was beautiful, and he loved her so fucking much. Even though his heart was in his throat, Matt resisted the urge to grin back at her. He couldn’t wait for the day he could show the world how he felt about Madison Archer.
Ethan appeared right behind him with a slap on the back and a glance of concern for her. “Got the scoop on the setup for the show.”
“Appreciate it. Getting anything out of Toddhole was impossible.” Matt had tried.
“He’s making it difficult on purpose.”
“No shit.” Since Matt had rejected Graciela and the multitude of “power” jobs, Todd had gone from confrontational to contemptible.
“Good for us that Agatha Pershing’s press secretary’s assistant is an absolutely adorable little redhead who looks like she’s been out of college for ten minutes, so I’ll bet she’s overworked and barely paid. And probably undersexed, too. If she’s looking for someone to help her with that problem, I’ll volunteer as tribute.”
Matt hoped he did. Time with another woman meant that Ethan wasn’t thinking about Madison. “So what did she give you? I’m betting it wasn’t a blow job.”
“Sadly, no. But the day is young.” Ethan winked, then got down to business as they crossed the giant room, dodging people. “Agatha will take the stage with one of the big Russian’s lackeys. He’ll hang to her right while she kicks off things with a brief introduction of her ‘beautiful family.’ Roger and Cynthia will appear together next, no extra security detail. They’ll be holding hands because someone smuggled Cynthia a bottle and she’s tipsy, to put it nicely. The makeup artist and Agatha’s secretary are pouring coffee down her throat as we speak. Then Todd and Madison will join on stage. We’ll hang behind the ‘happy couple’ while Todd says a few aw-shucks words about how great his grandpa is. Then Madison will recite some scripted lines about the senator’s fantastic educational programs. Agatha will take over again and introduce the senator himself. He’ll speak for about twenty minutes with the family behind him, then the processional will head off the east side of the stage, Madison first. Winston will bring up the rear, waving his way off. Reception to follow for community leaders, party officers, and donors in the upstairs hall you scoped out earlier, so I’ll follow your lead. Questions?”
“Too many,” Matt grumbled. “But first, I have to help Madison. She may be dehydrated and have a touch of heat exhaustion. Hey.” As they reached her, he set the bottle and packaged food in front of her. “Water and snacks.”
“Thank you.” She sighed. “You’re a magician.”
“I don’t think it was a hat he pulled those goodies from,” Ethan quipped.
Matt glared at him. “It wasn’t my ass, either. I found them in a volunteer’s plastic bin.”
Madison laughed as she unscrewed the water bottle, then downed half of it before she pulled it from her lips with a long sigh that made Matt hard. Grimacing, he watched her attack the package of crackers. Her fingers shook like she wasn’t quite steady.
“Let me.” He ripped open the plastic and handed her the crackers with peanut butter slapped between.