She stopped and looked him directly in the eyes, and he saw the determination in hers. “If not for him, would you do this for me?”
Loretta Preston was a fire-breathing dragon when it came to the causes she wholeheartedly believed in. He hadn’t once thought about her and what this would mean for her in terms of national exposure for her causes, because he’d been too busy holding on to the grudge against his father.
He was such a selfish ass**le.
He reached across the table and held her hand. “I’m sorry, Mom. You know Dad and I don’t see eye to eye and haven’t for a long time. But you know how much I believe in you and in what you do. Hell, I wish you were the one running for president.”
She sniffed, then laughed. “I don’t think that’s my cup of tea, son. And don’t sell your father short. He’s an amazing man and wants to do good things.”
“Well, whatever. I’ll do what I can to make sure your dreams come true.”
She stood and hugged him. “Thank you for believing in me.”
It felt good to feel his mother’s arms wrapped around him. “I’ve always believed in you.”
She pulled back. “You should try believing in your dad. Try talking to him, reconnecting with him. He’s changed, Grayson.”
“I don’t know if I could ever believe that. But I’ll help out the campaign. For you.
And just for you.”
She patted him on the cheek. “I’ll take that. For now. But at some point, I think you’ll see the light about your father.”
He’d seen the light a long time ago. He’d rather stay in the dark.
She checked her watch. “Okay. I have to go. I need to be back in D.C. by tonight.
I’ll call Evelyn and let her know you’ll meet with her at your next city—” She waved her hand and laughed. “Wherever that is. I can’t keep up with you, son. But I always make sure to watch the races. I have one of the staff DVR them for me.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that. And yeah, I’ll work with Evelyn. She called and complained about me, didn’t she?” he asked as he walked his mother to the private car that was waiting for her right outside the gate.
She held his hand and grinned. “Of course she did. She’s a tiger, that one. I’m glad she’s working for our side.”
Gray shook his head. He’d underestimated Evelyn when he’d kicked her to the curb yesterday.
She kissed his cheek and hugged him again. “Be a good boy and behave. We’ll talk soon. I love you, Grayson.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
He waved as the car pulled away. For some reason, his mother could always make him feel like he was a misbehaving eight-year-old again.
He headed back to the trailer with a mental list of a hundred things he’d have to do today before they pulled up and headed to Kentucky.
And then he’d have to deal with Evelyn.
But not until tomorrow. At least he could push her off his agenda until then.
Tomorrow, though, he and Evelyn were going to have a conversation and get a few ground rules straight.
THREE
EVELYN BLOW-DRIED HER HAIR, PULLED IT BACK IN A ponytail, then finished her makeup. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank top, then grabbed a long-sleeved white button-down shirt out of her suitcase, and finished off the outfit with a pair of ankle boots.
She’d been grossly overdressed for that first race. A misstep. She should have blended in with the crowd, made Gray feel more comfortable around her, instead of standing out like a bottle of expensive wine shoved in the soda section of the grocery store. Plus it had been damned uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally, dressed in her suit and wearing heels while sitting in the stands with the rowdy crowd.
Everyone around her had stared at her, and rightly so. A designer suit did not go with beer and hot dogs. She wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
Gray Preston was not at all what she’d imagined him to be. Yes, she’d fully read his bio and seen video of him doing pre – and post-race media interviews, and had gone over his family history with his mother, including all his childhood photos and academic and professional biography, but those didn’t compare with meeting the man face-to-face.
He was stunning. Wet with sweat and smelling a lot like gasoline and motor oil, his hair clinging to his forehead and neck, and with his fire suit unzipped, he was the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on. And when he’d directed his warm, whiskey-colored eyes on her, something quivered between her legs.
Evelyn wasn’t the type to go liquid over a good-looking man. Washington was filled with hot men, and if anyone was going to get her motor running, one would think it would be a political type. Business suit with a lock on a major office? Now that was her bailiwick. Not some scruffed-up, needed-a-shave grease monkey who craved a hot track over a hot political race. So her libido firing up over Gray Preston likely had more to do with him being the fastest way to get to the White House rather than his good looks and bedroom eyes. She wasn’t the type to fall for a man simply because he was pretty.
Besides, he was stubborn and uncooperative and in her way, and she could already tell this assignment wasn’t going to be easy. She’d rather be by Senator Preston’s side, where she belonged, helping him onto the presidential ticket in November, rather than hand-hold his son and beg for his cooperation in order to get a few hundred thousand votes, even if those potential votes were important ones.
But she knew she’d do whatever it took, so when her phone rang and Gray told her where they could meet, she grabbed her bag, climbed into her rental car, and drove the short distance to the restaurant.
He was already waiting for her at the front door. And he didn’t look happy about it, either.
Tough. She dealt with unpleasant people all the time. His attitude didn’t faze her.
“Good morning,” she said, pasting on her friendliest smile.
He nodded and held the door for her.
Okay, that’s how it was going to be. She could deal. Eventually he’d have to talk to her.
The waitress, who obviously recognized Gray, grinned, pushed back her out-of-control, overprocessed hair, and hurried them to a booth at the back of the restaurant while giving Evelyn a look she wasn’t certain was admiration or pure jealousy.
“Coffee?” the waitress asked. Her name was Aileen and she looked to be in her forties.