Read Online Tread Softly by Ann Cristy - Free Book Online Page A

you on your handling of a very tricky political
scene." He smiled down at her, not hiding the admiration in his eyes.
"Rafe is a very lucky man. You made him look real good today."
    "Rafe makes
himself look good. People trust Rafe because they sense his strength, his
commitment to the good of his state and of the country." Cady smiled at
him, liking him.
    "Spoken
like a true politico's wife."
    "I
would prefer you to have said 'like a senator's wife.'" Cady grinned at
him.
    "If
it ever gets tough, come to me, Cady. I'll be there for you," Rob
whispered, lifting her hand to his mouth.
    Suddenly Rafe
appeared behind them.
    "It's
kind of you to be so concerned about my wife." His teeth were bared.
"But I think I can take care of her now."
    Cady's
breath expelled in a sigh that was half sob. She hastened to explain. "Rob
was a great help to me on the environmental bill, Rafe. He also put me in touch
with the right lobbyists." She tried to hold that blue-ice gaze, but her
lashes fluttered down. "Emmett and Bruno were at me all the time. Without
Rob's help, I couldn't have done it. I don't have your knowledge of the Hill,
Rafe."
    "No."
His voice was hard and uncompromising. He looked back at Rob Ardmore. "My
wife won't be needing your assistance in the future."
    Cady
gasped. "Rafe, you have no right to tell me whom I can choose for my
friends. I would never dare do such a thing with you, and I don't think you should
with me." She ended on a shaky gulp, staring at the collar of his shirt
instead of meeting his cold eyes.
    "I
see," he said stiffly, glancing from her to Rob. "Excuse me."
    Cady
gazed after him, misery pulsing through her body. She had been so happy earlier.
They had seemed so much closer.
    "Cady,
don't look like that. The Densmores are a law unto themselves," Rob said,
his voice soft. "No doubt no one in Rafe's whole life has spoken to him in
such a fashion. I know I've never heard anyone answer him like that." Rob
stepped closer. "Cady, will you be all right?"
    "What
did you say?" She looked up at him, his words scattering through her mind
and then assembling. "Oh, yes, I'll be fine. Rafe is never mean to me.
Don't worry about me."
    "I
do worry about you, Cady," he said as he turned to leave. "I can't
help it."
    Cady
held out her hand to him. "Good-bye, Rob. I'm very glad you came
today."
    "Call me if
you need me. Promise," Rob insisted.
    "All
right. If I ever need a friend, I'll call you." Cady forced a smile to her
face.
    Gradually
the other guests drifted away. By the time the last ones had departed, Cady
hadn't seen Rafe for almost two hours. He had been talking to Bruno, Emmett,
and Lee Terris, but then that trio must have left, because she didn't see them
again. Cady couldn't feel anything but relief that they hadn't bothered to say
good-bye to her.
    The late summer
evening was turning deep purple as

she supervised
the dismantling that the catering service was doing in the yard. By the time
she entered the house, Trock was there to tell her that Rafe was in the sauna.
    "Thank
you, Trock. Tell the senator I said good night. Make sure that the oils are
rubbed into his back tonight."
    "Of
course," Trock answered in a colorless voice.
    Cady could see
the flicker of reproach in Track's gunmetal eyes. His gaze chided her that she
would think he, Albert Trock, would forget such a thing. She touched his arm.
"Good night, Trock, and thank you for all your help."
    He inclined his
head and left her. She sighed and began to ascend the curved stairway of the
Federal-style colonial mansion. She trudged to her room, yawning, thinking only
of the shower she would take.
    When
she came out of the shower into her bedroom, wrapped only in a bath towel, she
staggered with shock when she saw Rafe sprawled on her bed, a blue toga around
his middle. He rolled onto his side on the bed, facing her. "Hello. I
think we have some unfinished business."
    The
unfathomable look was gone, and there was heated determination in his gaze. His
jaw