Read Online Conscience (The Bellator Saga Book 2) by Cecilia London - Free Book Online

looked Caroline in the eyes. “My husband almost didn’t wear his Monogram Club pin to that mixer the night we first met. You think you would have chatted with him if he hadn’t? Or talked to me?”
    The Notre Dame connection had been the biggest draw. “I don’t know. Maybe.” Caroline smiled. “I’m pretty damn friendly.”
    “I’m not.”
    A huge understatement. Even aloof was a stretch. Sometimes Caroline had to remind herself that she had been elected to Congress based almost solely on a fluky response to her charisma, whereas Christine had done it the old fashioned way by scaring the crap out of everyone. If Tom hadn’t clicked so easily with both of them that night, Caroline and Nicky probably would have moved on quickly since Christine made it crystal clear that she had much better things to do than discuss the finer points of college football and beer.
    “Thomas thinks the Blessed Mother brought you to me,” Christine said.
    Caroline laughed. “Oh, he does not.”
    Tom was many things, and even though he was quite conservative he was not particularly religious. He was a Notre Dame man who dutifully went to church every Sunday but wasn’t one to throw around theology or Catholic doctrine. Given the choice, he’d rather talk recruiting classes and player development, or make jokes about papal headgear.
    “He does,” Christine said firmly. “He thought I needed you. And I did. I still do.”
    Caroline was tempted to tell her that in her opinion, Christine Spencer Sullivan didn’t need anyone, but she didn’t want to spoil one of Chrissy’s rare sentimental moments. So she rested her head on Christine’s shoulder instead.
    Christine wrapped her arm around Caroline. “I’m honored that you consider me your best friend but I’m not sure I’ve earned that distinction.”
    “I’m not going to give you a presentation on the reasons why you’re so important to me,” Caroline said. “Unless you want me to.”
    Christine smiled faintly. “I’ll pass, thanks. I’ve seen you cross-examining people during Congressional hearings. It takes you thirty minutes to tell a short anecdote. I don’t want to be here for hours.”
    “Then you’ll have to take my word for it that you’re worth it.” Caroline straightened up. “You always seem to be bailing me out of things. I wouldn’t have gotten through what happened to Nicky without you and Tom. So maybe you’ve got it backwards. Maybe Mary brought you to me. Or it was the Holy Spirit. My mother was always a great fan of that third of the Trinity.”
    Christine rubbed Caroline’s left shoulder affectionately, careful to be gentle. “If divine intervention truly exists, I’m not one to quibble about the reasoning or the celestial beings behind it.”
    “So you don’t want to talk Aquinas?” Caroline asked.
    Christine laughed and kept her arm around her, leaning into Caroline’s good shoulder. “You are not allowed to leave me,” she said softly. “Understand? Just, I don’t know, duck faster next time.”
    “I’ll do my best,” Caroline said. “And before I forget, I’m still pissed that you wrecked that scarf I gave you. Do you know how much I spent on that fucking thing?”
    Christine snickered. “You’re so vulgar. It was an accessory, Caroline.”
    “You’re getting nothing but coal this Christmas.”
    “Right.”
    “You just wait. Coal and an Ohio State sweatshirt.”
    Christine brought her head back up and looked at Caroline in mock horror. “You wouldn’t.”
    “I would. It’d be Under Armour or some other slick brand, so you’d have to wear it or feel really guilty.”
    “You are exhaustively rotten sometimes,” Christine said.
    “I may be, but I’m still super fun to be around. Mo and Feef and I are going to watch some Julie Andrews movies later. Want to join us?”
    “Sure.”
    “But I want you to promise me that you’ll go home in a day or two. You need a break.”
    “I don’t want to leave you here when