dished up man-sized portions of fragrant roasted meat, tender vegetables and bubbling gravy. Butter trickled from a crisp, warm roll. If she ate everything on the plate, she’d be too full for dessert. Oh, well. Maybe she’d be crude and ask for her slice of pie to go.
“So tell me, how many more words actually ended up on that board after I left the two of you alone?”
“Very few, seeing as neither of us hand-picked our letters and Ethan refused to stoop to any word with a score under ten points.” She placed a heaping forkful into her mouth and groaned approval as she chewed.
“Thank you.” He smiled at her reaction. “It’s nice to have another person appreciate my efforts.”
“I’m certain there are thousands of people who’ll appreciate your efforts once you’re a Congressman.”
“You keep bringing that up. May I assume your interest means you’d support me?” He kept his eyeslowered to his plate. Ali couldn’t tell if that was to keep the pressure off her or to mask his level of concern for the response.
“Honestly?” It was time to find out how much of this man was tough guy, how much was positive spin doctor and how much was ego.
This time his blue eyes met and held her gaze. “Of course. I’d like to know if you’d vote for me.”
“Unfortunately, after what I’ve learned about one of your potential political action committees, the answer is no. A vote for you would be a vote for that group of crazies.”
His chin snapped up as if he’d been popped in the jaw.
“Wow, I haven’t been zinged like that since you called me an unconscionable idiot.”
“Does this shoe fit as well as that one did?”
“Lady, you are a pit bull.”
“I’ve been called worse.” But never by anyone as high on the Texas social register as Benjamin Lamar.
“Suppose you tell me exactly which group of ‘crazies’ you’re referring to.”
He opened the window of opportunity. Should she back down now?
Hmmmmm…No.
“The Parents First Alliance.”
“The PFA is a strong source of support to the autism community. What do you have against their work?”
“Nothing where autism is concerned. But do you realize how often they challenge Family Services for removing children from dangerous homes?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I happen to agree with themthat children are better off with their natural parents than they are in the court system.”
“Have you studied that subject?”
“I’ve read all the literature PFA provided to me.”
“Those marketing materials are tantamount to propaganda. Have you studied this subject personally? Have you spoken with enough victims of domestic violence to find out that most of them would feel safer living under a viaduct than trapped in a house with a drunken mother or raging father?” She rested her fork on the edge of the plate, the tempting food forgotten as she thought of her young friends, her Sunday Kids, who’d go hungry tonight before they’d go home.
“No, I haven’t.” He stared as if studying her face.
“Well, I work with some of those kids during my personal time. There’s an epidemic of teens on the streets who’ve taken matters into their own hands when people like Parents First Alliance let them down.”
She was being too blunt, but he’d asked for honesty.
“Benjamin, a couple of years ago the PFA financed the defense of that cult compound where there were clearly signs of child abuse. A man would have to be ignorant or a gullible fool to support their agenda.”
The lady’s words carried the unexpected sting of a scorpion hiding in the toe of a sock. Ben couldn’t remember ever being confronted so aggressively off the field of competition and certainly never in his own home. He counted to ten, determined to remain calm, resolved not to react like one of the ‘crazies’ she’d just accused him of associating with.
This woman obviously knew her subject matter and she wasn’t afraid to bring the heat. Should he
“So tell me, how many more words actually ended up on that board after I left the two of you alone?”
“Very few, seeing as neither of us hand-picked our letters and Ethan refused to stoop to any word with a score under ten points.” She placed a heaping forkful into her mouth and groaned approval as she chewed.
“Thank you.” He smiled at her reaction. “It’s nice to have another person appreciate my efforts.”
“I’m certain there are thousands of people who’ll appreciate your efforts once you’re a Congressman.”
“You keep bringing that up. May I assume your interest means you’d support me?” He kept his eyeslowered to his plate. Ali couldn’t tell if that was to keep the pressure off her or to mask his level of concern for the response.
“Honestly?” It was time to find out how much of this man was tough guy, how much was positive spin doctor and how much was ego.
This time his blue eyes met and held her gaze. “Of course. I’d like to know if you’d vote for me.”
“Unfortunately, after what I’ve learned about one of your potential political action committees, the answer is no. A vote for you would be a vote for that group of crazies.”
His chin snapped up as if he’d been popped in the jaw.
“Wow, I haven’t been zinged like that since you called me an unconscionable idiot.”
“Does this shoe fit as well as that one did?”
“Lady, you are a pit bull.”
“I’ve been called worse.” But never by anyone as high on the Texas social register as Benjamin Lamar.
“Suppose you tell me exactly which group of ‘crazies’ you’re referring to.”
He opened the window of opportunity. Should she back down now?
Hmmmmm…No.
“The Parents First Alliance.”
“The PFA is a strong source of support to the autism community. What do you have against their work?”
“Nothing where autism is concerned. But do you realize how often they challenge Family Services for removing children from dangerous homes?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I happen to agree with themthat children are better off with their natural parents than they are in the court system.”
“Have you studied that subject?”
“I’ve read all the literature PFA provided to me.”
“Those marketing materials are tantamount to propaganda. Have you studied this subject personally? Have you spoken with enough victims of domestic violence to find out that most of them would feel safer living under a viaduct than trapped in a house with a drunken mother or raging father?” She rested her fork on the edge of the plate, the tempting food forgotten as she thought of her young friends, her Sunday Kids, who’d go hungry tonight before they’d go home.
“No, I haven’t.” He stared as if studying her face.
“Well, I work with some of those kids during my personal time. There’s an epidemic of teens on the streets who’ve taken matters into their own hands when people like Parents First Alliance let them down.”
She was being too blunt, but he’d asked for honesty.
“Benjamin, a couple of years ago the PFA financed the defense of that cult compound where there were clearly signs of child abuse. A man would have to be ignorant or a gullible fool to support their agenda.”
The lady’s words carried the unexpected sting of a scorpion hiding in the toe of a sock. Ben couldn’t remember ever being confronted so aggressively off the field of competition and certainly never in his own home. He counted to ten, determined to remain calm, resolved not to react like one of the ‘crazies’ she’d just accused him of associating with.
This woman obviously knew her subject matter and she wasn’t afraid to bring the heat. Should he
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