“Why?” She lifted a hand to her mouth as if to catch the word, but it flew free.
“So refreshing, the American woman. We met a few years ago, a decade now. The acquaintance was severed at that time, and I’d like to mend it.”
“So she won’t want to have dinner with you.”
“I regret that is the case.”
“And you do.”
“Just so.”
“So I’m supposed to lie and get her there, and spring you on her?”
“Again, so refreshing.”
The senator might not even be in Washington. It was the end of session. Even if she was, May had no idea how to reach her, and absolutely no idea what could persuade her to go to dinner with a stranger. But she had no doubt she would be slapped on a threat list after pulling Kurck’s little bait-and-switch.
“You do know that having a meeting with an American Senator is the opposite of staying below the media radar? She has to keep an appointment calendar, and she’s very popular. She’d be recognized anywhere we chose to meet, and likely you would, too.”
“A bit of a challenge, I agree. But your stalwart leader does want his ultimate expedition funded. I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
May’s mind was racing, and everywhere meeting dead ends. Something was missing. If he wanted to open shop in Rhode Island, he wouldn’t need the secrecy. “You’re not telling me something.”
“Okay, now that spirit of independence is getting tiresome.”
“How am I supposed to help you if I’m working in the dark?”
“Fine.” He crossed his arms. “I suppose you must know. The acquaintance was a little more than an acquaintance. I proposed she marry me, and she said no.”
He swung his arms open, as if brushing that past aside. “That was then. Now, I’m here to change her mind.”
****
Since May had texted her, Sadie was on the lookout for them at La Luna, a boutique hotel discreetly tucked into
Logan Circle
. She handed May two plastic hotel cardkeys and then stopped cold, staring at Kurck. With a visible effort, she turned her gaze back to May.
“I need your ID. The room is in your name.”
“That’ll be interesting when I call down for room service.” He seemed amused by her reaction. May looked at the floor hard, to keep from rolling her eyes, and then performed the introduction.
“Mr. Kurck, this is Sadie, our team leader for public outreach.”
“The flack.”
“Your English is impeccable,” Sadie said, holding out a well-manicured hand. A hint of suspicion in his face, he shook it, Western style. “Now, shall we go upstairs and talk things through?”
“I don’t see why. The internet works here, right?”
“Of course. And we have a backup personal wireless, as well, right, May?”
Right. May rummaged in her woven-basket purse, feeling like a lady dressed for a flea market finding herself in BuckinghamPalace. Fingers sliding over the smooth egg of the device, she pulled it out and held it out, or rather up, to the man. He glanced at it, and then glanced at her.
“We need to talk. Upstairs.” He turned and headed toward the elevator. Sadie looked at May as if to say she was sorry to have saddled her with this tyrant. Sadie didn’t know the half of it.
The hotel was built tall and narrow. Sadie, sliding into her smooth tour-guide manner, waved at the elevator’s keypad. “The card unlocks the elevator. Only these two cards will unlock the penthouse floor.” Kurck tossed his head—just like a coltish girl, really, except it made May shiver. No, that was the iced-up air conditioning. It could not be the sizzling presence of the man beside her.
“I know how penthouses work.”
“Of course. But you don’t know how politics works. We can’t just call the senator’s office and expect her to appear at our table.”
“Why not? I know she’s your sorority sister. Doesn’t she love penguins?”
Sadie ignored his snide tone, but May couldn’t. “Leave her be. She’s trying to help you.”
Kurck’s brow rose in a clean line, beautiful but sarcastic. “Sounds like she’s making excuses for why you are going to fail.”
“And what was your excuse?”
Before he could respond, the elevator stopped with a beep and a jerk. He stalked off, leaving his rolling bag behind. May pulled at the handle, and had to pull again. It must be full of bricks.
In the foyer, Sadie grabbed her arm. “Watch your mouth.”
“He’s not listening, anyway.”
“You don’t know that. He was watching us both as if he were going to eat us.”
“Swallow us whole, more like.” May shook off the arm and looked around. The foyer was as big as her apartment. “Which way is the bedroom?”