Bedroom Diplomacy(38)

“I forgot how nice it is having sex in a bed,” Rowena said. “Not that it wasn’t fun doing it against a wall, or a door, or in the shower.”

“Or bent over the kitchen table,” he said, and felt her lips curve into a smile.

“Yeah, that was nice, too.”

Colin’s cell phone started to ring. He grabbed it off the bedside table to check the display. It was Rowena’s father, and it was his D.C. office number.

Fantastic timing.

“Senator, hello. I figured you would be on a flight back to Los Angeles by now.”

“Unfortunately I was held up. I’d like you to meet with me and several colleagues. We want to discuss forming a committee to investigate how ANS is obtaining information about private citizens, including the president, illegally. We’d like you to be a part of it, since you have some experience in these matters and that’s what this treaty we’re working on is all about. Can you come to D.C.?”

“Of course. But why a committee?”

“Before I can put the full weight of my office behind this treaty, I need to know the extent of the problem.”

And apparently until then, he was happy to drop his trail of bread crumbs for Colin to follow. After all the work they had done, the senator still wasn’t committed to the treaty? “When do you need me there?”

“We’ll meet at 10:00 a.m. Thursday in my office.”

“I’ll be there.” He hung up and tossed his phone back on the table. Damn, this was his final week with Rowena. He didn’t want to waste it in D.C.

Rowena rolled onto her back and stretched, yawning so deeply that tears welled up in her eyes. “You’ll be where?”

“D.C. I have a meeting with your father Thursday morning at ten.”

“What for?”

He explained the committee and the reasoning behind his involvement.

“He doesn’t need a committee, Colin. He knows damn well ANS is behind the hacking in the presidential scandal. He’s just doing this to manipulate you, to keep you under his thumb. You’ll work your butt off for him, and then he’ll swoop in at the last minute and take credit.”

“Probably.” But Colin had no choice but to play along. Besides, he didn’t care who got credit for the treaty as long as it passed. “You could come with me.”

She blinked. “To Washington?”

“Why not?”

He expected an instant no, and she surprised the hell out of him by looking thoughtful instead.

“I do have a few things I wanted to get out of storage unit…someone I’d like to touch base with. But my father can’t know.”

“So we’ll be sure no one knows you’re there.”

“Unless I have a legitimate reason to be there.”

“My friend Cara is getting married. I can say that I’m in the wedding party and went with her to pick out dresses.”

“And when the wedding comes around and you’re not in it?”

“By then, it won’t matter. And I could see if Tricia could take Dylan for the night. She’s only offered about a million times. And if she can’t take him overnight, I’m sure Betty would stay with him. It’s short notice, but…”

He sat up and grabbed his phone, handing it to her before she had an opportunity to change her mind. “Ring her.”

Not only did he think it would be good for her to get away, but he believed it would benefit Dylan, as well. Even Colin could see that he was craving independence.

She sat up beside him and took the phone. For several seconds she just looked at it, as if she hadn’t quite made up her mind, and he didn’t push. Finally, she punched in the number. “Hey, Tricia, I need to ask you… What? Yes, I’m home, why?” There was a pause and she smiled. “No, I’m calling from Colin’s phone. I just wondered…I mean, you’ve offered before, and I know it’s short notice…” She winced as if she were expecting a no. “Colin has asked me to go to D.C. with him Thursday, and I wondered if there was any way you could stay with Dylan for the night.”

There was another pause, and her eyes lit up. “Are you sure it’s no trouble?” She laughed. “Okay, okay, I will.”

She hung up and handed the phone back to Colin. “As I’m sure you’ve surmised, she said yes.”

“Fantastic,” he said, already making the arrangements in his head.

“I’ll arrange for the flight. What time would you like to leave?”

“Early afternoon. That will give me time to wrap a few things before we go.”

“Let’s worry about the rest of it tomorrow.” He pulled her down and rolled her under him. “I want to enjoy our first night in a real bed.”