Choice Matters (Southern Heat Book 1) (17 page)

“Don’t be nervous. I won’t let anyone push you aside. They’re
going to find out, and find out fast, just what a powerful couple we make.”

“
Apolo
, about all that. You do
know it’s going to come up about us not being married.”

“What are you saying? You want to get married?” He flicked a
grin across the desk at me. “Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”

“Oh no you don’t, Choice. I just want us to be on the same
page when we do get asked about the matter.”

“If, and only if, the subject comes up, we will say nothing
more than that we’re in a committed relationship.”

“But what if whoever’s asking pushes the point?”

“Then tell them that when the time is right, we plan to
marry. Right now, we’re focused on getting me settled into my new job as a
senator. That should suffice.”

I blew out a breath. I had to make sure we were both
thinking along the same lines. Plus, I wanted him to ask me formally, if that’s
where we were headed. “Good. That will work. Because you do know you have to
ask me to marry you first? Oh, and you have to ask my father. In person.”

“Consider it done. Oh, and about your father? I’ve arranged
for him to be in Washington for my swearing in. I thought you’d like to have
him a part of it. Being that we’ve invited your mother. He assured me the two
of them would be civil.”

I felt tears well up in my eyes and tried to push them back
so he wouldn’t see them. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. It will to him, as
well.”

“I aim to please, angel. Anything else on your mind?”

“No, not that I can think of. At least not now. Thank you
for bringing my father over. What about your parents?”

“They will be arriving Thursday. They’re flying straight in.
I thought we’d have a private dinner with them, if they’re up to it, Thursday
evening in our suite. We could invite your parents if you wish, but your father
and I discussed perhaps the three of us getting together on Wednesday evening.”

“Your schedule will allow all this private stuff?”

“Damn straight, it will. I don’t officially become a senator
until Friday afternoon. I want you to meet my parents before the show begins.
And I know you’d like some time with your father.”

“Thank you,
Apolo
. It means a lot,
as it will to my father. Did you invite my mother to this dinner with Pop?”

“No, I thought you’d want some one-on-one time with him.
Without your mother. I put your father up at the Watergate, same as us. That way
the two of you can spend some time together without having to run across
Washington. My parents will be there too.”

“Pray tell, where did you put my mother and your brother?”

He began to chuckle. “At the Hyatt. I figured if your
parents want to meet, they can make their own arrangements. As for Anthony, he
won’t like it, but as he’s not paying for it, he’ll say nothing.”

* * * *

That evening, we exited the Bentley and walked into the
exclusive
Buckhead
restaurant chosen to host this
soiree.
Apolo
had decided on a charcoal gray suit for
the evening with a lighter gray shirt. A majestic purple tie set it all off. I
wore a new, simple, black dress. It was one
Apolo
had
sent to our suite on our recent visit to Washington. I wore a string of pearls
my father had given me along with matching earrings. Simple, but elegant.

People thrust their way towards us, congratulating
Apolo
. He kept a hand either placed in the small of my back
or on my arm, guiding me along. I was pleased to see that I was accepted
alongside him. Out of the corner of my eye, I spied my mother. I was sure she
had done her best ‘poor, pitiful me, I want to be part of my daughter’s new
life’ routine on some unsuspecting gentleman. I raised my hand and smiled in
acknowledgement. She did the same, beckoning me over.

I leaned up and whispered into
Apolo’s
ear as we were about to be inundated with admirers once more. “Do you mind if I
go over and say hello to my mother? Since she went to all the trouble of
conniving some poor soul on the list to bring her along.”

“Of course not, angel. I’ll be along in a moment. We should
be about to go in for dinner any time. I’ll come rescue you.” He kissed me on
the cheek, and I proceeded toward the small group gathered around my mother. No
doubt she was telling anyone who listened that it was her daughter with
Apolo
Choice. Her future son-in-law.

“Caitlyn,” she gushed, bussing me on each cheek as I stood
next to her. “I believe you know everyone here. Where’s
Apolo
?”

“Over where you saw us. He’ll be by shortly.”

“This is so exciting, Caitlyn. You must be walking on
clouds.”

“I’m walking on something.” I admitted, amazed by her good
behavior. I stood and chatted with her, her well-connected gentleman friend,
and the couples directly around us.

Hearing the announcement to proceed to dinner, I looked to
my mother. Her gaze was elsewhere. I turned in hopes that it was
Apolo
on his way over. Instead, I was rendered speechless
by what I saw.

It was
Apolo
alright. Engaged in a
very private conversation with a stunning, longhaired blonde. I cast my stare
quickly to my mother, as though asking what I should do. Or if she knew what
was going on.

Whoever this woman was,
Apolo
was
not happy she was there. At least that’s what his body language said. As usual,
he was cool to whoever this woman was. He must have felt my eyes on him because
he looked away from this interloper and toward me. He quickly said his goodbyes
to her and strode over.

“Caitlyn, Mrs. White, are you ladies ready to go into
dinner?”

Mother looked none too pleased, but I blew it off. Obviously,
the woman was someone important in politics. She was just a little too close to
him for comfort while engaging him in conversation.

“Yes, I’m famished,” I replied.

Mother said nothing, taking her escort’s arm.

We proceeded inside to the dining room. Finally, I couldn’t
stand it any longer. I had to ask. “Who was that woman you were talking to? She
looks familiar.” Okay, she didn’t look familiar, but better than letting
Apolo
think I might be a tad jealous.

“
Delpheine
Bouvier
.
I don’t know how she managed to get herself invited.”

“She’s someone from your past, then?”

“Yes. Someone I haven’t seen in a great number of years,” he
replied. As he pulled my chair out, he whispered, “Don’t worry yourself. She
was the one who went screaming in horror when I revealed my injury.”

“Oh, I get it. Now that you’re becoming someone important in
Washington, she wants back in your life.”

He pushed me to the table then sat down beside me. “She’s no
one, angel. Trust me. It was over the moment she ran.”

I noted our topic of conversation was being sat down
directly across from us. She was with someone. I flicked a grin her way then
turned to
Apolo
. I kissed him on the cheek. “Choice,
I trust you one-hundred percent. You should know that by now. Now, let’s eat
our dinner so we can get out of here and do something about that massive hard
on you’ve got going on under the table.”

He laughed at my comment, loud enough for anyone directly
around us to hear. “You minx. You know me far too well. Yes, let’s eat up so we
can go home. Somehow, we’ll have to get some sleep before we leave in the
morning.”

“We can sleep on the plane,” I taunted, winking at him.
Whoever this woman was, I had just made it plain where I stood with
Apolo
. Glancing down the table, I saw my mother looking our
way. I smiled at her and nodded, letting her know all was well.

Finally arriving back at the house, we both feigned
exhaustion. We would be leaving early enough in the morning to have us in
Washington before noon. Then, a whole new life would begin.

Rather than the furious sex I had expected, I found
Apolo
quite subdued and loving. For a second my mind
wandered to that woman,
Delpheine
. But his sensual
touch drove me back to him in an instant. We made love that night, like two people
deeply in love.

Apolo
was still inside me,
connected to me. Bracing himself up on his elbows and forearms, he peered down
at me, gently kissing my face. “That was nice, angel, making love like that. I
know I haven’t been very vocal about my feelings for you. That’s just me. I’m
not an overly gushy guy.”

“Hmmm,” I replied. “I’d have to disagree with you. But I’m
not going to spoil your moment here. Do go on.” I squeezed myself around his
cock, letting him know I wanted him again.

He withdrew slowly and then just as slowly, he pushed back
in. “Caitlyn, you do know I’ve fallen in love with you, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know. Otherwise, I didn’t figure you’d ask me to
live with you and all that stuff in Washington. Or go public with our
relationship.”

“You know me well. I do love you, Caitlyn. Very much.”

“I love you, too,
Apolo
. I knew I
was falling for you long ago. Now, if you don’t mind, shut up and make love to
me.”

“My pleasure, angel.”

* * * *

We hadn’t even settled into our suite at the Watergate, and
Apolo
was business as usual, making phone calls and taking
them. He made sure we had plenty of time to relax before Friday, the day he’d
become a senator.

Renee had graciously accepted his offer and would be here in
a day or so, deciding to make the drive up from Atlanta rather than fly. As she
had a brother still residing in the area, she declined
Apolo’s
offer to put her up at a hotel until she could find a place of her own. I knew
her coming with us would make his transition much easier. Even though he loved
this new adventure, it was easy to see he was a man who liked an orderly,
planned schedule, and Renee brought that to his business side.

I was in the bathroom connected to our bedroom when he came
in behind me. I was attempting to settle in, unpacking some of my personal
effects. This suite was going to be our home for at least the next month or
two, if not longer. I wanted to make it feel like I lived there and was not
just visiting.

“Getting settled in, angel?”

Turning to face him, I smiled at the image before me.
Damn, how could I have gotten so incredibly
lucky in love?
“Yes, I want to settle in before the chaos starts.”

He cocked his head, smiling. “Probably a very good idea. I’m
yours for the rest of the day if you’d like to venture out and get something to
eat.”

“Yes, that would be nice. Heaven knows how often we’ll be
able to take advantage of the simple things. At least while Congress is in
session…”

Wednesday came, and I could barely contain myself. My father
was arriving from Ireland. We hadn’t seen each other since the summer before
when I had spent three weeks with him. He had taken an overnight flight from
Dublin, and
Apolo
sent Jacob to pick him up from the
airport, as I had a meeting of my own that I couldn’t shrug off. I was, after
all,
Apolo’s
other half and was to spend time with
some other wives, learning things I would need to know.

The previous two days had been a whirlwind full of shopping
and sightseeing. Just the two of us. Now, things were beginning to crank up,
becoming real.

Even my mother managed to keep herself scarce, as far as
phone calls. We touched base Wednesday afternoon, when I brought her up to date
on what we had been doing and what was in store. I let her know that my father
was coming into town all the way from Ireland. She acted as though she already
knew, which didn’t surprise me.

When she tried to bring up the blonde woman from the dinner
in Atlanta, I blew her off. I told her as little as possible, that the lady was
merely someone
Apolo
had worked with on earlier projects
and who was vying for any work the new senator might throw her way. Okay, it
was a lie, but it kept my mother at bay. Like feeding a dog a bone.

Late in the afternoon Wednesday, there was a knock.
Apolo
had invited my father to our suite for drinks before
dinner. It would be a good, private way for the three of us to get to know each
other. I was, instead, mortified to find my mother standing next to my father
when I opened the door.

After the three of us greeted each other, I turned to
Apolo
to introduce him to my father, rolling my eyes as I
did. He greeted my parents as though they didn’t live thousands of miles apart,
never missing a step. Then, he escorted us all into the living area. My mother
looked around all the while, in approval of our surroundings.

“Your mother and I talked right before I left Dublin. We
decided it would be better if we at least made it appear as though we were
together. At least through your swearing in,
Apolo
.”

I bit my tongue. I so wanted to say something bitchy to my
mother. She wanted her life to be as it suited her. If my father made it
better, she wanted him there. If not, she did her own thing. It infuriated me
how she used him. “You do know, Mother, that people are aware of the fact that Daddy
lives in Dublin and you live in Georgia. How do you intend to explain that one?”

Apolo
handed everyone a drink and
sat down beside me. He’d been relatively quiet since my parents’ arrival, and I
wondered why.

“We thought that since
Apolo’s
parents will be here, that the two of us should at least attempt to make a
united front. For the two of you. It is a big day and all.”