Spend My Life with You

“Who?”

“Preston,” Lee Ann tossed over her shoulder.

Dominique beamed. “Well, all righty then. That’s what I’m talking about. How can I help?”

“I need something to wear.” They reached the landing, and Lee Ann led the way to Dominique’s room.

“Well, you’ve come to the right place.”

They entered Dominique’s dressing room, which could have been an easy substitute for the main floor of a high-end boutique. Lee Ann knew that Dominique had a passion for clothes—expensive clothes and shoes and bags—but she had no idea to what extent her passion had grown. Her mouth dropped open as she followed Dominique along the expanse of her closet. It was actually an adjacent room that had been converted to accommodate her wardrobe, which could easily clothe a small neighborhood, Lee Ann thought in awe, and that was with the clothes that still had tags on them. She had to give it to her sister though. Dominique did her fair share of donating. A great percentage of her brand-new clothing went to the nonprofit of which she was the executive director. First Impressions provided clothing and job preparation training for women who had been out of the job market because of prison, homelessness or prior drug problems. That was the other side of her sister that most people didn’t know about.

Dominique spun toward her sister, hands on her hips. “So, what kind of date is it? Is it fabulously chic, stuffy formal, fashionably casual or simply naughty?” she added with a wink.

“We’re going to the concert in the park and then staying for the movie.”

Dominique pursed her lips. “Fashionably casual.” She walked to the far end of the closet. “I’ve been telling you for years that you need to diversify your wardrobe.” She pressed her finger to her lips. “Hmm.” She plucked a pair of salmon-colored cotton slacks that stopped at the midcalf with a cuff. She pulled a variety of multicolored sleeveless tops, some with swooping necklines, V-necks, layered in sheer fabric over something silky. She pulled out accessories—belts, earrings, purses, necklaces—and carried her treasures to the bed. “Any of these tops will do,” she said with authority. “The key, as I’ve always said, is the accessories, the magic ingredient.”

Lee Ann did a quick scan of the tops and plucked one from the group. “This will be fine.” She took the slacks.

Dominique selected silver accessories and a clutch Coach purse in the same color as the slacks and handed her a shrug sweater that picked up the pale green in the top.

“Thanks, sis.” She hurried toward the door, with Dominique on her heels.

“Anytime. If he gets here before you’re ready, I’ll keep him busy.”

Lee Ann glanced back at her sister. Dominique was a man magnet. She drew them to her with little effort on her part beyond simply breathing. She tugged in a breath. “Sure. Thanks.” She hurried off to her room and got dressed.

Her plan was to be ready and waiting for him on the front porch so that they could bypass the family interrogation. She knew her family meant well. They could just be a bit overwhelming to some people, especially when they all converged on you at once.

That wasn’t her biggest issue, she thought, as she checked her lipstick and dropped it into her purse. Her real issue was she was totally out of practice. She hadn’t been on a “date” that wasn’t business related since she and Maxwell Harris broke up. She’d been devastated. He claimed it wasn’t her, that he just needed some space to find himself. He found himself, all right, married to Ashley Montgomery six months later. Lee Ann was humiliated. Max was the first man she loved, right out of college. She thought he was the one. Unfortunately, he didn’t feel the same way.

Right after that, her mother grew ill, and Lee Ann threw herself into taking care of her. It helped them both. Louisa drew a kind of strength from Lee Ann. And Lee Ann was able to pour all of her love and attention into her mother and push aside all thoughts of Maxwell. That was five years ago, and she hadn’t been “involved” with anyone since—a date here and there but nothing serious. Between looking after her father’s affairs and taking care of her family, there wasn’t time. At least that’s what she told herself.

Lee Ann took her house keys and cell phone from the dresser, added them to the contents of her purse and went downstairs just as her brother Rafe was coming through the door with Preston in tow.

“Look who I found lurking out front.” He clapped Preston on the back.

Lee Ann landed on the last step and approached the devastatingly handsome duo. She leaned up and kissed her brother’s cheek. “Hi.” She turned to Preston. “I hope he didn’t say anything out of the way, which he’s prone to do without warning.” She cut Rafe a playful look.

“You wound me, dear sister.” He winked. “I didn’t get the chance to run him through the mill, so where are you two headed?”

“Concert in the park,” Preston offered.

Rafe frowned. He looked from one to the other. “A political concert?”

“No,” Lee Ann said simply. “We should go, Preston. We’ll be late.”

“Right. Good seeing you again, Rafe.”

Rafe murmured something unintelligible just as Branford emerged from his study. “Preston?”

Preston turned. “Hello, Senator Lawson.”

Branford slowly approached, taking in the scene. Lee Ann wanted to disappear.

“Did we have an appointment?” He frowned at Lee Ann, while shaking Preston’s hand.

“No, sir, we didn’t.”

“Then I don’t understand…”

“Preston is here to see me, Daddy, and we’re late.” She turned and walked to the door.

“To see you?” He glared from one to the other. “What in heaven’s name for?”

“We were—”

Lee Ann cut Preston off. “Goodnight, daddy.” She walked to the door and stepped out.

“Good night, everyone,” Preston said, not really sure what scenario was being played out. He closed the door behind them and followed Lee Ann down the steps and to his waiting car. Tonight it was the Lexus SUV.

“I’m really sorry about that,” Lee Ann murmured. Preston opened the car door for her.

“You want to tell me what’s going on? Is there something that I should know?”

“Only that my family is…close for lack of a better word. Too close at times.” She fastened her seat belt.

Preston got in behind the wheel and turned the key in the ignition. “I think it’s nice.”

She glanced at him, and the warm, sincere smile of understanding unraveled the knot that had tightened in her stomach.

He put the car in gear and drove out of the winding driveway. “I get the impression that you’re really important to them—at least from what I’ve seen.”

“Really?”

“Not to mention how highly your father speaks of you as often as he can.” His flashed an amused smile.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I think it’s more of a comfort than anything else.”

“A comfort? Why do you say that?”

She was thoughtful for a moment before she began to speak about those days that were still painful to remember. “When my mother got sick, it seemed natural to me to take care of her, being the oldest daughter.” Her voice drifted as the memories of those difficult days pushed to the forefront. “My father, as strong as he is in front of the country, couldn’t handle the thought of losing his wife. His visits to her sickbed often did them both more damage than good. Telling him he had to be strong for her usually resulted in a firestorm of outrage—how could he be expected to be strong when the most important person in his life was being taken from him? Dom and Desi spent most of their time crying or moaning about how unfair it was. Rafe was like a ghost in those days. He was her favorite. They were so close,” she said softly. “And Justin, to be the youngest, he was a real trooper. I don’t know what I would have done without him.” She sighed. “I guess I took over where my mother left off—taking care of the house, the staff and the family.” She glanced at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go on and on.”

“Please.” He stretched his hand across the gears and covered hers. “It’s fine.”

“I made them sound so awful and selfish. They really aren’t.”

Preston chuckled. “You did make the whole crew sound like a bunch of brats,” he teased. “Except for Justin.”