Wasn't planning on writing any more of this, but it just wouldn't leave me! Thanks for the positive feedback on the first chapter. This picks up immediately after.
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So I left the wedding with Blair and Rhett's personal phone numbers in my contact list. I had a few days off in my Wyoming hometown with my family and I waited anxiously to see if either of them would text me first. I didn't want to be that desperate girl.
When I received the brief text from Blair, it shocked me. "Come by the house this afternoon if you can. I'll be home until four."
Of course, I knew what she meant by "house." The senator's mansion at the very edge of Cheyenne.
I made up an excuse for my family and headed out around one, hoping that would be enough time without being too much.
As I sat behind the wheel of the same car I'd driven in high school, the traffic seemed to stretch endlessly ahead, taunting me with its congestion. The red brake lights of countless cars formed a sea of anxiety as my heart pounded. Even though I'd only known Rhett for a few days and Blair even less, I couldn't stop my mind from wandering to what could be waiting for me.
The radio hummed softly, playing a mix of calming tunes and classic rock as I switched between stations, but my mind was too preoccupied to focus on anything good that came on. Instead, my focus remained on the road. My foot hovered over the gas pedal, ready to seize any chance to move forward.
I had no idea why the traffic was so heavy at first, but then I remembered, all at once. A scrolling headline from that morning's news pulled itself along my mind. PRESIDENT HAYES SET TO ENDORSE WYATT REELECTION. The actual, literal president was going to be in town the same time as me. Say what you will about his politics, but that made my little law student's heart flutter.
And I was going to the senator's mansion, presumably to have sex with his wife.
What a surreal weekend.
As I approached the gates of the classic marble mansion, a sense of awe washed over me. The wrought iron gates stood tall and majestic, adorned with intricate designs that spoke of a bygone era. They slowly creaked open and it felt like driving through the pages of a fairytale The mansion itself was a sight to behold. Its elegant facade boasted tall pillars and a sweeping staircase, exuding timeless elegance. Ivy crept gracefully up the walls, adding to the charm of the antique architecture.
A second gate -- this one more modern with a call box and small security booth -- separated me from the house. I pulled up and waited. A security guard dressed like a goddamn cowboy knocked on my window, taking off his hat as he spoke. "You must be Ms. Whitehawk?"
I tried to muster all the high-class confidence I lacked. "Yes."
He gestured to the security guy in the booth, who pressed a button that opened the gate. The man by my door said, "You can leave your car with the keys out front. We'll take it back to the private garage."
So I did just that. As he whisked my car away, I took a deep, deep, deep breath and walked up the recently refinished marble steps.
Blair answered the door before I could even knock. I'd only ever seen her in two states: Put together and formal and almost entirely undressed. Safe to say that being struck by her in black yoga pants and an oversized white tee felt almost more intimate than seeing her naked. Her shiny ginger hair was pulled back, half up and half down, behind her head. Suddenly, I felt embarrassed by my uncomfortable flats and tailored skirt that usually made me feel confident.
A playful smile danced on her lips as she leaned against the door frame, her gaze fixing on me with a hint of mischief. "Well, well, look who's here," she purred in that velvety voice that sent shivers down my spine. She gestured, a little sarcastically, to the entryway behind her. "Come on in."
And I stepped into their world, the world that had always been my goal, mesmerized by not only her magnetic charm but the house itself. Even the front room was adorned with contemporary art by local artists and carefully manicured with tasteful, classic furniture that blended decadent with contemporary. It felt both unpretentious and upper-class, an impossible balance. Like the two of them.
I cleared my throat and asked, "Is Rhett home?"
"No," she laughed like it was a stupid question. I remembered that it was. "He's in meetings all day." Then she leaned in close to me and touched the side of my face. "So it's just the two of us, if that's alright."
I sucked in a breath at even that simple, small touch. "More than alright."
"Perfect. Let me show you around so you don't feel...overwhelmed, I guess."
"It's a bit late for that," I offered with a nervous chuckle.
From there, Blair expertly guided me through the various rooms in the mansion I'd always wondered about, sharing intriguing tidbits about the property's past and the families that had lived there. I got the sense she'd rehearsed this countless times as part of her wifely duties. Still, though, her voice was like music, and I hung on to every note, enchanted by her knowledge and poise.