Wrapping his arm around Gia’s waist, Logan held her next to him, then spoke to the group as a whole. “At first blush, it’s not a bad move. Martha Reed comes into the campaign fully funded. Given that her primary funder essentially bankrolled Gus from the beginning, Reed can call on his cadre of wealthy men who put their money where he tells them to. In addition, because she is essentially a blank slate, he can imprint his wife with all of the platforms he developed for Gus.”
Elliott concurred. “My thoughts exactly. Even the fact that she is a newcomer makes it possible for them to take a page from Gia’s playbook.”
Logan shook his head, waving him off. “I disagree. I’m confident that is what they thought, but we all know that is a pipe dream at best. Even though she is a first-time candidate, Gia is one of the most accomplished politicos I’ve known.” He added wryly, “At least it confirms that we shot them so far up the ass tonight, they were forced to pull out all the stops.”
Elliott hesitated, then held up his hands in dismay. “Christ, Logan. I . . . I . . . Jesus, man. I won’t presume to second-guess you. After all, you are the ultimate strategist. But . . . and I hate to say this, but do you think we’ve overplayed our hand? To be specific, have we made it impossible for Gia to succeed?”
Logan’s groan was heartfelt. It took him a moment to respond. Then, assuming his never- elusive cool, he shrugged. “I guess we’re about to find out.” He shot his frowning colleague a cocky grin. “If it eases your anxiety, I gotta tell you, dude, if I were betting my last dollar, I’d bet on Gia. Without a second thought.”
Focusing on the shocked team who were obviously struggling with the latest bombshell, Logan turned to Gia. “To cut to the chase, princess, the guy who may be the most sophisticated and well-regarded money man the opposing party has to offer just declared he’s going to throw his own wife into the ring to face off against you. Which if nothing else, my extraordinary woman, confirms that they are scared shitless of you!” He added with a shrug, “As well they should be.”
After they all had a chance to weigh the plusses and minuses of the latest shock, Logan shot Gia a twisted grin. “Tell me, princess, will you ever forgive me for dragging your spectacular ass into this egregious maelstrom?”
She sidled up to him with a cocky grin. “Uh . . . as in . . . never?”
“C’mon, sweetheart. Admit it. If anyone loves to bask in the limelight, it’s my supposedly camera-shy lover. Not . . . ”
Gia blushed and then tossed her head. “Hmm, I have to admit that as camera-shy as I apparently am, it is kinda fun being a star . . . ”
He scoffed at her understatement. “Make that a super-star, woman of mine.”
****
Later that night, after he’d gently undressed her and laid her out on the bed—not bothering to hide his impressive arousal or the worship in his eyes—Gia grabbed for her courage. Giving voice to the overriding fear and concern that was never far from her thoughts and wishing that her voice wasn’t so shaky, she appealed to him. “Please, Logan. Promise me. Promise that no matter what happens that you will . . . will never abandon me?”
Understanding the depth of her insecurity and the power he had to ratchet her life into the stratosphere or to destroy it, he called on his ever-present sense of omnipotence. Pulling her naked body next to his, he murmured, “Ah, my inimitable lover. That’s the easiest promise I will ever make. No, Gia, I will never abandon you. For better or worse, princess, I’m here to stay.”
AFTERWORD
Thank you for reading State of Play. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed writing it. Gia and Logan never fail to amaze me. Honestly, I don’t know what outrageous thing either of them will do next. Gia is as outrageous as they come with a chip on her shoulder the size of Gibraltar. And while Logan is considerably more sophisticated, his undercover persona conceals a wealth of sins—good and bad. Don’t miss the next installment in their riveting political saga, In the Line of Fire. Trust me. You won’t believe what happens next.
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About the Author
USA Today best-selling author Taylor Lee writes Suspenseful Mystery Thrillers—with a heavy dose of Sexy to Sizzling HOT Romance.
In the five years she has been writing, Taylor has written more than forty books. Her eight, soon to be nine, series track her Special Operatives, Covert Agents, Cops, Firefighters, and other iconic heroes and heroines through the harrowing situations that make up their lives. From human trafficking rings to corrupt politicians, Taylor investigates the underbelly of society and the criminals who flourish there.
Taylor says, “From the residue in my personal blender of mixed races, cultures, and world views, my characters emerge. It comforts me to know that while evil slinks in the shadows, the ‘good guys and gals’ of the world sniff it out—and snuff it out.
My characters are arrogant alpha males and the feisty women who bring them to their knees—and vice versa . . . They fight hard, love hard and don’t mince words. They are dangerous men and women in dangerous times. Love, passion, and ridding the world of evil? What’s not to like?”
Here is a sampling of Taylor’s reviews, which number in the multiple hundreds and are incredibly positive:
"Taylor Lee never disappoints! These books are sizzling hot and keep you guessing at every turn. For discriminating readers who insist on great characters and a spellbinding story that also includes HOT romance!" Sarah Reviews
* * “The sexiest, most outrageous hero I’ve read in a long time. Snappy, laugh out loud dialogue, and a Sizzling HOT romance makes these wildly exciting murder mysteries true page-turners.” J. John * * "These are the best books I've read recently. Taylor Lee's stories are so full of action, sex and exquisite love that I hate when they end. I want them to just go on and on. I can't wait for the next installment." Deidre Abbot * * “Spellbinding police mystery thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seat. Pulse pounding action and steamy romance. A cast of unforgettable characters that will capture your heart.” Action Junkie
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Copyright Information
State of Play: Book Two; The Candidate
Copyright © 2019 by Taylor Lee
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All rights reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, incidents, places and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No portion of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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