Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [66]
“I’ll talk to Jacob Madaris and—”
“No, I don’t want to involve Jake in this. I want this handled discreetly. I don’t want anyone to know I want information on her. Use an investigative agency, and make sure it’s one we can trust. I want the report on my desk as soon as it’s received.”
Braxter frowned. “This sounds serious, sir.”
“It may not be. I may be getting myself worked up for nothing. But until I see the report, I won’t know for sure.”
Braxter nodded, wondering who the young lady could possibly be and what part she played in the senator’s life. Unfortunately, Senator Lansing wasn’t saying. He hoped there was nothing he really needed to worry about. There had never been any sort of scandal linked to the senator before, and now was not the time for one to happen.
“I have this friend from college who has an investigative company. I’ll talk to him on Monday.”
Senator Lansing nodded. “Do you know whether the young lady is still here tonight?”
“I saw her leave just before coming upstairs. She left with some other members of the Madaris family. It’s my understanding that Jake’s putting them up for the night in the various guest cottages around the ranch. Tomorrow is their grandmother’s birthday and they’re all staying overnight, including Ms. Walters. She’s considered a member of the family.”
Senator Lansing nodded, remembering that tomorrow was Jake’s mother’s birthday. His friend had mentioned that to him months ago. “Then there’s a possibility that I’ll see her at breakfast before I leave. I’m going to make it my business to meet her.”
Chapter 15
Clayton followed the path that led to the guest cottages. The party for Senator Lansing had ended over an hour ago, and after engaging in polite conversation with the senator, he had quickly cut across the wide lawn and headed in the direction where the cottages were.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
Clayton turned quickly at the sound of the familiar voice. “Mom? What are you doing out here so late?”
Marilyn Madaris’s face split in a smile. “I wanted to check on your grandmother. She was determined to sleep in the old house tonight, and Christy is staying with her.”
Clayton nodded. The old house had been the original ranch house. It was the one his grandfather had built for his grandmother and where they had raised their seven sons.
“I was wondering why Christy left the party early,” Clayton said.
Marilyn Madaris studied her son. “You never answered my question about where you’re going in such a hurry.”
“I’m not in a hurry. I thought I’d walk around a bit.”
“Oh, I see.”
Clayton couldn’t help but notice his mother was giving him a strange look. It was one of those looks he recalled all too well from when he was a kid. It was a look that made you think you couldn’t fool her about anything, no matter how hard you tried.
“Well, I’ll see you in the morning, Mom.”
“All right, Clayton, and don’t forget your grandmother expects everyone to be in Sunday school in the morning, nine o’clock sharp.”
“I won’t forget. See ya.”
Clayton waited until his mother was no longer in sight before climbing the porch to the row of cottages that sat off in the distance.
Syneda had just closed the book she’d been reading when she heard the faint knock on the door. The rapid beating of her heart, and the heat settling in the pit of her stomach told her just who her late-night visitor was.
Pulling her robe together, she crossed the room. She paused within a few feet of the door, knowing she should send Clayton away. She shouldn’t take the risk of his family finding out about them. His sisters had already begun questioning his frequent weekend trips.
She sighed. As much as she knew she should send him away, she couldn’t. She’d been under a lot of work-related stress the past couple of weeks, and she needed to lose herself in the kind of passion only Clayton could stir within her. “Yes?” she finally answered.