In my Arms Tonight (NYC Singles Book 2) by Sasha Clinton Page A

to publish it on the Times’ blog.” She’d finished one paragraph and she was onto the next now.
    “No problem.” Suze paused. “You’re really going out of your way for this. I was convinced you didn’t like Summer as a candidate.”
    “That doesn’t matter. The guy saved me. I’ve gotta do something.”
    “I understand. You have to do what you have to do,” Suze exhaled. “But we’ve both been in this business long enough to know there’s no chance of him making a comeback from this.”
    “I’m still going to try my best. I’d feel awful if he lost because of me.”
    “Then here’s a piece of advice from me. You should be with him during his press conference. Seeing you there in person would make them buy into his story more easily. Like how Huma supported Anthony Weiner during his sexting scandal. I’m sure that helped his image, though he lost anyway.”
    There was an explicit warning of disappointment in there.
    “Irrelevant example, but I’ll do that.” Kat swapped Microsoft Word for Google Chrome. “Bye now.”
    Ending the call, she shot off phone calls to other journalists, bloggers and then to her boss, explaining the situation and asking for a day off.
    With all that done, she only had one more person to call.
    Alex.
    So she got down to it.
    He answered on the third ring. “Hello.”
    “Hi, Alex. It’s Kat. I’m the woman you saved on the subway the other day.”
    “Ah. You.” Those two syllables were enough to convey the depth of his exasperation. “Are you better now?”
    “I’m back to normal, thanks. I didn’t fracture anything, which is good news...” Kat paused, recalling her purpose. “But maybe we should cut the small talk. I called you about the video. I’m deeply apologetic for that.”
    “You uploaded it?” Shock exploded in the question.
    “No! It wasn’t me. But whoever uploaded it, it’s caused you serious trouble.”
    “Thank you for the reminder.” The caustic note was only to be expected.
    Deciding that this was not the time to take offense at him, Kat announced her plan. “I want to help you.”
    “How?” Skepticism came through in his tone. She could almost visualize him raising his eyebrows.
    Kat spoke quickly, conveying her intention to be by his side during the press conference. He liked her idea and she was sure she heard some unvoiced gratitude.
    They talked for a few more minutes, fleshing out the details of what she was going to say, then he handed the phone to his press secretary, who listened to Kat and asked her to come to where the press conference was right away.
    Skipping her morning routine of breakfast and meditation, Kat dashed out.
    She kept her fingers crossed the whole way.

    The room in the Hilton where the press conference was being held was full to the brim with flashing cameras, whispering reporters and eager microphones when Kat looked out from behind the doors.
    Since arriving at the hotel fifteen minutes ago, everything had been a blur. One of Alex’s campaign volunteers, a young man named Bashar, had escorted her to a room at the back of the hotel lobby where Alex and his press secretary Selia had given her instructions on what to say and when to speak.
    Battling the sudden clench of nerves, Kat tried to find comfort in the richly paneled walls as Selia pelted Alex with last-minute questions and facts.
    “Remember, if they ask you about who he was and his—”
    “I’ll turn it over to Kat. She has the information on the guy. I know, Selia. I know,” Alex said.
    As Selia launched herself into the room to get the introductions done and set the scene for Alex’s speech, Alex drifted towards Kat.
    “Nervous?” he asked, with a touch of a smile on his lips.
    Kat pointed at the press conference room. “I’ve never been on this side before. I’m usually on the other side.”
    “You’ll do great, don’t worry.” He patted her shoulder and she recoiled, feeling the same spark she’d felt that night. She’d