Knight (Political Royalty Book 1) by Evelyn Adams Page A

touched the air above Sandra’s cheek, but if it bothered her, it didn’t show. The greeting he gave his children was warm and genuine. He looked at them with the same kind of pride his father displayed.
    The governor shook his son’s hand and said something Haven couldn’t hear. Walker started toward the podium and the sound of the crowd. The rest of the family fell into place behind him like a perfectly orchestrated piece. Haven glanced around to make sure Justin and the rest of the staff who’d be standing off to the side during the speech were ready to go and she saw Abby watching the senator and his family with something that could only be longing. How had no one seen it earlier? Either Mrs. Walker didn’t care that the senator’s aide was in love with him or she didn’t see Abby as a threat. Given the comparison between the poised, regal blonde and the mousey brunette, it seemed unlikely the senator would risk everything for a staffer, but powerful men had made much more unlikely choices before.
    Travis followed the family, with Abby falling into step behind him while Haven checked her phone for news of the last attendee. She got the text saying they were arriving just as she saw the car pulling into the porte cochère. Inserting herself between the aide hurrying forward and the black SUV, she opened the door herself and smiled at the man inside.
    “Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for agreeing to do this,” said Haven, stepping out of the way so Tom Johnson, the secretary of agriculture, could get out of the car.
    The older man grinned at her like she was offering him something much better than a chance to introduce a junior senator from the opposing party.
    “My pleasure, Ms. Graham,” he said, taking her outstretched hand and leaning forward to press a kiss to her cheek. “I’m happy to help. I appreciate the work you did for my friend Anderson.”
    He winked and she smiled back. The newly elected senator from Virginia and the secretary had been friends since college. She’d met him for the first time on the campaign at a seminar to help Virginia’s transitioning tobacco farmers.
    “I hope this won’t cause too many problems with the president and your party,” she said, knowing the answer before she said the words but needing to maintain the illusion that he was doing them a favor instead of the other way around.
    It hadn’t taken as much nudging as Haven expected to get the secretary to agree to introduce Walker. Johnson had never been much of a party man and there was no love lost between him and the president. But it was the lure of private sector money that closed the deal. Johnson had been a public servant long enough to feel the pinch. He was ready for a fatter bank account and more time on the golf course.
    When he learned there was a consultant’s job with the company that bought Aqua Biofarms, he was ready to make a move. It only took a gentle nudge from Walker and the job belonged to Johnson. Introducing the senator was a public fuck-you to the administration and a thank-you to Walker. And a guarantee to Haven of the kind of publicity she needed to give Walker’s feed the world message an audience.
    “None worth worrying about,” he said with a wink.
    “The senator and his family are waiting for you through here, Mr. Secretary.” Haven motioned to the doorway the Walkers had gone through and Secretary Johnson started up the passageway with Haven and Justin falling into step. Behind them, the last few security officers made a wall of black-clad muscle across the doorway.
    The governor noticed them first, and the slight widening of his eyes let Haven know he hadn’t been a hundred percent sure she’d actually be able to get the secretary to show up. Later, when it was only her and Justin and a glass of cabernet, she’d indulge in a fair bit of gloating, but for now she kept it all hidden behind her smile.
    “Secretary,” said the governor, offering his hand. “This must feel