The Stranger I Married novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Dinner for Three

"Nolan," I said. "This is Mr. Hartwell."

"I know exactly who this is."

Nolan crossed the ballroom with his hand out and the champagne dangling from the other.

I watched Elias take the handshake with the face of a man receiving a summons.

"Elias," Nolan said warmly. "Your mother is a saint. Do you know what she's done for my campaign? I should be sending you flowers."

"You're marrying the florist," Elias said.

"I am! Fourteen months and counting. Did she tell you? November twenty-second."

"She told me."

I waited for the floor to open.

It didn't.

Nolan put his arm around my waist and I stood in it.

"Dinner," he said. "Let me buy you both dinner. Maya, you've been working too hard. Mr. Hartwell, it would mean a lot."

"Elias," said Elias.

"Elias." Nolan grinned. "Let me make you a reservation."

An hour later I was in a red leather booth at a steakhouse on Rush Street.

I sat between my fiance and my husband, looking at a menu I couldn't read.

I had planned to tell Nolan on the sidewalk.

I'd even said the first sentence.

Then Judith Hartwell had materialized beside his car, said she had a table, and slid into the booth.

Nolan, who talked for a living, talked.

He told Judith about the primary, the ward map, the endorsements, the poll that had him up six.

He told Elias about his plan for Hartwell Hotels to sponsor a youth hospitality program, a photo-op, with a ribbon.

He called me "my rock" twice and "my better half" once.

Judith cut her steak into small precise squares.

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