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"Senator Maxwell," Leslie cut in before he could leave, "do you think you will have ti her eyes to Liz

"Another tiherty has already requested the re the discussion "Right this way, Ms Dougherty"

Liz followed hih the side door that led them to the back of the auditorium She was surprised at how euessed all of the students wanted to get back to the pool as quick as possible She heard the door click behind her, and she slowly turned to find herself completely alone with Brady

The air between them crackled with tension

Teeks

Teeks since her hands had threaded through his hair Teeks since she had circled her legs around his waist Teeks since her moans had taken over the hotel rooht painful How had she not noticed it when he had been onstage? She had stared up into his handso fro Now here, with so little space between them, all she wanted to do was reach out and touch him, make sure he was real, make sure it had all really happened

"How co a step toward her

"Didn’t know you neededperfectly"

"I was actually co to find you for an interview," Liz told hi the nearer he dreard her Hoas it suddenly so warm?

"Then you read ious and she returned it "What questions did you have fora hard ti to ask him All of her carefully prepared questions flew out the , and all she could think about was his lips on her

"Tongue-tied?" he said, his handup her skirt to her waist

Her breathing hitched and she strained to keep her eyes open She couldn’t let him completely distract her She had questions They were somewhere in her e for numerous reasons"

"I have probleislation," he said, circu her stateislation froislature"

"Was there a question in that?" he asked

She sed, and tried to keep her thoughts on track His thu Stay professional! she yelled at herself

"Why do you feel the questions you have posed regarding NC Pledge are enough to block landmark education policy in North Carolina? And how can the people of North Carolina, specifically this district, expect you to further our interests on Capitol Hill when you aren’t even doing that here?" she asked, staring up at him with as much professional decoruin to slip on, and his eyes hardened She had surprised hireed upon terms that I believe will actually benefit North Carolina," he said, pausing for dra her to hear his words, "rather than hinder the sloithin our state, I will continue to fight for better terms I’ll do the sa for a response, the rest of his face blank She wondered how irritated he was under that cool, collected front

Da

"But ouldn’t you want e?"

"Of course I support students attending college"

"Did you have a basketball scholarship?" She already knew the answer

"I did"

"Could your parents have paid for you to go to college if you hadn’t had the scholarship?"

His hand tightened on her hip "I see where you’re going with this, Ms Dougherty"

"Just a simple question, Senator," she said

"Yes, my parents could have paid for me to attend the university"

"Do you kno e? Please, Senator, explain to e education when you do?" she asked point-blank

"I believe every student has the right to an education," he said sternly His brown eyes seee does not satisfy a number of other demands, such as cost to the university system and future benefits in the workforce These problems need to be addressed first"