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Placing her fingers on the keyboard, she closed her eyes, racking her brain for the next possible password The voices in the hallway stopped her cold, sending a ripple of fear across her flesh
She had no reason to be in this office, especially with a lavish party going on downstairs—her lavish party She whipped her head around, the action loosening her carefully coiffed chignon, and lunged for the French doors She parted the drapes, grabbed one handle and slipped through the opening onto the balcony
She clicked the glass door shut just as she saw the door to the office crack open Placing her pal the wall until she reached the edge of the balcony farthest from the doors
Feathers of snow drifted froetown streets DC rarely sa in December Just her luck
She crossed her arers into the cold skin exposed by her sleeveless gown She couldn’t stay here long or her stepfather’s security detail would find her and would have to chip her stiff body from the brick facade of the town house
The French doors next to her swung open and Claire flattened herself against the wall Her stepfather, Senator Spencer Correll, must’ve noticed the parted drapes or the chill in the rooate What possible excuse could she offer for being out on the balcony in the snow in an evening gown in the middle of a party?
“I love it when it snows in DC” Her stepfather’s hearty tone reassured her that he had no idea anyone was lurking out here—it also sounded forced Heon an act for someone—but then, when didn’t he put on an act?
“We’re not going to have a white Christmas in South Carolina, so maybe I’ll stay here for a week or two and soak up the atmosphere”
The other man’s Southern drawl marked him as a constituent from her stepfather’s hoh to step onto the balcony
“I suggest you do Nothing like Christmas in DC”
Spencer’s voice sounded so close, she was surprised he couldn’t see her breath in the cold air She held it
“It’ll be an especially merry Christmas for you, Senator Correll, if you vote for thatuhsubsidy”
“It’s a done deal I’ll introduce you to ht Trey will take care of all the details After tonight, your boss should be reassured”