Even so, I pulled my shoulders back and took a deep breath to steady my nerves. Like a good soldier, I marched out of the suite with my head held high, and I kept it that way the entire elevator ride down to the lobby and out to the car. A small throng of reporters waited outside on the curb, and both embarrassment and pride filled me when some of them whistled at me. “Lookin’ good, Addison!”

“Hey uptown girl.”

“You’re a lucky guy, Bare,” another called. Of course, they would still call him by his nickname, which I was sure irked Barrett.

Ty put us into the car before taking the front seat on the passenger side. When we got to Dulles, the car pulled us around to a special airfield for small planes. As I peered through my window, I saw a sleek jet with The Callahan Corporation in blue on the side. “Wow,” I murmured.

“Ever been on a jet before?” Barrett asked.

I gave him side-eye. “Although I’ve been on noncommercial planes, I’d hardly call the rickety four-seaters we rode into the jungle jets.”

“I’d have to say it took balls of steel to ride those things.”

I laughed. “I was a kid at the time. It felt more like being on a ride at the fair.”

“Is a fair like Disney World?”

“Uh, yeah, I guess.” Tilting my head at him, I asked, “Wait, have you never actually been to a fair?”

“Nope.”

“You’ve really missed out.”

“Maybe we can find one along the campaign route and you can enlighten me as to its wonders.”

I smiled. “That sounds good.”

We pulled up alongside another sleek black Lincoln sedan and I didn’t have to wonder for long who was inside it because James and his wife, Jane, exited a moment later. I started to fumble with the door handle before it was opened for me by the driver.

I stepped out of the car to see my fake future mother-in-law striding over to me. With her 5’9” frame, she cut an imposing figure, and I found myself shrinking back. After quickly sizing me up, a smile spread across her attractive face. “Hello, Addison. I’m Jane Callahan. It’s so very nice to meet you.”

Instead of being formal and shaking my hand like I expected, she leaned in and kissed my left cheek and then my right. “It’s very nice to meet you, too,” I replied breathlessly.

When she pulled away, her gaze dropped to my ensemble. “I see Everett took good care of you, just as I instructed.”

I smiled. “Yes, he did. Thank you for sending him to me.”

Her hand trailed down my shoulder to my sleeve. “Carolina Herrera or Diane von Furstenberg?”

“Carolina Herrera for both the coat and suit.”

“It’s just to die for. You’re going to turn heads today.” She smiled as she cupped my chin. “Of course, with your gorgeous face, you’d turn heads even if you were wearing a burlap sack.”

“Thank you for your kind words and compliments.” I motioned to her tailored blue suit. “I like yours as well.”

“I owe everything to Everett. I suppose he told you he’s been styling us for years.”

“He did.”

Her red lips turned down in a pout. “I don’t know what I will do without him when he retires. I guess I’ll just have to stay home and style my bathrobe.”

I smiled. Less than five minutes with Jane, and I already liked her a lot. Since she came from a pedigreed background, I had been afraid I would find her snobbish. At the very least, I imagined her swapping sugar with me in public and then giving me the cold shoulder in private.

“I understand you spent the weekend with Barrett.”

“Yes ma’am, I did. We had a pretty intensive get-to-know-you session.”

Jane waved her hand dismissively. “Oh honey, you don’t need to call me ma’am. Just Jane is fine.”

“Okay then, Jane.”

A wicked look flashed in her ice-blue eyes. “Since Barrett’s still breathing, I imagine you fought the natural urge to strangle him?”

I blinked several times as I tried to decide if she was serious. When I realized she actually was, I still couldn’t help wondering if it wasn’t some kind of test. At her girlish giggle, I finally laughed. “Yes, we both somehow managed to survive unscathed.”

Jane waved one of her gloved hands. “He’s my son and I love him dearly, but he is just horrible when it comes to women.” Sadness washed away the amusement in her face. “Sometimes I worry it’s my fault. Before he had his surgery and outgrew his heart condition, I was so terribly afraid of losing him. I ended up indulging him more than I should have. I certainly hope you won’t do that.”

Hmm, interesting. Now I had a little more insight into Barrett’s character. Of course, I wasn’t exactly sure how being spoiled as a kid made him into a womanizer, but I couldn’t help wondering if it hadn’t had something to do with it.

“Rest assured, I won’t be indulging him. More than anything, I’ll be putting him in his place.”

“Good for you.”

“Are you two done talking shit about me?” Barrett questioned.

Laughing, Jane turned around and gave Barrett a hug rather than kissing him on the cheeks. “Aren’t you the narcissist thinking if two beautiful women are talking, it must be about you?”

Barrett crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re deflecting, Mom.”