Robert came forward in what Landon could only describe as a gloating saunter to stand chest to chest with him. His husband looked rather pleased with himself before bending in for a quick press of the lips.
“Punish me later.”
His cock jerked at the growl in Robert’s voice. He seemed overly proud of himself as he stepped past Landon to take his shot. Robert Adams was one sexy motherfucker. He’d be more than happy to even the score tonight, and he was just about to voice his terms when the news anchor’s voice caught both their attention.
Landon lunged for the small remote control sitting on the barstool Robert had just vacated. He increased the volume at the mention of Autumn’s name. As predicted, she had a large enough margin to call the win. The opposing candidate had no choice but to concede.
Robert clapped, along with others throughout the bar. Where Robert was sedately excited, Landon was over the top, high fiving Robert before letting out a rip-roaring whistle. His heart pounded in his chest from the rush of excitement. The pool cue carelessly tossed on top of the table as he reached for his cell phone. Landon had Autumn on speed dial, and he pressed the number like he’d done several times over the last few hours.
“Hey, brother number two, did you see?”
Landon put her on speaker as Robert came forward, tightly circling an arm around Landon’s waist.
“We did. Congratulations,” Robert said as their little alcove filled with well-wishers, all sending her their excited, congratulatory love.
“Thank you. I’ve got to go give my acceptance speech. I love you both. Call me later. Tell Nonnie I’ll call her tomorrow morning,” Autumn said before the call disconnected. As the crowd grew and pushed forward, Robert let him go to shake the hands of the bar’s patrons. Robert eagerly introduced Landon who had never seen politics where affiliation became irrelevant. The Adamses were admired, and being back in politics seemed an exciting thing, at least to these people. Though, probably not for the man Autumn had defeated.
The bar grew silent, all eyes drawn to the screen as Autumn took the stage. There was a commanding air about her, regal and elegant, as she stood behind the podium. Autumn radiated the same peaceful inner strength Avery had possessed. Her words, like his, held the audience on both sides of the screen captive. Landon wasn’t even there, and he knew her powerful speech owned that stately room packed to capacity, because she easily owned each and every patron in this bar. Landon’s phone vibrated. He glanced down to see Kennedy Adams’s name appear on his screen. A smile tugged at the corner of his lip.
He couldn’t deny that he had truly been accepted into the Adams family. Kennedy was just on a different level. He had mad respect for her. He wanted to hand the phone to Robert, to have him take the call, but he was surrounded, everyone’s gazes fixed on Autumn as she spoke. They all seemed to critique every word she said in a positive way. On the third ring, Landon drew in a deep breath and swiped a thumb over the screen.
“Hello,” he answered, sticking a finger to his other ear as he headed off in search of a quieter section of the bar.
“Hello, dear, have I bothered you while you’re working?”
“No, ma’am. I took the night off. We’re at The Hill, watching the election results,” he said, having heard Kennedy was a legend in this bar. A picture of her from many years ago, standing with her husband and his father, the former President Adams, hung above the bar in a prominent position. “Did you see the win?”
“Oh yes, very exciting. Have you spoken to her?” Nonnie asked.
“Yes, I hung up with her right before you called. She was taking the stage for her acceptance speech, so she asked us to make sure you knew and to tell you she’ll call you in the morning,” he said.
Kennedy gave one of her few laughs. “I knew she would win. Her opponent was dreadful. I’m so disappointed in politics today.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, because he always agreed with her, but he wasn’t sure much could have been worse than Avery Adams’s treatment during his first race and term for the vice presidency.
“You go celebrate. Tell Robert to call me tomorrow. I’m going to bed.” A hand on his shoulder had him turning to Robert who gave him a questioning look.
“It’s your Nonnie.”
“I’m your Nonnie too, Landon,” Kennedy scolded, all humor gone from her tone.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, causing Robert to smile that knowing grin. His husband knew how he felt around Kennedy. “She says for you to call her tomorrow.”
“Will do. After lunch.” Robert spoke loud enough for Kennedy to hear. Landon got a warmly voiced, goodnight, dear before the call disconnected.