revolved in. alan heard shelby give a concise and unflattering opinion of a controversial bill slated to come before congress the following week. it infuriated the man she spoke with, though he maintained a tight-lipped control shelby seemed implacably trying to break. though he agreed with her stand, her tactics were ... diplomat she would never be.

did she know how complex she was? he wondered. here was a woman dead set against politicians as a group, yet she could meet them on their own terms, talk to them in their own voice without revealing the slightest discomfort. if indeed she felt any, alan added. no, if there was discomfort, it was on the op posing side. his gaze skimmed over the other people at their table as he continued his conversation with the congresswoman. shelby didn't have their polish, their gloss. and alan knew it was through her own choosing. more than that, she was dedicatedly opposed to possessing it. she didn't exploit the unique, she simply was the unique.

the sleek brunette across from him might be more beautiful, the blonde more regal but it was shelby you would remember when the evening was over. the representative from ohio might have a wicked wit, the assistant secretary of state might be erudite but it was shelby you wanted to talk to. why? the reason was there was no reason you could name. it was simply so.

he felt her shift before her lips brushed close to his ear. "are you going to dance with me, senator? it's the only dignified way i can get my hands on you at the moment." alan let the first wave of desire take him a rush that blanked everyone else from his sight and hearing for one heady instant. carefully he banked it before he rose and took her hand. "strange how closely our minds work." after leading her to the dance floor he gathered her to him. "and how well," he murmured as their bodies melded together, "we fit."

shelby tilted her head back. "we shouldn't." her eyes promised hot, private secrets. her lips tempted just parted, just curved. the hand on his shoulder moved nearer to his neck so she could brush his skin with her fingertips. "we shouldn't fit. we shouldn't understand each other. i can't quite figure out why we do."

"you defy logic, shelby. and therefore, logically, there's no reasonable answer." she laughed, pleased with the structured workings of his mind. "oh, alan, you're much too sensible to be argued with."

"which means you'll constantly do so."

"exactly." still smiling, she rested her head on his shoulder. "you know me too well for my own good, alan...

he remembered myra had used that word to describe shelby's feelings for her father.

"i'll take the risk. will you?"

with her eyes closed, she made a slight movement with her head. neither of them knew if it was assent or denial.

as the evening wore on they danced again, each thinking of the other as they moved to the music with someone else. from time to time if they saw each other across the room a message would pass, too strong and too direct not to be observed by people whose livelihoods depended on the interpretation of a look or gesture. undercurrents of all kinds were an intimate part of the game in washington. some flowed with them, others against them, but all acknowledged them.

"well, alan." leo clamped a hand on alan's shoulder as shelby was led onto the dance floor again. "you're making some progress on your personal windmill." alan settled back with his wine, half-smiling. he didn't mind the allusion to don quixote when it came to his housing project. that sort of tag would have certain advantages in the long run. it was human nature to at least root for the underdog even if doing nothing tangible to help. "a bit. i'm beginning to get some positive feedback from boston on the progress of the shelters there."

"it would be to your benefit if you could get and keep the ball rolling during this administration." he flipped out a lighter and flicked it at the end of a long fragrant cigar.

"it should bring a lot of support your way if you decide to toss your hat in the ring." alan tasted the wine and watched shelby. "it's early days yet for that, leo."

"you know better." leo puffed smoke toward the ceiling. "i never wanted that ... particular race for myself. but you ... when the time comes, if you give the nod."

alan turned to give his colleague a long look. "so i've been told," he said cautiously. "i appreciate it. it isn't a decision i'll make lightly, one way or the other."

"let me give you a few pros because, bluntly, i'm not enthusiastic about what we have in the bull pen at the moment." he leaned a bit closer. "your record's impressive even though it leans a bit to the left for some tastes. you had a solid run in congress and your term as senator's running smoothly. i won't get into a point by point of your policies or your individual bills let's stick with image." he puffed on the cigar again as he considered.

"your youth is to your advantage. it gives us time. your education was slick and impressive and the fact that you did well in sports never hurts. people like to think that their leader can handle himself on any playing field. your family background's clean and solid. the fact that your mother is a highly successful professional works strongly in your favor."

"she'll be glad to hear it," alan said dryly.

"you're too smart to think it doesn't matter," leo reminded him, gesturing with his cigar.

"it shows that you can relate and understand professional women a healthy chunk of the voting power. your father has a reputation for going his own way, but going honestly. there's no hornet's nest to keep locked in the attic."

"leo rect look. "who asked you to ... speak to me?"

"and you're perceptive," leo returned without missing a beat. "let's just say i was asked to approach you and touch on some generalities."

"all right. generally speaking, i haven't ruled out the possibility of entering the primaries when the time comes."

"fair enough." leo nodded toward shelby. "i'm personally fond of the girl. but will she be an asset to you? i never would have seen the two of you as a couple."

"oh?" the word was mild, but alan's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"campbell's daughter she knows the ropes, being on the campaign trail as a child."

leo pursed his lips, cautiously weighing the pros and cons. "shelby grew up with politics, so she wouldn't have to be tutored on protocol or diplomacy. of course, she's a bit of a maverick." he tapped his cigar thoughtfully. "more than a bit when it comes to it. she's put her considerable energy into flouting the washington social scene for years. there are those that rather like her for it, myself for one, but she's put a few noses out of joint in her day."

leo popped the cigar back into his mouth and chewed on it while alan remained flatly silent. "but then, it's possible to polish off a few rough edges. she's young; the flamboyance could be toned down. her education and family background are above reproach. there's enough glamour attached to her to attract, not enough to alienate. she runs her own business successfully and knows how to handle a crowd. an excellent choice, all in all," he decided. "if you can whip her into shape." alan set down his glass to prevent himself from throwing it. "shelby isn't required to be an asset," he said in a deadly controlled voice. "she isn't required to be anything but what she chooses. our relationship isn't grist for the political mill, leo." leo frowned at the tip of his cigar. he'd touched a nerve, he realized, but was rather pleased with the manner in which alan controlled rage. it wasn't wise to have a hothead commanding the armed forces. "i realize you feel entitled to a certain amount of privacy, alan. but once you toss your hat in the ring, you toss your lady's in too. we're a culture of couples. one reflects the other."

knowing it was true only infuriated him more. this was what shelby backed away from, what she feared. how could he protect her from it and remain what he was? "whatever i decide to do, shelby remains free to be exactly what shelby is." alan rose. "that's the bottom line."