Chip macintosh is a freshman congressman being pulled in several different directions by house leadership. he seems practically oblivious to his own appeal among the women of capitol hill until an overnight retreat in the woods of north carolina gets personal with a congresswoman from california. mari coltivatore, a beautiful staffer from long island, has been assigned by the majority leader to keep him in line. when she realizes that it will take more than brains, she enlists her body. the handsome young legislator quickly realizes that dc works differently than the grassroots in his home district of northcentral florida. chip's leadership style and party loyalty are tested when one of his constituents is taken into custody for a tragic incident involving the coast guard and a bahamian refugee boat. after a second, random run-in with a stunning natural resources lobbyist from montana, chip begins to rethink his entire approach to women and politics.