Condi Rice writes about her ‘visit’ with Peter MacKay in new memoir

It seems Condoleeza Rice and Peter MacKay didn't really have a fling.

According to the former US secretary of state's new memoir, any chatter of an 'affair' with MacKay was greatly exaggerated.

The rumour mill began churning in 2006, when Rice and then foreign affairs minister Mackay took part in commemoration events in Nova Scotia, marking the fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The two single politicians dined together that evening and then appeared to be "friendly" and "smiley" with each other at a Tim Horton's the next morning.

Later, at a joint press conference, MacKay added grist to the fire by mentioning Rice slept with her window open.

In her memoir, according to CTV News' Andrea Janus, Rice said she had told MacKay about sleeping with her window open and even tried to make light of his remark when it was her turn to speak.

"I have to admit it was kind of funny, if misdirected," Rice writes.

"When I got home, I called Peter. 'A girl can't be seen with you without some scandal,' I joked. Peter was kind of embarrassed."

Rice calls MacKay a "good friend," CTV reports, and even credits him with helping her make a potentially life altering decision.

"I have been doing this (job) too long, I thought. Tomorrow I am going to tell the President that I want to leave at the end of the year," Rice wrote.

"I can't do this anymore."

But Rice says she had a change of heart after her trip to Nova Scotia and her phone call with MacKay.

"I've never told him that without the levity and refreshment of that visit, I might not have regrouped and returned to Washington to fight another day."

(Reuters photo)