State of Affairs

by Marie Force

  “We never would,” Lenore said, smiling.

  “I’ll stop to see Clarissa after the meeting. Would you mind telling her I’m going to stop by? But make sure she doesn’t round up all her friends to meet the first lady or anything.”

  “We’ll let her know,” Lenore said as she stood to walk Sam out.

  “Thank you for lunch and the information.”

  “It helps me to help you. Anytime you’re in the area and hungry, my door’s always open to you and your cute partner.”

  Sam gave her a quick hug. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “I’ll pray for you and your husband, and I’ll pray for guidance for you to get us some answers.”

  “Thanks. I need all the help I can get on both fronts.”

  “You’re going to be a wonderful first family. I have no doubt.”

  “I’m glad you don’t,” Sam said, leaving Lenore laughing.

  Vernon and Jimmy were waiting by her car.

  “To the White House.” She grimaced at the realization that she’d have to drive by Clarissa’s house on the way. Meetings were such a hideous waste of time, especially when they were with groups of men who thought they knew what was best for her.

  “Ah, yes, the big meeting about keeping our new first lady safe,” Vernon said with a smile.

  “If you enjoy this too much, I’m going back to disliking you.”

  “I didn’t know I’d graduated to you liking me.”

  “You’re on the bubble. Could still go either way. Your performance in this meeting will make or break you.”

  He held her car door for her. “Good to know.”

  “You don’t have to hold my door.”

  “Humor me.”

  “I already am! You’re here, aren’t you?”

  He chuckled as he closed her door.

  Sheesh! How accommodating was she supposed to be, anyway? On the way out of the neighborhood, she drove by Clarissa’s home and groaned at what a waste of time it was to have this stupid meeting at the White House when she also needed to speak with D’Andre.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  By the time she arrived at her new home, Sam had worked up a steaming head of pissed off.

  At the checkpoint, the young agent on duty did a double take when he realized the first lady was driving her own car. Or maybe it was the steam coming out of her ears that had the young man taking a step backward as he waved her through.

  Lilia was waiting for her inside the door, looking prim and proper and put together, right down to the elegant strand of pearls and the leather portfolio she carried. She looked the way a first lady ought to, whereas Sam resembled something the cat had dragged through the mud.

  They walked through the red-carpeted hallways from the East Wing to the West. Only the fact that she’d get to see Nick in the next few minutes kept her from completely losing her shit. “It’s too bad we can’t pass you off for me. You’d be much better at this than I’ll ever be.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “You heard me. What would it take for you to play the role of the first lady during the day around here? I’ll handle the nighttime shift, so there’d be no sex involved for you. Just interviews and public appearances and freaking meetings. What do you say?”

  “Uh, have you had a stroke or something?”

  “No, but I’m about to. I’ve got threads to pull everywhere I look on a fifteen-year-old cold case, and where am I right now?”

  Lilia glanced at her as if uncertain whether the question required a response.

  “I’ll tell you where I am. About to sit through a pointless meeting where a bunch of gray-haired dudes are gonna mansplain to me why I need a full detail and to be driven everywhere I go.”

  “Ah, I see now.”

  “What do you see?”

  “You’re irritated because of the meeting.”

  “Irritated,” Sam said with a huff of laughter. “That’s one way to put it. I agreed to let Vernon and Jimmy stalk me and to be accommodating as possible to them. What more do they want from me? Why do we need a freaking meeting in the middle of my workday? I have to take annual leave for this.”

  As they traversed the corridors, various staffers nodded to her with murmurs of “Afternoon, Mrs. Cappuano.”

  Sam was still getting used to the fact that everyone in the world knew who she was, which made her yearn for the anonymity she’d once taken for granted. What she wouldn’t give… But that would mean not being with Nick, and since that wasn’t an option she cared to entertain, she would suck it up and deal with the dreaded fame that came with being one-half of the most famous couple in the world. But she didn’t have to like it.

  Thankfully, Lilia knew the White House campus inside and out, because Sam would’ve taken a right when Lilia hooked a left and delivered her right to the Oval Office. She filed away the information for the next time she needed it.

  To the woman working the desk outside the Oval Office, Lilia said, “Mrs. Cappuano is here to see the president.”

  “He said to send her right in,” the woman said with a smile for Sam.

  In a low voice, Sam said to Lilia, “I thought he had his vice presidential staff coming over here to work with him.”

  “Eventually. They’re trying to find other jobs in government for Nelson’s staff. Many were with him for more than twenty years.”

  “Ah, I see.” It was another reminder that many lives had been upended by David Nelson’s untimely death.

  “Go ahead in and see your husband. I’ll wait out here until the others arrive.”

  “Thanks for letting me vent. I’m sorry to be a miserable cow.”

  “You’re not, and I get it. Most people have months to prepare for the possibility of this happening and then the reality of it. You had a matter of minutes. It’s only natural you’d need some time to adjust.”

  “You’re too kind, and I am a miserable cow. I promise not to take it out on you too often.”

  “I’m here for you, for whatever you need. I’m your girl.”

  “You’re the best. Let me say in advance—thank you, and I’m sorry for whatever I do to drive you insane over the next three years.”

  “I’m made of sturdy stuff. I can take it.”

  “Oh, I hired a social secretary, and her name is Shelby Faircloth Hill.”

  “Fantastic choice. I’m looking forward to working with her. What about communications?”

  “My friend Roni Connolly is on board for that, but I haven’t heard when she can start. I’ll figure that out soon.”

  “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

  The door to the Oval Office swung open, and there he was, her love. Who also happened to be the president of the United States. Dear God. How in the world had this happened? Before she could fall into that rabbit hole full of what-the-fuck, he held out a hand to her.

  When she joined her hand with his, the storm inside her subsided just that quickly.

  “Come in.”

  Sam swore she heard the woman working the reception desk sigh as he led Sam into the most important office in the world, closing the door behind them.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked, smoothly removing her coat, tossing it over a chair and putting his arms around her, all in a matter of seconds.

  Sam relaxed into his embrace, inhaled the potent scent of home and had to resist the urge to purr like a contented kitten. “Nothing. Now.” She slid her arms around his waist and held on tight. “Like always, you make everything better.”

  “What was wrong before?”

  “It’ll make you mad if I tell you. This is the loveliest minute of my day so far, and I’d hate to ruin it.”

  “Tell me anyway.”

  He ran his fingers through the hair she’d never put up in the usual workday clip and caressed her back. “I was raging to Lilia about this stupid-ass Secret Service meeting interrupting my day. I came in pretty hot, actually. I’ve got leads galore on a fifteen-year-old cold ca
se, and all I want to do is—”

  “Pound the pavement. Am I right?”

  “You’re so right.”

  He pulled back to look down at her with the potent eyes that were her kryptonite. “Those leads will still be there when we finish here, won’t they?”

  “Don’t do that.”

  His eyes twinkled with the start of laughter. “Don’t do what?”

  “Don’t use reason to talk me out of a good mad. That’s annoying.”

  “Will they or won’t they still be there after the meeting?”

  “They will, but that doesn’t make the meeting any less stupid.”

  “In my opinion, it’s the most important meeting I’ve had since I took office.”

  “How is that possible? You nearly went to war with Iran to get back your secretary of State.”

  “My ex-secretary of State, and alas, my adorable, cantankerous, sexy, exasperating wife is more important to me than that. But shhhh, don’t tell anyone I said that, or we’ll be in for a world of abuse from the media.”

  Sam batted her eyelashes at him. “I’m more important than an international incident?”

  “My love, you’re more important to me than anything, and the whole world knows that, which is what makes you so exquisitely vulnerable. And that’s what makes this the most important meeting I’ll ever have as president.”

  She scowled at him. “You think you’re so smooth.”

  “How’s that?” he asked, laughing as he towed her along with him to sit on one of the two sofas.

  “You think if you wow me with the most romantic words ever that I’ll just turn to putty in your hands and let you surround me with an armada of Secret Service.”

  “First of all, an armada is a fleet of warships—”

  Her elbow connected with his ribs, which led to a swift exhale of breath and another laugh from him.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Second of all, the idea of you being putty in anyone’s hands is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “I’m putty in your hands, and you know it. So don’t take advantage of that in this meeting. You hear me?”

  “I hear you. Third of all, I love you, and I appreciate you interrupting your day and your cold case to come in for this stupid-ass, most-important meeting ever.”

  “Whatever.” She crossed her arms and gave him her best mulish look, even though she was nowhere near as mulish as she’d been a few minutes ago. His superpower was dealing with her, and he was very, very good at it.

  “Want to make out until the others get here?”

  “How much time do we have?”

  He checked the watch that had been her father’s. “Twelve minutes.”

  “There’s a lot we can get done in twelve minutes.”

  “Hold that thought until after the meeting and kiss me.”

  Since Sam couldn’t think of anything she liked to do more than kiss him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and went for it. They were still kissing like teenagers five minutes later when something dropping on the floor outside the door had them pulling apart like they’d just been caught by their parents.

  Nick glanced in the direction of the noise at one of the doors that led outside. “If I’m in the Oval, there’s a Marine positioned at that door. That’s how you can tell I’m here.”

  Sam tipped her neck to give him access. “That’s good info to have.”

  “You can come here anytime you want. I don’t care what’s going on, you’re always welcome here.” As he cupped her breast through her sweater and ran his thumb over her nipple, he said, “I’m going to love working from home.”

  Sam laughed and turned her head to kiss him again, noting that his cheeks were flushed with color, the way they got when he was aroused. “We’d better quit this now, or everyone will know we’ve been fooling around in here.”

  “I don’t care if they know.”

  Sam pulled back, but not because she wanted to. “Time out. For now. To be continued.”

  He groaned and sat back against the sofa.

  “It’s your own fault for scheduling stupid-ass meetings.”

  “My entire life is stupid-ass meetings these days. But I guess that’s what I signed on for.”

  “I couldn’t do it. I’d go insane being stuck in meetings all day.”

  “Well, they do have a purpose.”

  “Still.” She glanced down at his lap. “You might want to do something about… that… before you get caught with a boner in the Oval Office.”

  Blowing out a deep breath, he got up and went into an adjoining room. “Come check this out.”

  “Is that code for ‘come finish me off’?”

  Laughing, he said, “Not this time, but we’ll play that game after the meeting.”

  Sam got up to see what he wanted to show her. Through the door, she found a sitting room and bathroom. “This is so cool. You’ve got your own place to hide out.”

  He came out of the bathroom, having splashed cold water on his face. He’d also combed the hair she’d messed up during their make-out session. “They can always find me,” he said, gesturing to the official-looking phone on a table.

  She went to one of the fancy upholstered chairs and ran a hand along the back of it. “This one doesn’t have arms.”

  “I see that.”

  “You know what that’s good for?”

  “Maybe you can show me after the meeting.”

  She went to him and dragged a finger straight down the middle of his tie, hooking it in the waistband of his pants. “If I have time. The faster the meeting ends, the more time I’ll have.”

  “Keep that up, and my problem will be back.”

  A knock sounded on the door to the Oval Office.

  He kissed her and lingered for an extra second. “Let’s get this taken care of so we can get back to this conversation ASAP.”

  “ASAP is one of my favorite acronyms.” She let him lead her back into the office. “As in, get rid of these people ASAP. As in, get me back to work ASAP.”

  Smiling at her, he said, “Come in.”

  As expected, a group of somber older men in suits came marching in.

  Sam was pleased to see one stern-looking woman in a black suit, her hair pulled back into a tight twist that looked painful. She recognized the Secret Service director, Ambrose Pierce, whom she’d met before, and was introduced to each of the others, though she forgot their names as soon as she heard them.

  Vernon and Jimmy were among the group that sat in the chairs and sofas around a coffee table where someone had put beverages and snacks.

  She had to give props to the White House staff. Their food and beverage game was spot-on. Since this was technically her house, she helped herself to a glass of water and a sprig of grapes. She’d rather have the cheese and crackers, but she needed to watch what she ate if she was going to have twenty-four-hour food service.

  “Sam?” Nick’s voice interrupted her private musings.

  She looked up to find all eyes on her. “Yes?”

  Nick’s eyes danced with amusement, probably because he could tell she’d zoned right out of the room. “Director Pierce was asking how things are going with your detail so far.”

  “Oh. Sorry. So far, everything has been fine. Vernon and Jimmy are very good about allowing me to do my thing while they do theirs.”

  “They’ve reported that, so far, things are going smoothly, and the three of you are working out a system,” Pierce said. “They’re scheduled to be with you Monday through Friday from eight a.m. to six p.m. to cover your work hours.”

  Sam wanted to laugh in the director’s face. “Those are my technical hours. I often start much earlier and end much later, and I work a lot of weekends as well.”

  “We’ll provide additional coverages as needed,” Pierce said.

  That was better than him telling her she had to work within those hours and those hours only. Fortunately, he didn’t say that.

  “
We’re planning to assign two additional agents to your workday detail,” Pierce said.

  Sam gave him a blank look. “Why?”

  “We believe the threat level is high enough to warrant additional coverage.”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary. In the course of my work, I’m usually accompanied by at least one other Metro PD officer, if not more.”

  Pierce consulted his notes. “Earlier today, you were alone when you went to do an interview in the Southeast neighborhood of Congress Heights.” He glanced at her with sharp eyes that reminded her of Skip and how he’d seen right through her even when she’d tried to lie to his face. “Is that correct?”

  She couldn’t believe Vernon had ratted her out, even if he was probably just following agency rules. “That’s correct, but I was going to see a woman who’s become a friend in the fifteen years since her son was murdered. We recently reopened his cold case. His mother invited me for lunch and to go over the list of questions I had. At no time was I in any danger.”

  “That you know of.”

  She cast a glance at Vernon, who stood behind the sofa with Jimmy and Brant. “What does that even mean?”

  “It means the threats may not be visible to you or your team,” Pierce said.

  “If you know about them, all you have to do is tell us so we’ll be extra aware. We don’t have to go overboard. We can simply share information and react accordingly. There’s really no need for overkill.”

  Pierce looked to Nick for his input.

  “I think Sam makes a good point. If you share information with her, she and her team can be more vigilant.”

  Sam wanted to kiss him on the lips but held back that urge until they were alone, when he would be richly rewarded for having her back.

  “Very well,” Pierce said, visibly displeased to have his recommendation shot down. “We’ll go with two agents for now and reassess as needed.”

  “I want to say something.” While Sam took a second to collect her thoughts, she reached for Nick’s hand. “I have a lot to live for.” She smiled at Nick, who looked at her with love and admiration. “I finally have the family I’ve always wanted and a husband I adore. I’m always careful and vigilant on the job. Yes, things happen. Sometimes crazy, unexpected things happen, but I’m very well trained to handle those situations. I know you’d all prefer for me to be a traditional first lady, but I’m just not that person. I’ll do everything I can to support my husband in this new role and to be extra careful on the job going forward.