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“Stevie?”

She started at the sound of her name and looked up to see ColonelZoey Granger and Rook Daniels walking toward her. They looked dashing, Zoey inher dress blues and Rook in a sleek black tux with white tie. Of course they’dbe at this ball that honored members of the military, and Stevie was relievedto see familiar faces. “Hi,” she said. “I was just…” She wasn’t sure how tofinish the sentence. “Going to run away” didn’t seem like something she shouldsay out loud. Thankfully, Zoey took charge.

“Are you here by yourself? Join us.” Zoey motioned for her towalk with them.

Relieved to have the decision made for her, Stevie followed themup the steps of the building, but she was completely unprepared for thespectacle inside. The wedding had been large by any scale, but even so, it hadnot taken up the entire space. Tonight, flags were draped from all thebalconies, and the main floor was packed, wall-to-wall with soldiers in uniformraising glasses of champagne and spontaneously cheering. In the front of theroom, where Addison and Julia had tied the knot, there was a dance floor, withthe Marine Corps Band on one side and an elevated stage on the other. Steviesquinted at the singer on stage. “Is that Janelle Monáe?”

“It is indeed,” Rook said. “The president is a big fan.”

Stevie felt a jolt at the words, “the president.” Even though sheknew that’s what Meredith was now, hearing one of her friends call her thatbrought home the reality full force, and she started to lose her nerve.Scrambling to think of a way to duck out, she said, “I’m going to find the restroom.”

But before she could step away, the music stopped and the crowdstilled. Out of the silence came a loud voice announcing, “Ladies andgentlemen, presenting the President of the United States,” followed by thefamiliar strains of “Hail to the Chief.” Like the rest of the crowd, she stoodtransfixed as Meredith entered the room, alternately shaking hands and wavingto the crowd. She was gorgeous in an off the shoulder red ball gown, and Steviewas paralyzed with desire as she watched Meredith make her way through thethrong of admirers.

“She looks great, don’t you think?”

Stevie reluctantly pulled her gaze away from Meredith to turnaround. Addison was the one who had spoken, and she was standing with her armaround Julia, next to Rook and Zoey. “She is absolutely stunning,” Stevie saidbefore she could censor her response into something a bit more reserved. Shecould feel the smile stretch across her face and she let the happiness ofseeing Meredith in person flood her with courage. To hell with it. She wasn’tgoing to duck out. She was going to stand here with Meredith’s friends, certainshe would stop to greet them, and tell Meredith she’d come here for her,convince her to give them a second chance.

Seconds later, Meredith was standing in front of them, smiling,and her gaze was a laser beam, tracking only her. Stevie stood back as each ofMeredith’s friends hugged and congratulated her, knowing she would have herturn, and willing to wait for what she now knew without a doubt she wanted.When Meredith stepped close, Stevie pulled her into an embrace.

“I’m so glad you came,” Meredith whispered in her ear. “I wasafraid you wouldn’t.”

“I couldn’t stay away.” Stevie inhaled the scent of her, drinkingin the reality of Meredith in her arms and vowing not to let go. “I’m sorry Iever left.”

“I had big plans of using my newfound power to find you andconvince you to give us another chance. It was going to be my first officialaction.”

“Is that so?”

“A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.”

“And a president probably shouldn’t be throwing her weight aroundto get a girlfriend on her first day in office.”

Meredith’s smile was broad. “Girlfriend? I like the sound ofthat.”

Stevie returned the smile. “Me too. A lot.” She cast a quick lookaround. “You’d probably better finish making the rounds or people will start totalk.”

Meredith held out a hand and motioned to the dance floor. “How aboutwe give them something to talk about?” She quickly added, “No pressure, wecan—”

Stevie cut her off. “If you’re asking me to dance, the answer’syes. And for the record, Madam President, you can ask me pretty much anythingtonight and get that answer.”

Stevie followed Meredith to the dance floor where they stood onthe big presidential seal and waved to a cheering crowd. When Janelle startedsinging, the cheers died down, and it was just the two of them, gliding acrossthe floor to the soaring funk ballad, as if there was no one else in the room.

When the song came to an end, Meredith pulled Stevie into herarms. Stevie held her breath, knowing that Meredith would need to leave theirbubble, make the rounds, and fulfill her duties, but dreading it all the same.But when Meredith spoke, she said, “I want to dance like that with you for therest of our lives. I love you, Stevie.”

This was it. The time to leap into a life she hadn’t expectedwith a woman she adored, or let the past keep her from the love this amazingwoman had to offer. The decision was straightforward, easy, and clear. Eyeswide open, she took the jump. “I love you too. Let’s never stop dancing.”

THE END