Page 22 of Desire

Maybe because of where my heart stubbornly remained.

“Chris—”

“Shae, it’s your call. If you change your mind, I won’t hold you to it. But that will beyourdecision. And we’ll need a prenup regardless of which way you decide. If you declare,keep in mind that at some point I’ll have to tell the brass we’re friends, at the very least, so they don’t try to write me up later. And we’ll have to be extra careful.”

She nods. “I know.”

“Your security won’t be nearly as stringent for a Senate run,” I add, trying to give her a little extra to consider. “Either way, we get Kevin in there for you. I know he can do it.”

Her fingers play withthe hair on my chest. “I’m trusting you with him,” she finally says. “With…this.”

“If I thought he’d betray you, I’d never bring him in.” I catch her hands and bring them to my lips to kiss them before tucking them against my chest. “I’ll always take care of you, girl. As much as you’ll let me.”

Shae doesn’t really “need” me. That’s such a tricky word to use with her. There are certain thingsshe enjoys, because it gives her a desperately needed mental vacation she can’t get any other way. The senator doesn’t “need” me to sit on top of her and run her life. She’s quite capable of that.

But what ShaeLynn Samuels has only with me is a tiny pocket of acceptance and trust and the ability to completely let down her walls and her guard.

And I will do whatever I have to do to protect thatfor her, at any cost to myself.

Just like I’ll protect Kevin.

Now all I need to do is bring him in from the cold.