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PART I

Walking up to the security checkpoint at the White House was a new thing for William Winchester. Maybe not the last if he did his job right.

Whatever that was.

The line ahead of him moved up and he followed. Listening to the repeated conversations up ahead. Enough, so when he stepped up, he was able to anticipate and answer quickly.

"Name?"

"William Winchester."

The guard looked at the list in front of him and nodded. The guard seated beside him handed him a lanyard with a pass clipped to it. "Step inside and you'll see a woman with a clipboard looking like she's rethinking her choices in life. She'll get you set up. Next."

William hesitated and gave the guard a look. "A name?"

"I gave a pretty apt description, but if you need a name, see Claudia Schiffrin."

William nodded. "Thank you."

With the lanyard draped around his neck, he stepped inside the White House and took a moment to scan the room. It might just be a lobby or some kind of foyer, but there was a sense of history that he could feel coming from the very walls around him.

And there was an excitement in the air... anticipation.

A passing staffer nearly ran into him and veered off at the last possible moment with a soft gasp of apology.

William laughed silently, adding panic to his description of the atmosphere.

"Excuse me?"

He turned and settled his expression.

The woman who walked up to him had an air of authority. As a Marine, he reacted to that. "Yes, Ma'am?"

"I'm Claudia Schiffrin, the conductor on this circus train. "

She dipped her gaze to the pass he wore around his neck. "Name?"

"Master Sergeant William Winchester."

There was a touch of a smile on her lips. "You're early."

He dipped his chin. "My gramma always said, ‘on time is late.’"

The answer seemed to surprise her. She sighed. "I could've used your grandmother today." She looked down at her clipboard and peeled off a sheet. Here, this is the schedule."

He took the paper and quickly looked over the schedule while Claudia looked through her pile of papers.

"Were you told what your assignment would be?”

He shook his head, raising his gaze over the edge of his paper schedule. "No, ma'am."

She smiled. "Are you a fan of pop music?"

He couldn't stop the grimace that pulled on his mouth. "I'm... not much of a music fan."

Her expression turned to one of mild humor. "Diplomatic answer. That will serve you well in the future if you can keep hold of your expressions."

"Not sure diplomacy is in my future, ma'am. Just serving my country."

Her smile brightened. "Humble. Good answer." She handed him another paper. "This is a map of where you need to go. You're on our Special Security detail for the Inauguration. Follow that map and you'll meet your assignment for today."

Meet my assignment?

"Ma'am?"

"Yes, Master Sergeant?"

"Am I guarding a person?"

She nodded her head in all seriousness, but the smile on her face softened a little. "Selene."

"Selene..." the name had a familiar ring to it. "I don't-"

Recognition hit him like a big rig.

"My sister... I think she has posters on her wall-"

"And likely t-shirts, a backpack, and any number of things with Selene's face and name on them. She's a superstar."

William nodded. "I guess. So, I'm guarding her today."

"Don't worry, I doubt you'll have to fend off the bad guys. Mostly we'll expect that you keep your dress uniform presentable and make sure she gets through the chaos to the stage for her number and then back here so she can change for the Inaugural Ball."

A ball.

Fuck.

Parties. Dancing? A big ol' nope in his book.

"You really need to figure out a way to keep your face under control, Master Sergeant." She laughed as he fought off an uncharacteristic flush of embarrassment on his face.

"Really, though," she shook her head, "you don't have to worry. I've got another Marine taking over for the ball. It's not like we'd expect you to dance if that's your worry. Her guards are just to make sure she's not bothered. I'm sure she'll have more than her share of invitations to dance."

Someone ran up to Claudia's side.

"Miss Schiffrin, I-"

She held up her pointer finger. "One moment."

Claudia turned back to him. "If you need me, my number is on the bottom of both papers. Thank you for your service."

He nodded. "Thank you for the opportunity."

He moved away to look at the map and shook his head. For once, he wished he'd paid a little more attention to his sister's taste in music.

It would make things easier if he was able to say something to the pop star to set her at ease with him.

He smiled as he considered calling his sister to ask her for some information, but he really didn't need the teen to shatter his eardrums.

He remembered his last Christmas when their mother had given Mary Selene's new album and a T-shirt matching the cover art.

Mary wore that shirt the whole weekend and was still wearing it when he left for the airport to return to base .

He'd tell her later and deal with the fallout.

The map was easy enough to follow. It marked the room as the Lincoln Bedroom. Something he'd heard about before but certainly never seen in person.

Standing outside of the door, he knocked with enough volume to alert, but hopefully not startle.

"Who is it?"

"Master Sergeant William Winchester, ma'am. Claudia Schiffrin sent me to act as your escort for the inauguration."

"Escort?"

The door flung open in front of him and a woman with bright red curls stood in front of him.

Definitely NOT who he was expecting.

"O.M.G. Selene! This guy is smoking!"

Okay, so it wasn't her.

Good. He was beginning to question his memory.

"I can't exactly see this smoking hot guy from back here, Cali! Are you letting him in?"

Before he knew what was happening, the redhead grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

The door slammed behind him and William turned back to look, sure that the slight woman had likely knocked the door off of its hinges.

It looked okay at a glance, so he could only hope.

He was being pulled across the room.

There were suitcases and what looked to be a large toolbox on the part of the floor that he passed. When they came to a stop, he was standing in front of what he could only assume was the bathroom.

That made his pulse stutter in his veins.

The door was cracked open, and he could see the light inside the bathroom.

He turned to the redhead beside him, with the stranglehold on his arm.

"Maybe I should wait outside in the hall?"

"Uh oh, Selly, he's gonna make a run for it. You better get a look at him quick!"

William blew out a breath, but before he could speak again, the door swung open.

Good Lord.

The woman standing in front of him didn't look anything like he knew a pop star to look like. She was standing in the bathroom doorway wearing a robe that looked like something an angel would wear.

It was long and white and gathered at her waist with a belt tied in a bow.

He wasn't worried that he'd see anything private. No, the robe was like an elegant gown that was down to her feet, leaving her toes exposed to his gaze.

"Dude, do you have a toe fetish?"

What?

He turned to look at the redhead beside him. Cali? She was staring at him with wide eyes and a big grin. "I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't let Cali get to you. "

He turned back to look at Selene and was struck again with how beautiful she was.

His heart ached and he wanted to press the heel of his hand against his chest to ease it, but he couldn't seem to make himself move.

"I'm Selene."

He looked down at the hand she held out to him and tried to hide when he wiped his palm against his pants before he took her hand in his.

The soft smile on her lips held a hint of laughter, and he had a feeling that she'd seen what he did.

He was too busy trying to swallow his pride to keep his shit together when he heard Cali laughing at his side.

"Introduce yourself, sailor."

"Cali!" Selene glared at her. "He's a marine."

Cali shrugged. "Sailor, Soldier, whatever. I doubt he heard me. He doesn't seem all that smart. Or maybe he’s just lusting after you. In that case, he has great taste."

"Cali! Stop!"

"I'm Master Sergeant William Winchester, ma'am."

Selene's head turned back to him, her chin lifting so she could meet his eyes. "Do you prefer William? Will? Bill?"

She didn't seem all that thrilled with the last alternative. Good. Neither did he.

"William, ma'am. "

"Selene." She smiled at him. "Please, call me Selene."

"Selene." He said the name and he felt it caress his tongue, heating the rest of him. "It's a beautiful name."

"Well," Cali sighed, "he certainly manages some sweet words, but exactly how good would you be if someone came at my girl?"

He wasn't sure what the 'her girl' comment meant, but he knew how to answer. "I would do whatever it took to keep her safe."

That was when he realized that he still had Selene's hand in his. He felt her hand go soft and her fingertips brushed lightly at the skin of his forearm, just past his wrist.

Keeping hold of her hand, he met her gaze and told her the truth. "Whatever it takes."

They let go of each other's hands at the same time and he took half a step back to give her room.

Selene looked a little shaken, but she managed a little smile. "I'm hoping that we won't have to see a practical demonstration."

"That's my hope too." He looked at the room and back at Selene. "I know I'm early, so I can stand outside the room and give you both privacy."

Cali gave him a look when he started to move away. "At least you're not going to stand around hoping for a little peek."

"Cali, stop. "

Cali looked back at where Selene was standing before she turned back to look at him. "I'm a pain in the ass." He managed to hold his composure through that comment. "I'm beyond jaded by now. Men are always trying to catch a look at Selene."

He nodded, agreeing with her words. "She's beyond beautiful. Some people are weak and don't understand that a star has a right to their privacy even if they perform for the public."

Cali's red curls fell back from her face when she looked up at him. "I'm going to have to take back that comment about your smarts. You're plenty smart, Master Sergeant." She stood and saluted him. "I might even grow to like you if you weren't only here for the next few hours."

William heard Selene groan behind him.

"Cali..."

His shoulders almost shook with laughter. He understood her feeling because he felt the same way about Cali. She might be a bull in the China shop with her words, but he could tell she cared for Selene.

That was enough for him.

Cali's phone rang and she dove for it on the tabletop. "Oh, it's Maya Lin. She's waiting to go through security with your gowns. I'll go get her and bring her in."

She dashed for the door and William followed behind her to take up a post at the door .

"William?"

He turned around to look at Selene. She was still standing in the same place, her hand pressed high on her chest, over her heart.

He should have said her name in reply, but his heart was pounding against his ribs.

She stole his breath just standing there.

"Would you stay?"

Stay?

What could he say to that?