Page 2

PART II

She worried for a moment. Silence fell between them, and she worried that she'd said something stupid.

So, she spoke again, hoping to do better this time.

"I don't think it would be anything but... boring to stand outside in the hall. And as you said, you're early. So you're not even on the clock."

He looked downright confused.

"I'm a marine, ma- Selene."

She smiled at him. He sounded so sure of his answers. Conviction. That's what it sounded like.

"It's not about a clock. It's an assignment. I am honored to serve my country here at the Inauguration."

Glad to have a common middle ground between them, she nodded and gestured to the couch between them. "I feel the same way. When I got the call, I thought someone was pranking me. I mean, where did the Inauguration Committee get my number?"

He thought about it for a moment, his gaze seemed far away, but before she could get too lost in the strong line of his jaw, he replied.

"Well, I'm guessing the FBI or the CIA?"

Wow.

The straightforward answer would have knocked her off her feet if she wasn't already sitting down on the couch.

He sat down beside her with a bit of a lop-sided smile. "That was a rhetorical question on your side, right?"

Now it was her turn to think. "Actually, I was curious about how they got my number. My manager thought I was joking when I asked him about it."

"Why would your manager think that? He knows you're talented and a star. Why wouldn't they ask you?"

"You..." She was a little confused but also flattered. "You think I'm talented?"

"Well, you're all over the Grammy awards, right?"

"Ahhh... I have a few of those."

Oh god. She tried not to visibly cringe. She didn't want to sound like she was full of herself.

Why was she such an idiot around him?

"Actually." He shifted on the couch, his posture straightening. "I should probably confess that I don't usually listen to your music."

She had to give him credit. He looked like he was about to step in front of a firing squad. Why?

She really wasn't surprised.

Her demographic didn't really skew to the military.

"Is that it?"

His dark eyes widened in relief. "Yeah. That's it."

She laughed and leaned back against the couch. "That's not a big confession."

"It's not?" He looked like he was waiting for another shoe to fall.

"I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea, William. It's okay. I would probably have been surprised if you said I'm one of your favorite artists."

"You are my sister's favorite singer."

She smiled and tilted her head to look at him. The whole tone of his voice had changed. She could hear the love he had for his sister.

"Thanks for telling me that. It's sweet to hear." She froze, holding still for a moment. Turning on the couch, she looked over at the corner where she'd left her things. Selene mentally went through the things she had with her.

She hadn't brought anything with her to sign for a fan. Honestly, she'd been a mess packing for the event, but even when she'd had a moment of clarity, she hadn't thought about bringing anything to sign for fans. The inauguration wasn't some place she expected a lot of children or teens.

Turning back to look at William, she felt horrible.

"So it's my turn for a confession."

His eyebrows raised and she was struck again at how ruggedly handsome he looked with all of his expressions.

"I don't have anything to sign for her. I'm sorry."

Again, another expression that looked good on the man.

Shock.

"Oh, I wasn't asking-"

"I didn't think you were. You probably wouldn't even think about asking, given that you're my guard for tonight.

"But I'm telling you, before the evening is over, you'll have to tell me her address and name, and I'll send her a bunch of stuff. I'll even tell her that it's all because of her big brother."

His grin was... in a word... sexy.

Goodness. Had she ever met a man who made her sit up and take notice of him like this?

Nope.

No, she hadn't.

What was wrong with her?

Was it just the crazy situation?

If it was, it was also because he seemed to be so salt of the earth. He was a man who was solid. Strong. He was a real-life hero .

And a hero, even if he didn't listen to her music, deserved a reward.

"Do you have your phone with you?"

William looked startled at first. "My phone? Yes. I have it." He shrugged a little. "When my family toured the White House when I was in high school, we weren't allowed to bring phones inside. Even though I was told I could bring it for the event, I still felt a little strange bringing it in with me through security."

She laughed. "I know, right? I keep waiting for someone to tell me I'm in the wrong room and escort me out."

Selene held out her hand.

"Well? Dial up your sister and let me talk to her."

Shocked didn't seem to be enough of a description. "You want to talk to my sister?"

Selene gestured at the room around them. "I can't start dressing until the designer comes up with my gown. Why not get you more awesome big brother points?"

Grinning, he opened his phone and brought up his phone app.

Selene knew she was too curious for her own good, but she looked at his favorites screen and saw him select the second name.

MARY.

The top listing was HOME.

She caught the look he gave her when he asked if he should put it on speaker .

"Sure." She grinned. "You should talk to her first and show her the room. Enjoy the moment."

Nodding, he held the phone in front of him.

Selene wanted to move closer to him, but she was also enjoying the view.

The phone call picked up and she heard the soft gasp of surprise on the phone.

"Hey, dork! You're all dressed up."

To hide her hiccup of laughter, she covered her mouth, glad that she didn't have to worry about smearing her lipstick all over her hand.

William looked like he might have eaten something sour.

He cast a side-long look at her, looking mildly embarrassed, but he shook his head and greeted his sister in kind.

"Hey, squirt. You look like you just got up."

"Hey, I'm on Christmas break, dork! You know that. You're lucky I'm awake!"

"Actually," William turned and looked at her with a smile and Selene felt her heart skip a beat, " you're lucky you're awake."

Selene leaned a little closer and saw William's sister on the screen. She looked like a polar opposite of her brother. Blonde where he was dark-haired and she had bright blue eyes where he had dark brown.

She currently had her hair in braids with tufts of hair trying to escape. Her PJs were covered in bright blooms .

Selene sighed and smiled. She was adorable!

"I'm here at the White House."

His sister's eyes widened at that. "Wow. Hey! Today's that thing..."

William sighed. "The Inauguration. You know, where they swear in the next president?"

She yawned and Selene had to fight off a yawn herself. "I know that. I'm not stupid!" She gave an exaggerated sigh and flopped back onto her bed. "What are you doing there?"

"I was asked to be a guard."

"Guard?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Is it going to be dangerous? 'Cuz if it's going to be dangerous then I don't think it's so exciting."

Selene was troubled by the worry she heard in his sister's voice. She waved her hand at him to hand over the phone.

"It's not that I'm guarding that's the fun part, Squirt. It's who I'm guarding."

"Oh, yeah? Who would you be guarding that I would think is fun? Huh?"

Selene laughed and held out her hand. "Give her over."

William put the phone in Selene's hand, and she turned the screen so she could see his sister.

"Hey, Mary, I'm-"

"Selene! O. M. G. SELENE! OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY- "

Selene laughed as Mary screamed and shouted and a moment later, she fell right off of her bed.

By the time Mary was able to get up off of the floor, she was staring wide-eyed at the screen.

"O.M.G. It's you! My dorky brother is guarding you!"

"Well, like he said, it's more of a ceremonial thing. I'm going to sing the National Anthem at the ceremony and he's going with me from here to the Capitol and then walk me up to the stage and back again. It helps when the TV cameras have a handsome guy to focus on."

"Wait. What? Did you just call my brother handsome?"

Selene nodded. "That's what I said."

Mary slanted a concerned stare at the screen. "Do you need glasses? Naw... just kidding. He's okay looking."

The door opened and Selene looked up to see Cali holding the door open for the designer and her assistant.

"Mary? I-"

Another ear-splitting scream had William shaking his head.

"I can't believe you know my name!"

"Mary, I need to go and get dressed for the ceremony, but before he leaves tonight, I'm going to make sure that I have your address, okay? I'm going to send you some things as a thank you for letting me borrow your brother for the day."

Mary's blonde hair had almost completely escaped her braids. "If you send me anything, an-y-thing, you can have my brother. Forever. He's yours."

Selene grinned as William moved restlessly beside her. "Uh, thanks, Mary. I'm not expecting you to give me your brother, I'm just happy to send you some things. Thanks for being a fan!"

"Well, of course!" She covered her heart with her hand. "I'm a devoted fan. Ever since your first album!"

Cali cleared her throat, and Selene met her eyes for a moment.

"Thanks for that, Mary. I'm sorry, I have to go and get ready."

Mary waved off her apology. "You go and wow the world! And tell my brother he better be on his best behavior or I'm going to kick his ass." Mary clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh shit, I just swore in front of... I did it again! I'm such a dork!"

"Yes, you are, Squirt."

William leaned in against her shoulder and Selene pulled in a breath and held it. His arm was so... big. Big and muscular .

Wow.

William gave his sister a big smile. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"You better call me and tell me everything!" Then she turned to look at Selene. "Now I have to watch this! You're gonna be awesome!"

William took the phone as Selene stood to greet the designer.

She could hear William saying goodbye to his sister and the playful banter was good to hear. It also made her really jealous of the two.

Selene had grown up wanting a sibling, but especially an older brother.

Then again, she mused as she watched Maya open the garment bags that she'd brought with her, Mary had said that she could have her older brother.

Wouldn't that be amazing?

Only she didn't want him as a brother.

Selene turned back to look at William and saw him smiling at her.

She wanted him in other ways.