Page 125 of Incisive

Then he nods.

I love that I’ve rendered him speechless.

Taking out the ring that’s his I slide it onto his right hand. “I want you to be our best man at the wedding,” I say. “You and Chris. Once we’re married, then I can move that onto your left hand.” I cup his hand in mine and bring it to my lips to kiss it before pressing it to my chest. “Please? I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you and Leo.”

He nods and pulls me in for a kiss. “Yes. Love you, too. Not that I’m complaining but can I ask what finally triggered this?”

“I’m a chickenshit. I should have done this before the election. I should have walked onto that convention stage holding his hand to show the world who I really am. I’m ashamed that I wasn’t strong enough to do that and took that experience from him. I also know there will be plenty of people pissed off I didn’t come out sooner, bigots and activists. The bigots will say I was hiding it and the activists will berate me for not using my platform to advance their agenda.

“But this ismylife—ourlife. What I’m doing as president is more important than this one issue. I can proudly point to my record, to the equality laws I’ve helped write and pass that should stand future legal challenges. I can now use the rest of my term to openly push the remainder of my legislative agenda.”

“You ready to face the outcry?”

I nod, staring into his eyes. “As long as you promise not to leave us.”

Another sweet sigh escapes him. “I’m not going anywhere, buddy. You’ve got me—bothof you do.” He looks at the ring again. “You want to hold on to this until after you pop the question?”

“No. I want it on your hand now. Maybe only you and I will know what it means but that’s okay.”

“You realize Leo’s probably going to notice it, right?” He playfully arches an eyebrow. “What am I supposed to tell him when he asks? You know darn well I’m not allowed to lie to him.”

“Tell him it’s a need-to-know situation and he doesn’t have codeword clearance. He won’t challenge you.”

Jordan laughs. “Yeah, but he’ll probably spank me for that answer.”

“Like you mind.Sir,” I add.

Another laugh, this one louder and full of joy. “No, I don’t mind at all and you damn well know it.”

“You can always tell him that it’s a diversion.”

“Hmm. Maybe. Technically not a lie.” He holds his hand up to stare at the ring and the joy in his gaze, which he’s trying to disguise, is pure Jordan, the boy.

Myboy.

He pulls me back onto the couch with him and takes the box from me. “I really thought you hated me back then.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant for you to think that.”

“I know thatnow.” His hand returns to my head, massaging my scalp. I struggle to keep my eyes open and focused on his gaze. “Life’s going to get crazy. I should warn Casey-Marie, so she can have a statement ready to hand to Angie when you do it.”

“Yes, Sir. I trust her to stay quiet about it.”

“We also need to tell Ciro so it doesn’t blindside him.”

“Yes, Sir. I’ll take care of that.”

“Okay.” He arches an eyebrow at me. “Still time to back out.”

I shake my head. “No, Sir. The day I had you brought to the airport and asked you to come work for me was my last chance to back out. I haven’t regretted it for a second, either.”

He leans in for another kiss. “Neither have I.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE

Before Leo arrivesten minutes later I’ve safely stashed the ring box in my desk. Jordan now knows where it is so he can retrieve it for me and have it ready for the proposal.

By my orders, Jordan has final approval over my daily schedule, even above my administrative assistant. As president it’s my prerogative to give Jordan that authority. So he built this pocket of time into my evening’s schedule.