Page 52 of Innocent

His grin is that of a teenager, not a man twice my age. “Matchies, baby.” He kisses me. “Tomorrow, you can wear that to work, and I’ll wear mine.” His smile fades. “I got you another one, too, so all three of us have a matching set. Butthisone, it’s just you and me sharing this one.”

I blink away the sudden prickle of tears. Maybe this sounds stupid to the casual observer, but that Leo would get me something like this, a way to anchor me to him, means the world to me.

It meansImean something tohim.

That he’s here for the long-haul.

“Thank you, Sir.”

He nuzzles my nose. “I want you to understand how serious I am about you. That I’m not going anywhere. The next four years will be hectic, and so will the next four after that, if she’s re-elected. I can’t promise you what comes next, except that I’mhere, I’m not going anywhere, and want you to be here, too.”

I drape the tie around my neck and wrap my arms around him. Under his tutelage, I’ve become an expert at tying my necktie. Except if we’re together in the morning, he likes to do it for me. He loves dressing me, period.

“I’m not going anywhere, Sir.”

Peace eases the lines around his eyes. “That’s music to my ears, baby.”

When we finally make it out of bed, I head for the kitchen to start our coffee. Then I spot something under the little Christmas tree. It wasn’t there when I went to bed.

“What’s that?”

“What’s what?” Leo asks as he walks into the kitchen.

“That.”

He looks over the breakfast bar. “I don’t know. Maybe Santa brought my good boy something.” His expression doesn’t give anything away.

Remind me never to play cards with the man. He’s got a flawless poker face.

I walk over to the box, which looks in shape and size much like the one I just opened, except the wrapping paper is different.

I open it to find yes, it’s another necktie. A different one.

Except there’s small square of paper, a sticky note, with a smiley face and anE.

My heart races and I turn, holding it up to show Leo.

He walks over and pulls me into his arms. “He picked it out for you. Only you two have that one.” It’s a pretty, dark emerald green tie, with little flecks of royal blue. I imagine it’ll set off Elliot’s eyes perfectly.

“He picked it out himself?”

Leo nods. “He even wrapped it himself.”

My heart races. “He likes me?”

“Yes, he likes you, baby. This is a stressful time for all of us. Once we’re past the inauguration, the two of you will be able to spend time together to get to know each other.” He kisses the top of my head. “Wear it the day after tomorrow. That’s when he’ll wear his.”

I feel like my smile will split my face in two. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. He asked if I’d be okay with him buying you one. This is the equivalent of a mountainous leap for Elliot.” He lightly slaps my bare ass. “How about some coffee, baby?”

“Yes, Sir.”

But the thought of Elliot having gone out of his way to include me in this tradition warms my heart.

And here I just gave him a batch of cookies I made myself, because I honestly had no clue what to fricking give him. Leo passed them to him for me. Being friends and former coworkers with the security detail has its privileges, I guess.

Now, more than ever, I hope Elliot likes what I have planned for his residence.