Page 25

CHAPTER 25

Kayley

The next several months evolved into a tragi-comedy of missed connections. Vic took two days off four weeks after Stella’s funeral, but a storm system blew in and tornadoes smashed radar equipment which grounded all air traffic out of DC for over twenty-four hours.

Two weeks later, I planned to fly to DC, but me and half my department ended up with food poisoning from a potluck birthday party celebration for one of the TAs. The only place I went was to huddle on my bathroom floor next to my toilet.

Four weeks later, Vic actually made it as far as Houston before his plane was grounded after a stopover there because a ground vehicle ran into it while it sat at the gate being loaded with luggage, and there were no other available flights to LA that would get him there in time.

I mean, he would have arrived literally three hours before he had to get back on a plane to DC.

I flew out to DC for the Fourth of July, but Vic and several other agents were pulled in at the last minute to work the Secretary of State’s detail for an overseas trip to the UK because a few of the original agents tested positive for measles after one of the agent’s kids caught it from an unvaccinated kid at daycare, and then that agent proceeded to pass it to fellow agents.

I couldn’t make this shit up.

We did manage to spend a night together in August, when Vic worked Elliot’s detail for a campaign event in Las Vegas. Leo made sure Vic had twelve hours to spend with me, and I’m not ashamed to admit we spent it fucking like bunnies in a hotel room on the Strip.

Opportunities to be together grew fewer the closer we got to November and the election. Fortunately, I kept busy at work researching and writing my book, teaching, and even planning a proposal for yet another book.

I could keep myself busy.

Leo wanted to fly me out for Election Night, but I was teaching. I convinced him to make it that weekend and tried to keep my hopes tightly wrapped.

Over the past several weeks, Vic had hinted he might have some big news for me.

I didn’t dare let excitement take hold inside me, however. Because I didn’t want to psych myself up that maybe he’d made a decision to retire just to be let down.

Vic stood waiting outside the White House when I arrived, and I happily threw myself out of the SUV and into his arms for a long, sweet kiss.

“Hi, baby,” he said, smiling.

“Hi, yourself, Sir.”

He grabbed my carryon from one of the agents and led me inside and to the elevator. Until January, this was still my brother’s home, so at least we could safely get our freak on in here. There were already plans for us all to gather here for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, the last ones they’d spend here as the residents.

I’d hoped to go straight to our room, but Leo, Jordan, and Elliot had other ideas, and I found myself in the dining room with them and Vic, sitting down to one of Jordan’s scrumptious home-cooked meals.

I managed to stay civil until dessert when I stood and reached for Vic’s hand. “Love you guys, but I have some time to make up for.”

Leo smirked. “Have fun storming the castle, kids.”

Vic stood. “See you in the morning.” He took the lead and we headed toward the room we usually used when here.

“Please tell me you’re off-duty until Sunday night?” I asked.

“Yep. Unless something gets nuked, I’m good.”

“Thank god.” With the door locked behind us, I was eager to climb my guy.

Except he caught my hands. “Hold up for a minute, baby. We need to talk.”

“Talk about what?” I asked, a sick feeling congealing in the pit of my stomach as I sat on the edge of the bed.

He leaned against the dresser. “Vice President Bardales asked me yesterday to take over as head of his detail.” He met my gaze. “Meaning he wants me as his lead agent on The Shift. In charge of all his details.”

I took a moment to breathe because even I knew this was… big. “What does that mean? You’re due for retirement. I thought you were eligible?”

“I am, but as long as I meet the physical requirements I can stay on active duty in the PPD and work The Shift until I’m fifty-seven.”

Of all the acronyms and code names I’d grown to hate during my brother’s new life, Presidential Protection Detail and The Shift had quickly topped that damned list.

Meaning six more years. Vic was fifty-one, a little older than me. “Meaning, what, you’d still be on active duty for one and a half terms with Bardales? If he wins reelection in four years, that is.”

“Ideally.”

I hated this.

Haaated it.

Because I already knew .

It felt like someone else speaking the words. “Okay then,” I softly said. “Where do we go from here?”

“That’s what we need to discuss.”

I wouldn’t pitch a fit. I would not lay down an ultimatum or demand he retire.

I damned sure wouldn’t break down and cry.

“I’m not moving to DC.” I hated the tears pricking my eyes and blinked them back before he spotted them. “I’m contracted to teach at least two more semesters, plus my latest book proposal was accepted. I might end up tenured in another year if I stay.”

“I know, baby,” he gently said. “I won’t ask you to give that up. We can still make this work though, right? We’ve been making it work for almost four years now.”

But… could it?

Could it really ?

Now that I had a taste of more, I wanted…

More .

Full-time.

He crossed the room to sit next to me on the bed. “I’m going to be head of The Shift for POTUS,” he said. “Before the election, I thought about turning in my retirement papers, but… this is… this is it , baby. This is what I’ve always wanted. This is my dream come true. I was beginning to think it’d never happen because I was getting too old.”

I slowly nodded. “I know.” I forced a smile. “I’m happy for you.” There were so many things I could say in this moment, so many selfish, petty, pointedly wounding things.

Please retire.

Please don’t do this.

Please put me and us first, for a change.

Or , why can’t us being together be your dream come true?

But I didn’t. Because I knew damned well he would never say that to me if our positions were reversed. In fact, he hadn’t. He could have begged me to quit, or to move here, find another teaching job, or even go back to work seeing patients.

And he didn’t.

I knew he never would, either, because that’s not the kind of man he was. He wasn’t a domineering asshole.

And dammit, for once I kind of wished he were.

He captured my hands. “Once I retire, I’m all yours, baby. I mean, yeah, if I can’t keep up with the physical requirements I might have to retire sooner. But this is the top .”

I studied his face, his blue gaze, and said the hardest words I’ve ever uttered in my goddamned life. “I’m so proud of you. This is a big deal, and I’m truly happy for you. I know how much this means to you, so let’s spend this whole weekend celebrating. Okay?”

The wide-eyed and pleasant surprise in his expression sealed it for me. There was no way I could take those words back.

Not and live with myself.

“You mean it, baby?”

“Of course I mean it. I love you. Having your dream come true is damned sure a reason to celebrate.”

He wrapped his arms around me, kissing me so thoroughly that I could almost overlook the fact my heart was breaking.