Page 141 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“All right. I’ll see you back at the house.”

“See you then. And, Freddie? I really am sorry about the Mustang.”

“No, you’re not, but thank you just the same.”

Laughing, Sam ended the call and pressed the accelerator, eager to get to Southeast and back to talk to Lopez before the day got away from her. Then she remembered the meeting at two with the Secret Service director and was instantly pissed.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sam was almost to Lenore’s when her phone rang with a call from Lilia.

“Hey, I’m on the fly. I’ve got five minutes.”

“I took the liberty of contacting the designer you worked with for President Cappuano’s fundraiser when he was a senator.”

“Ah, yes, the champagne silk gown that Shelby said was pink when it absolutely wasn’t.”

“That’s the one. I asked him about clothes for the visitation at the Capitol tomorrow and the funeral Thursday.”

“What does it say about me that I hadn’t given what to wear to either of those things a single thought?”

“It tells me you’re busy, and it’s my job to worry about those things.”

“It’s your job to dress me?”

“It’s my job to make sure you shine, no matter what that entails.”

“Did I ever tell you I was fully prepared to dislike you when we first met?”

She snorted with a very un-Lilia-like laugh. “I’m not at all surprised to hear that.”

“I called you Lilly Von Noodle because I couldn’t remember your real name.”

“That is hilarious. You should see what people do with my name. It was in the paper once when I made the Dean’s List in college as Lillian Van Norseman. That’s how I got the nickname Norseman in college.”

“I love that. I’m glad it’s not just me.”

“It’s not just you.”

“The reason I’m telling you this is because you proved me wrong at every turn, and I absolutely adore you and appreciate everything you do to make me shine.”

“I adore you right back, and it’s my pleasure to make you shine. I’ll have the designer send some things to the house for you to choose from.”

“I want to let out a very un-cop-like girly squeal right now.”

“Go ahead. I’ll keep it between us.”

“I’m doing it in my head. Thanks again, Lilia. You’re the bomb dot com.”

“Don’t say the word ‘bomb.’ It’ll trigger a federal response.”

Shocked, Sam said, “Will it?”

“No, just kidding.”

Sam laughed. “You got me—and that’s not easy to do. Talk to you later.”

“See you.”