Page 4 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

Sam turned in to his embrace and breathed in the fresh, clean scent of home, taking comfort in the familiar when everything had become uncertain in the span of one phone call.

“We really have to go,” he said.

“I know.” Sam gave herself another second to cling to life as she knew it before she reluctantly let him go, donned a robe and went across the hall to get dressed in the closet he’d had built for her. Thinking of photos that would last forever and in deference to the death of President Nelson, she chose a demure black dress and put on her diamond engagement ring and the diamond key necklace that’d been a wedding gift from Nick.

Taking a quick look in the full-length mirror on the back of the door, she decided she was presentable enough to be in photos that would be studied for generations to come. She stepped into the black Louboutins with the distinctive red soles that Nick had given her for Christmas last year, ran damp hands over her skirt to smooth the lines and tried not to think too far ahead of the next couple of hours.

She took a deep breath and released it slowly, determined to be there for him the way he always was for her. So much of their life together had been about her—her job, her family, her needs. This was about Nick, and she was determined to support him in every possible way as he took on the role that would define his life—and hers, whether she wanted that or not.

“You can do this,” she told her reflection. “You can do it for him. You will do it for him.”

A soft knock on the door sounded.

Sam opened the door to him dressed in a navy blue suit, a white dress shirt, a burgundy tie and an American flag pinned to his lapel. He looked handsome, sexy, competent and slightly petrified. The rest of the world would see the calm, cool, collected man he was under pressure. Only she would know how he really felt.

“You look beautiful,” he said softly, aware of ears all around as the Secret Service hovered nearby.

“Funny, I was just thinking the same about you.” Flattening her hands on his lapels, she looked up at him. “Is Scotty ready?”

He nodded.

“Are you?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

She slid her hands down his arms and took hold of his hands, giving a gentle squeeze. “Then let’s get going.”

“Before we go, I just want to say… You certainly didn’t sign on for this.”

She went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “I signed on for you, come what may.”

“But this…”

“This will turn out to be our greatest adventure yet.” She wasn’t sure she believed that herself, but she needed him to believe it. “I love you, and I’m right here with you. Always.”

“That’s all I need to know.”

“Let’s do this thing.”

Chapter Two

They met Scotty downstairs, donned their coats and followed the Secret Service agents out the door. Sam wasn’t sure how Brant, Nick’s lead agent, had gotten there so quickly after having been off on Thanksgiving Day. He’d probably known about Nelson’s death before they had. Thinking about logistics was better than contemplating the myriad ways their lives were about to change forever. Her stomach ached the way it had years ago, when she’d been a stressed-out mess addicted to diet cola.

The limousine that usually transported Nelson was idling at the curb with a massive number of other vehicles lined up in front of and behind it. That ramped-up security presence served as further proof that everything had changed.

On the ramp that led out of their home to the sidewalk below, it occurred to her that they needed a Bible. “Nick,” she said, “I should grab the Holland family Bible.”

“That’s a good idea.”

He’d used the O’Connor family Bible to be sworn into the Senate and when he took the oath as vice president.

“Is it okay if I tell Celia what’s going on?”

“Yes, but please ask her not to tell anyone until the news is announced.”

“I will.” Sam moved to the left, heading for her late father’s home three doors down from theirs.

“Mrs. Cappuano,” Brant said. “Where’re you going?”