Page 38 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“I don’t want to wait. I’ve had the biggest crush on you from the second you first stepped foot into our squad.” Hearing how he felt about her made it easy to speak the truth to him.

His expression quickly shifted to total shock, which made her laugh.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know,” she said.

“I didn’t! I had no clue. If I’d known that, I never would’ve dated Jaycee, or anyone else, because I’ve had the same crush on you for all this time.”

He reached for her, and she sighed as he wrapped his arms around her.

“The timing might be terrible,” she said as she rested her head against his chest, “but I want this. I want you.”

“I want you, too, but more than anything, I want to do this right. You need time to heal and recover from what’s happened.”

“Will you help me do that the way you have been since the beginning?”

“There’s nothing I’d rather do than help you with anything you need.”

“I need more of this,” she said, tightening her arms around him.

“You can have as much of this as you want.”

“I’m going to want a lot of it.”

“Me, too.” He drew back to look down at her with the intensity that made him so good at his job now focused exclusively on her.

“Thank you for the way you’ve been so there for me through all this.”

“I wish I could’ve done more.”

“You did just enough.”

“Anything you want or need, sweet Gigi, you tell me, and I’ll get it for you.”

“For right now, all I need is you.”

“You’ve got me, sweetheart.”

Chapter Eight

Nick poured a glass of bourbon from the bar cart the butlers kept stocked in the sitting room off their bedroom and took it with him to the third-floor conservatory, which had become a favorite spot for the family. From up there, he had a bird’s-eye view of the capital city and the monuments, which were lit up for the night.

The White House was decorated to the nines for Christmas, with every square inch decked out with trees and greenery and items pertaining to the “Made in America” theme Gloria Nelson had chosen months before her husband’s sudden death. Nick had invited Gloria to come back to view the end result of her hard work, but she’d gracefully declined the invitation, saying it was too soon for her to return.

After a day of tragic news, Nick was heartsick for the people whose lives had been shattered and for the country that couldn’t seem to solve the problem associated with guns, violence and mental health. Surely a country as vast and resourceful as the United States could come up with a way to protect the Second Amendment right to bear arms while ensuring that people who shouldn’t have guns couldn’t get them.

It sounded so simple on paper, but in reality, it was one of the most vexing challenges of their time.

His personal BlackBerry rang, and he drew it out of his pocket, expecting the call to be from Sam. But it was from Elijah.

“Hey,” Nick said to the twins’ older brother, who’d become like an extra son to him and Sam since the twins came into their lives in early October. “How’s it going?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“What’s wrong?” Nick asked, immediately on alert. He hadn’t known Elijah for long, but he’d developed a strong bond with the young man and knew something wasn’t right.

“I’ve been thinking about the custody thing with Cleo’s family.”

“What about it?” Nick could barely breathe as he waited to hear what Elijah had to say. As the twins’ legal guardian, it was up to Elijah to decide where they lived and what was best for them. He’d decided that since they had made such a smooth transition to living with Sam, Nick and Scotty, they should stay with them until they came of age.