Page 98 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“I accept with profound gratitude for your faith in me. I promise you’ll never regret asking me.”

Nick stood to indicate the meeting was over. “I appreciate you coming in and look forward to working with you.” After they shook hands again, he added, “Terry will be in touch in the morning about making it official later in the day tomorrow with a press event in the East Room to announce you as our nominee. You’re welcome to bring anyone you wish to invite. Terry can help with that. We’ll put your nomination before Congress after the holiday recess.”

“My parents will be thrilled beyond measure.”

He walked her to the door. “I look forward to meeting them and your children.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you then.”

As he watched her leave, he hoped he’d made a good decision. It’d been important to him to elevate a woman into the vice presidency for the first time and to open the door in the near future to the possibility of a female president.

He was back at the Resolute desk, gathering what he needed to take upstairs with him to review after dinner with the family, when his BlackBerry buzzed with a text from Andy. Good news. We got a judge to issue a gag order on all parties involved in the custody case, and it was extended to include all members of Cleo’s immediate family. Tell Eli his secrets are safe. I’ve also requested an emergency hearing to dispose of this matter before the holidays. Waiting to hear. Fingers crossed.

Thank you SO MUCH, Andy. Eli will be so relieved, and we are, too. Keep us posted.

You got it.

Nick forwarded Andy’s text to Sam and Eli. Good news!

Thank God, Eli responded.

What he said, Sam added.

Terry appeared at the door to the Oval Office. “We’ve got a report of shots fired in the Gulf of Suez, Mr. President. You’re needed in the Situation Room.”

Nick sighed as he realized he might not get to see the kids before bed. So much for the advantages of working from home, but he felt a whole lot lighter after getting Andy’s text.

Chapter Eighteen

Cameron debated whether he should go back to Gigi’s again that night or take a night off so he wouldn’t appear to come on too strong. He debated the pros and cons while enjoying a hot shower after work. All he’d thought about all day was what a relief it had been to tell her how he felt about her and to finally get the chance to kiss her.

Who was he kidding? He was going back there again tonight and probably every night from now on—if she’d have him.

After his shower, he dressed in a dark blue Henley and faded jeans and put a leash on his pug, Jeffrey, before heading out to pick up dinner at an Italian place she’d raved about when he brought her food from there last week. He’d decided it was time to introduce Gigi to Jeffrey because if the two of them didn’t get along, there’d be no hope for them as a couple. As he approached his car in the lot, something looked weird, which had him immediately reaching for the weapon he never left home without. When he got closer, he saw that all four of the tires on his Dodge Charger were flat.

“Motherfucker,” he muttered, holstering the weapon on his hip and reaching for his cell to call in the report to Dispatch. “This is Detective Green, badge number 9822. My personal vehicle has been vandalized.” He gave his Adams Morgan address and was told Patrol officers were on their way. While he waited, he sent a text to Sam to let her know what’d happened.

She called him. “What the hell?”

“No idea,” Cameron said. “I stopped at home after work to shower and was here for about thirty minutes. When I came out, every tire was flat.”

“What do you have for security cameras in the area?”

“I’ll run over to the management office to check.”

“Okay, let me know, and get Archie’s team looking at our cameras in the area, too.”

“Will do.”

“Was it only your car?”

“I took a quick look and didn’t see any others.”

“So this is something personal. Any idea who might have a beef?”

The realization hit him like a fist to the gut. She wouldn’t. Would she? “Jaycee.”