Page 153 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

“Oh, um, I don’t really know her all that well, but she seems nice. Why?”

“Well, it’s like this. A while ago, she was babysitting at the Ninth Street house. We got to talking, and we’ve kind of been talking ever since.”

“Very interesting. And then I moved you to New Jersey, so you probably don’t see her very often.”

“I saw her while we were in DC over the holidays, and P.S., you did me a huge favor careerwise asking for me to head up your detail, so thanks for that.”

“Are you going to see her again?”

“I sort of feel like I need to have a conversation with the first lady before I do, but the thought of that makes me cringe.”

“She’s so cool, though. You know that.”

“I do, but this is a strange situation I find myself in.”

“I can see that. Would you like me to talk to her about it?”

“Oh God, no. I’d never ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask. I offered.”

“Ugh, it’s so unprofessional for me to be having this conversation with you, or to be interested in dating the first lady’s niece. I should’ve left it alone after I met her.”

“If something is meant to be, it’ll be. I remember my dad saying that after he met Cleo. They went through a lot to be together, and they were so happy. Like Sam and Nick… They’re happy like that, too. Knowing them like I do after these last few months, I’m pretty sure they’d be okay with you wanting to date Brooke.”

“You think so, huh?”

“I do, and I’m more than willing to mention it to her, if you’d like me to.”

“I feel like I’m fifteen again, angsting over a girl.”

“So, we never stop doing that?”

“Apparently not. But if you wanted to mention it to her, in the coolest way possible, I wouldn’t object.”

“I got you covered. It’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”

When he heard the announcement that Candace’s flight had landed, Eli shot out of his chair, startling Nate.

“Easy, big fella. What’d I tell you about sudden movements?”

“That they stress you out.”

“Yeah, so don’t do that.”

“Sorry. I just can’t wait to see her.”

“I know, but it takes forever for people to get off airplanes these days because they take everything they own with them. It’ll be another twenty to thirty minutes.”

Sighing, Eli sat back down to wait. Fourteen minutes later, she texted to say she was on the way to baggage claim, where he was meeting her. “She’s coming. I’m going to stand up now, if that’s all right with you.”

Smiling, Nate said, “Go right ahead. You’ve waited long enough for this.”

Eli was surprised he didn’t hyperventilate in the minutes it took for Candace to appear at the top of the escalator. Oh my God, he thought. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. In three years, she’d gone from a gorgeous girl to a stunning woman. Long dark hair fell in shiny waves around her shoulders, her big brown eyes lit up with delight at the sight of him, and her smile… It still made his knees go weak, the way it had from the first time she directed it at him.

As she walked toward him, he went still as a huge lump landed in his throat, and tears flooded his eyes.

And then she was in his arms, bringing the scent he’d dreamed about during the long years apart.