Page 130 of State of Suspense

“Before you do…” He came up behind her and ran his hands over her hips as he kissed the back of her neck. “You looked so incredibly beautiful tonight.”

“Aw, thanks. I loved this dress the first time Marcus showed me the drawing of it.”

“Please pass along my appreciation for his fine work.”

“I’ll do that.” They stood with his arms around her from behind and his chin on her shoulder for a long moment. “It all seemed to go well, right?”

“It was exceptional in every way. The White House staff and our teams pulled off a stunner, and I’ll tell them so tomorrow.”

“They’ll appreciate hearing that from you.”

“It’s hard to believe what goes on here every day, most of which you and I have nothing to do with, but they know exactly what’s required and how to pull it off without breaking a sweat.”

“Thank goodness for all the great people who make it happen.”

He kissed her neck and sent a shiver through her. “And thank goodness for my first lady, who had to cut a busy workday short to come home for tea and frivolity when she certainly has more important things to do.”

She stepped forward so she could turn to face him, curling her arms around his neck. “There is nothing in this world that’s more important to me than you and our family and whatever you guys need from me.”

“Figuring out who killed Tom and getting justice for him is more important than a silly state dinner.”

“No, it really isn’t. As much as I want justice for him—and we’ll get it, eventually—today was all about you and whatever you needed.”

“I’m very thankful for you every day, but especially on days like this when you have to put aside your own important work to support me.”

“I was very happy to support you. I love you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, which I hope I’ve proven by allowing myself to be referred to as your first lady.”

His smile lit up his face and her world. “That term could use an update.”

“Do you think?”

He found the tab to the zipper of her dress and tugged it down. “Are you still up for some loft time?” Waggling his brows, he added, “You mentioned something about the good sex, not that any sex isn’t good sex.”

She smiled. “I’ve been looking forward to it all night.”

Sam’s cell phone rang on the bedside table, where she’d plugged it in earlier. She groaned. “I have to take that.”

Nick went to retrieve the phone and handed it to her.

Sam took the call from Carlucci. “Hey, what’s up?”

“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re having such a big night there.”

“It’s fine. We’re back in the residence.”

“Ah, okay. Hope it all went well.”

“It did.”

“I’m calling because Gonzo passed me the info about Henry Allston being Cox’s nephew and how he was raised by Cox and his first wife. I looked into him, and it’s the strangest thing. There’s no info about him online at all. No high school or college graduations, no social media, no nothing. I think I should request a warrant for his phone data, but I wanted to clear that with you before I did it.”

“Go ahead. I’m getting a buzz that something’s up there.”

“Me, too. Gonzo said the guy is in his thirties?”

“Maybe early thirties.”

“And no presence at all online? That’s bizarre.”

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