Page 131 of State of Suspense

“Yep.”

“I’ll text you with any developments.”

“Thanks, Dani.”

Sam brought the phone with her into the bathroom, where she found Nick stripped down to boxers and standing at the sink to brush his teeth. “Thank goodness the rest of the world can’t see you like that, or there’d be a line at the door for a turn with the POTUS.”

“As if the POTUS would have anything to do with that nonsense. He’s a one-girl kind of guy.”

“She must be one very lucky girl.”

“She’s about to be if she’ll hurry it up.”

“She’s hurrying!”

Sam went into her closet, removed the dress and everything underneath it before changing into a nightgown and robe that she tied tightly around her waist. In the bathroom, she removed her makeup, washed her face and brushed her teeth.

She found Nick in the sitting room, also wearing a robe.

“Ready?”

Sam grabbed the monitor for the twins from Nick’s bedside. “Yep.”

Hand in hand, they went upstairs to the third floor and ducked into the room where he’d re-created their loft from their Ninth Street home that’d been inspired by their trips to Bora Bora.

He lit the candles while she sat on the edge of the double lounger.

“It’s been too long since we came up here. The days go flying by.”

Nick sat next to her. “They sure do. I’ve never been so aware of how fast the time goes by than I have since we’ve been here.”

“I guess it’s a good thing that it’s going by fast.”

“It’s a very good thing. I’m looking forward to being a private citizen again.”

“You’ll never be that again. Neither of us will be.”

“Well, it’ll be much more private than it is now.”

He put his arm around her and leaned his head against hers. “Today was a good day for the Cappuano administration. The pictures will be blasted around the world, which will help with the illegitimacy bullshit.”

“That’s all it is, you know. Bullshit.”

“I do know that, but the shooting at Fort Liberty hurt. That a military member could shoot his fellow service members because of me…”

“It was because of him, not you. Tell me you know that.”

“I do, but enough about that. This time is for us.”

She gave him a side-eyed look. “Whatever shall we do?”

Smiling, he kissed her as they reclined on the lounger, arms and legs intertwined as the kiss quickly became urgent.

“Vacation feels like a very long time ago, doesn’t it?” he asked as he kissed her neck and pulled at the tie to her robe.

“Ages and ages ago.”

Since it was late and they were both tired, he helped her up and out of the robe and nightgown.

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