Page 97 of Between Love and Honor

“I’ll tell you what feels surreal,” Christine announced as she sauntered up to join the trio. “Watching you sworn bachelors willingly walk down the aisle and turn yourselves into adoring saps. And I’m not the only one who feels that way. That sound you hear is the single women all over DC shedding tears of sorrow.”

His buddies donned identical shit-eating grins as they searched the grounds for their respective spouses. Josslyn wasn’t hard to find. She was the center of attention in the middle of a sea of lavishly decorated tables. Holding hands with her little niece, Arabelle, the two swayed to the music being played by a string quartet. With every twirl, the hundreds of beads trimming her ivory wedding gown shimmered beneath the rays of the late afternoon sun.

Marin watched from a few yards away, standing guard over the stunning three-tier wedding cake she’d crafted for the occasion.

Ben scanned the crowd looking for Quinn. He doubted he’d ever lose the feeling of apprehension that gripped him whenever they were apart. In the two weeks since the incident with Ronoff, they’d spent most of their time holed up at the Think Tank. Thirteen years of lost time was a lot to make up for. They passed the days sharing their dreams and their passion, getting to know one another again as their true selves. Quinn insisted they invite his family and friends to enjoy the lighthouse. He suspected it was her way of trying to win everyone over, but she need not have worried. Once the real Quinn Darby came out from the shadows, everyone instantly fell in love with her.

His heart ticked up a notch when he spied her over in the corner near the Palm Room. With her camera dangling from her fingertips, she was in a deep conversation with the Secretary of Homeland. The other woman was relentless as Fergus trying to get her hooks in Quinn, but until this moment Ben was able to run interference. While he believed Quinn when she said she was out of the game, he didn’t trust his boss not to lure her back somehow.

He moved to take a step forward to intervene, but stopped short when the vice president sidled up next to Secretary Lyle, his hand suddenly landing possessively on her back. Ben waited to see the secretary unman the Veep, but she surprised Ben by inching closer to the man. Quinn smiled politely before escaping the two of them and heading back toward the center of the garden. Catching his gaze on her, she winked at him before putting the camera back to her face and capturing what was undoubtedly an adorable shot of Josslyn and her niece.

“Damn. Am I seeing things or does the Veep seem awfully chummy with the secretary?”

“You have been in your lab too long, Inspector Gadget,” Christine teased. “Those two have been an item for a couple of months, now. I’ve been assigned to her detail while Caracas is out and I can report that Secretary Lyle and the vice president are very cute together.”

Ben shivered. “‘Cute’ is not a word I’d ever associate with that woman.”

Adam laughed. “The vice president is a stand-up guy. Let’s hope she doesn’t eat him alive.”

“What is with you and ties, Ben?” Christine reached over to adjust his shirt collar and tighten the fabric around his neck. “Honestly, I don’t know how you three idiots got so lucky to find women who would have you for the rest of their lives.”

Her eyes were shining when she smoothed out Ben’s lapels.

“But congratulations. I’m happy for you guys.”

Ben brushed a kiss on his colleague’s cheek. “You’re next.”

She swiped at her nose. “Well, if you three can do it, there’s hope for me yet.”

Adam pulled her in for a hug before Griff followed suit.

Seconds later, Arabelle came skipping over to them.

“Uncle Adam.” The little girl grabbed Adam’s fingers.

“It’s your turn to dance with me.”

Griffin laughed out loud as the normally stoic sniper allowed a six-year-old to drag him onto the dance floor with little struggle.

“Uh-oh, Griff.” Christine gestured toward the wedding cake. “I think you better go get your wife before she commits a federal crime tossing her cookies in the White House rose bushes.”

“Ah, shit. I thought morning sickness was supposed to only be in the morning.” Griffin raced across the garden to rescue a very green Marin.

Ben shook his head with a smile. “You’re right, Christine. We have become saps.”

“And knowing you three, you’ll excel at it. They’re very lucky women.” She gave his shoulder a pat and wandered over to the bar.

Quinn made her way through the maze of tables to join him. She gifted him with one of her sexy smiles that never failed to make the back of his neck tight. Ben couldn’t help himself. He leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to her mouth.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked against her lips.

“Totally. You have amazing friends.”

“They’re your friends now, too.”

“I know. And I’m still pinching myself.” Her voice was filled with wonder. “I never let myself dream of ever having a normal life that included friends.”

“It’s the ‘normal life’ part that’s going to take some getting used to. Particularly for you.”

---