Page 15 of A More Perfect Union

Of course, she wasignoring Sharp’s other advice about steering clear of Rook in the first place.She’d spent some time after he dropped her off at the hotel last nightconsidering whether she should cancel her outing with Rook in light of thecaution, but ultimately decided against it. It was a casual outing, not a date.There was zero chance Sharp would be on a tour bus in the town he’d called homefor years, and if they did run into him, she didn’t mind explaining she’dalready made plans with Rook before his warning. Besides, she was perfectlycapable of taking care of herself. A civilian like Rook Daniels was no threatto her.

She’d barelycompleted her thought when Rook strode through the double glass doors of thehotel lobby. She looked dashing in light gray wool slacks and a burgundy V-necksweater that hugged her trim upper body. Zoey wrote off the accelerated beatingof her heart to excitement about the tour, but she knew deep down she wasfooling herself.Not a date. Not a date. She repeated the silent mantrain time with Rook’s steps until they were standing face-to-face.

“You look amazing,”Rook said, her eyes sweeping Zoey’s frame.

Zoey shrugged off thecompliment. For the first time since they’d met, she was dressed in civilianclothes, dark blue jeans and a heather green sweater. “I didn’t pack much inthe way of casual clothes. Of course, I assumed the tour would be casual, butyou look anything but.” She stopped talking, conscious of the fact she wasrambling.

Rook looked down ather outfit. “This is pretty casual for me.” She held out her arm. “Come on, Ihave a surprise for you.”

Zoey’s ears perked upat the word surprise—not her favorite word—but she took Rook’s arm and followedher to the town car she recognized from the airport. Rook opened the door andZoey slid inside, spotting George behind the wheel. “Hi, George. Remember me?”

“Not likely toforget, Major Granger. I see you took my advice about the best way to see thecity.”

“Indeed. I hear theweather is supposed to be perfect tonight. No clouds or rain.”

“Perfect night for apicnic, indeed.”

Picnic? Zoey lookedover at Rook who had just slid into the seat beside her. “I just booked thebasic tour, nothing fancy. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Well, that’s thesurprise. Now, I hopeyoudon’t mind, because George here has obtainedthe tour route and you’ll get the same exact features, but without a busload oftourists. And,” Rook reached around to the front seat and lifted a basket, “Ihave food and wine. I figured we’d take a little break between stops.” Shepaused for a second. “I guess I should’ve run this by you first. I’ll reimburseyou for the tickets you bought.”

Zoey stared at thepicnic basket and then back at Rook, astounded by the thoughtfulness, even ifit was a bit presumptuous. Presumptuous, hell. Rook had planned the perfectevening. Who was she to throw a wrench into it? “It’s perfect. Really. Anddon’t be silly about the tickets. This will be so much better.”

“You say that now,but I’m afraid I only have a passing knowledge of most of these places.” Rookpulled a book from between the seats. “I, or rather George, got us a copy oftheDC Lonely Planet Guide, and I’ll be happy to look up any questionsyou have.”

Zoey had a ton ofquestions, but none of them about monuments or anything tourist related. WasRook always this thoughtful? How had she managed to live in a city and knowvirtually nothing about its most famous venues? One question topped the list.If this wasn’t a date, what was it?

* * *

Rook watched Zoey runher hand along the granite wall, tracing the words.The moral arch ofhumanity is large, but it always bends toward justice.The Martin LutherKing Jr. memorial was their third stop on the tour. They’d noshed a little inthe car, but Zoey had insisted she’d rather see a few of the monuments beforetheir picnic. Rook was pleasantly surprised to find she was enjoying herselfand she’d actually learned a few things along the way.

“The book says thosecherry trees over there were positioned to bloom in a particular spot so itlooks like MLK is gazing at them,” Rook said, pointing at the trees.

“I hear the cherryblossoms are a beautiful sight.”

Rook nodded. “Welocals moan about all the tourists who crowd the city to see them, but you canhardly blame them. Too bad you won’t be around to see them.”

“When do they usuallybloom?”

“A few weeks fromnow, toward the end of March, beginning of April.”

“Mmm,” Zoey said.“What’s next on the tour?”

Rook started to callher out on the quick change of subject, certain it was a cover for somethingbut wasn’t sure what. Could Zoey already be missing their connection? Sillyreally, since they’d barely met, but Rook had to admit the idea of Zoey jettingback to wherever she was assigned left her feeling unsettled. Was it possibleZoey was feeling the same? “I’m a little hungry. Ready for a short break?”

“Sure.”

They returned to thecar and Rook told George they were ready for the next stop. When they pulledinto the parking lot for Meridian Hill Park, it was deserted. Zoey lookedaround, the expression on her face making it clear she thought the destinationwas a no-go. Rook suppressed a grin and pulled out her phone. When the callconnected, she said, “Hey, Nancy, we’re here…Okay…See you in a minute.”

She slipped the phoneinto her pocket and reached for the picnic basket. “Ready?”

Zoey’s eyes narrowed,but she nodded and followed Rook out of the car. Rook told George she’d textwhen they were ready to leave and led Zoey to the gate at the edge of theproperty and waited.

“I hate to burst yourbubble,” Zoey said, pointing to a sign, “but I think they might be closed forthe day.”

“Oh, they’redefinitely closed. To the general public that is.”

“And we’re not thegeneral public.”

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