Page 24 of State of Bliss

“Supposed to get warmer in the next few days.”

“I can’t wait for that. I’m so over the cold.”

“The cold air feels amazing to me. Better than the stale White House air.”

“I’m sure it is.”

They walked until their faces were numb from the cold and then turned back, coming face-to-face with the gaggle of photographers and camera-people who were stalking them.

“Ignore,” he said under his breath.

“Ignoring. Since they’re in front of us, is this allowed?” Sam dropped her hand to squeeze his ass.

“Not allowed.”

“Just checking.”

“Don’t be fresh.”

“You like when I’m fresh.”

“Watch what you say. I’m sure some of them are accomplished lip readers.”

“For fuck’s sake.”

“Sam!”

“Whoops. Sorry.”

He shook with silent laughter.

“I’d like to remind you that I warned youway backat theverybeginning that I’d be a political liability, and you chose to take me on anyway. Oh wait, was that when you were promising me one year in the Senate? Hmmm…”

“Are you angling for a”—he put his hand over his mouth—“spanking, by any chance?”

“Oh yes, please.”

“Knock it off. I don’t want photos of me with a”—he covered his mouth again—“boner on the front of every paper in the world.”

“Then quit talking about things that will cause that.”

“This walk was a terrible idea.”

“You might want to explain things to me ahead of time in the future.”

If there was anything more fun than sparring with her gorgeous, witty, sexy husband, Sam had yet to discover it. Even hunting down murderers couldn’t compete with him on the scale of the most fun she’d ever had.

As they walked up the beach to the path that led to their house for the next ten days, reporters started yelling questions at them.

“Mr. President, have you met with the new Joint Chiefs yet?”

“Do you have a comment on the statement issued by General Wilson?”

“Is it true that former Lieutenant Stahl has been connected with missing women?”

“Did you pay your mother’s bail?”

That last one had Nick going tight with tension.

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