Fatal Scandal

“My husband must have some kind of cache to be able to shut down a hot spot like this on New Year’s Eve.”

“Yes, he’s very powerful and influential,” he said with the self-deprecating grin she loved so much. “In truth, the only way the Secret Service would go for it was if we had the place to ourselves.” He shrugged. “So we have the place to ourselves.”

She ran her hand down the length of his red silk tie and hooked her index finger under his belt. “Having the place completely to ourselves doesn’t totally suck.”

“Don’t get any ideas. We’re not alone.”

Though his detail had faded into the background, they were always there and always watching. Determined to ensure he had a good time tonight despite the prying eyes around them, Sam walked over to the table. He was right behind her, holding the chair for her. The moment they were seated, a waiter emerged from the kitchen.

“Mr. Vice President, Mrs. Cappuano, it is indeed an honor to have you here tonight. I’m Mario, and I’ll be your waiter.”

“Thank you, Mario,” Nick said. “I believe we need some champagne.”

Sam nodded in agreement, and the waiter hustled off to get it. “Champagne makes me silly and uninhibited,” Sam reminded her husband.

“Does it? I’d forgotten that.”

Since he never forgot anything where she was concerned, she rolled her eyes to let him know she wasn’t buying it. “I think you’re just trying to make sure you get lucky later.”

“Do I ever have any problem getting lucky?”

“Are you calling me easy, Mr. VP?”

“If the Louboutin fits...”

Laughing, Sam said, “I can’t even deny these accusations.”

“I love that you’re easy.” He kissed the back of her hand, sending shivers of sensation darting up her arm and straight to her nipples, which stood at attention. Naturally, he noticed, his hazel eyes heating with pleasure at the way she reacted to him. “You have no idea how much I count on the one thing in my life that’s always easy and effortless.”

“You’re the only one who’s ever said that dealing with me is effortless.”

“I love dealing with you, as you well know.”

She loved when he looked at her the way he was now, as if the sun, the moon and the stars rose and set with her.

The moment ended when Mario returned with their champagne, which was presented with flourish. “Please enjoy,” he said when he’d filled two crystal flutes. “I’ll be back with your appetizers momentarily.”

“So we don’t have to order?” Sam asked when they were alone again.

“All taken care of.”

In her past life, before him, it would’ve made her crazy to have a man order for her. But when he did it, she felt cared for and maybe a bit coddled. Not that she’d ever admit as much to him. She had a reputation to maintain, after all.

“I can see the gerbils working overtime on the treadmill as you try to convince yourself to let go and roll with it,” he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“You can see no such thing.”

“Whatever you say, babe. Any minute now there’ll be smoke pouring out your ears.”

He knew her better than anyone ever had—better than anyone ever would. Her inclination at first had been to fight that, to preserve a piece of herself so she’d survive if things between them didn’t work out. Now, after a year with him, she had faith it would work out and knew for certain she’d never survive without him.

“Now what’re you thinking?”

“You tell me. You’re the one with ESP.”

He studied her intently, making her squirm ever so slightly in her chair. “You’re thinking that you love me so much it’s not even fu

“If you hadn’t already told me how easy I am, I’d tell you you’re delusional. But we know better, don’t we?”

“Yes, we do.” Smiling, he raised his glass to her. “To my gorgeous, sexy, exasperating, easy wife, I love you more than anything, and I can’t wait to see what our second year together will entail.”

Charmed and touched by his sweet words, she touched her glass to his and took a sip of the dry, chilled bubbly. “Mmm, that’s good.”

“Drink up. I’ve got plans for later, and I need you uninhibited.” He waggled his brows suggestively, which had her squirming in her chair for a whole other reason.

Sam glanced toward the far side of the large room where four Secret Service agents were seated at a table talking quietly and pretending they weren’t watching them. She knew others were positioned outside, creating a perimeter of protection all around them. If she allowed herself to think too much about being surrounded every time she was with her husband, she’d lose her mind. So she chose not to think about it—most of the time.

“Pretend they’re not here,” Nick said. “Focus on me.”

Focusing on his exquisitely handsome face was certainly no hardship. Mario plied them with four courses of delicious food and wine and more champagne before he carried out a flaming soufflé for dessert.

“So, are you going to tell me how the deposition went today?” he asked as they dug into the soufflé with two spoons.

“How do you think it went? I had to relive the nightmare day when Melissa came into our house with a bomb strapped to her chest.”

“Did it take all day?”

“Yep. Her lawyers were nothing if not thorough.”

“And I’m sure you were unrepentant.”

“You’re damn right I was. I don’t regret anything I did that day. She can sue us all she wants, but I did my job and I have no doubt that Freddie and I saved all our lives that day.”

“I was there. I can attest to that. What happens now?”

“Who knows? They take my deposition, and the whole thing goes away until it rears its ugly head again. I’m not giving it another thought until I have to.” Eager to change the subject, Sam said, “You know what the good thing is about your detail?”

“Is there a good thing?”

“Yep. We can get totally hammered, and they have to drive us home.”

“That isn’t a bad thing. Are you totally hammered?”

“I think I might be. Are you?”

“Nope. I paced myself.”

“Always in control, aren’t you?”

He gazed at her meaningfully. “Not always.”

Sam’s bite of soufflé got stuck in her throat. The reminder that she was the one person who could break his legendary control made her want to go home immediately. “Is it time to go?”

“Not quite yet.” He fed her another bite. “Want to dance?”

Sam looked over at the Secret Service detail. The three men and one woman were done eating and were monitoring them without actually looking at them. “I’d prefer to dance at home without an audience.”

“We can do that.” He checked his watch. “It’s almost midnight.”

“Are they going to let us go up to watch the fireworks?” It went against everything she believed in to ask anyone for permission to do anything, but she didn’t want to make his life any more complicated than it already was by constantly clashing with his detail.

Nodding, he said, “That was my primary request for this evening. I had a promise to my wife that needed to be kept.”

Last year, they’d stood on the rooftop of this very building, newly in love, newly back together six years after an unforgettable one-night stand. They’d promised to come back to that spot to see in every New Year together. She’d wondered if they’d get to do it in light of his new security constraints.

“Did you doubt that I’d remember?”

“Oh, I knew you’d remember. I’ve learned not to question such things. Your memory is freakishly good. I just wasn’t sure if they’d allow it.”

“Apparently, there’ll be sharpshooters on adjacent buildings keeping an eye on us, so no sudden moves.”

She rested her hand on his leg and ran it slowly up to cup him intimately. “So nothing like this?” she asked as he hardened under her hand.