She’d happily changed her legal name when she married Nick, probably because she knew this marriage was forever whereas the first time around had been a mess from the get-go. Marrying Peter when she’d been pining for Nick had been among the biggest mistakes of her life. And then when she’d learned that the reason she’d never seen Nick again was because Peter hadn’t given her his messages...
God, she couldn’t think about that without her blood boiling, even after all the time she’d been back together with Nick. She’d never forgive Peter for what he’d denied her and Nick with his lies and deceit. He was gone now, a victim of murder at the hands of someone who’d been trying to discredit her and Nick, and while she was sad for the way his life had ended, she remained bitter about the hell he’d put her—and Nick—through.
Outside Nick’s office, one of the admins—Sam could never remember all their names—smiled and told her to go on in. “He’s expecting you.”
Three little words that made her heart flutter with anticipation, knowing he was on the other side of the door and that he’d taken the time to tell his staff she was coming. She opened the door and stepped inside.
He was behind the big desk that had belonged to another vice president—she forgot which one—and looked up at her, smiling.
God, that smile, that face, those eyes... She loved him unreasonably.
He got up and came around the desk, holding out his arms to her.
She went to him, let him wrap her up in his warm, loving embrace and immediately felt better.
“This is a nice surprise.” He kissed the top of her head. “To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit?”
“I needed this.” She held on tighter, and so did he.
“I’m always happy to provide this.”
They stood that way, wrapped up in each other, for a long time before he guided her to the sofa and brought her down on his lap. “What’s wrong? Besides the obvious, of course.”
“Tough homicide today. A newly married, highly respected DEA agent cut down by a stray bullet fired during an argument across the street.”
“Ah, God. That’s awful.”
“It was awful. The poor wife. She works with Darren, so he took me to her.” Sam shook her head. Recalling Roni’s awful shock and grief was unbearable. “It was bad.”
“I’m so sorry you had to deal with that so soon after your own shocking loss.”
“It’s not about me.”
“They’re all about you, Sam. You take them all personally, which makes you damned good at your job.”
“I guess. It’s just so fucking sad. I kept thinking that she had her whole life figured out, and then it’s just gone in the blink of an eye.” She glanced at him. “Even though we played worst-case scenario last night, I don’t know how I would ever deal with that if it happened to me.”
“It won’t.”
“Please don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I never do. Kiss me.”
She knew he was trying to change the subject, to take her mind off the pervasive sadness, but she never said no to kissing him. Her lips connected with his, which was all it took to make her want much more than she was going to get while they were in his office. He leaned his forehead against hers, stroking his fingers through her hair and generally making everything that was wrong in her world right again just by caring so much.
“I’m sorry you’re hurting, babe.”
“Lots of people are hurting.”
“I’m sorry you are hurting.”
“I’ve been talking to Dr. Trulo about maybe doing something for people like the woman today, something to support them more than we do now.”
“Like what?”
“A support group, maybe, for the victims that’re left behind when someone is murdered.”
“That’d be amazing.”
“He suggested I do it as both the Homicide squad commander and as second lady. He thought it might become a national movement if I lend my lofty title to it. What would you think of that?”
“I think that’s a fantastic idea on his part—and yours.”
“It’s in the earliest stages, but this thing today brought home again how badly it’s needed. I took her to see her husband at the morgue, and in most cases, I wouldn’t see her again until the case goes to trial. The thought of being able to do something more for her and so many others is very appealing to me.”
“I love it. You’d help a lot of people even more than you already do with something like this.”
“Perhaps I’d also help myself at the same time.”
“No doubt.” He guided her head to his shoulder. “I know you have to be missing him something fierce.”
“I am but working on his case again is helping. We’re actually making a little headway.”
“Wouldn’t it be something...”
“Yes, it would.”
“What’s the latest with Conklin?”
“Farnsworth and Malone are investigating that personally and were able to prove that Davis called Conklin every year on the anniversary of my father’s shooting.”
“Oh my God.”
“Farnsworth is taking it right to Tom Forrester.”
“Holy crap.”
“What I don’t get is why he would keep that from the rest of us. I can’t stop asking why.”
“It’s possible the answer to that question might be the break you’ve been waiting for.”
“Maybe, but at what cost? You know? What was Conklin involved with that was more important than getting justice for my dad?”
“If anyone can figure out the answer to that question, you can.”
“It’s going to come down to money, power or sex. If you’re looking for motive in most crimes, it usually involves one of those three things. Part of me doesn’t want to know.”
“I can understand that.”
“I should go so you can get back to work and finish up.”
“I can take work home with me. I’ve had enough of this place today.”
“Is everything okay?”
“The budget crap is draining.”
“And? What else?”
His deep sigh put her on immediate alert. “There’re apparently some major rumblings from the other side of the aisle about us taking in two kids who’ll require Secret Service protection at taxpayer expense.”
“Seriously? What if we’d had twins of our own when you were in office?”
“From what I hear, that would be viewed differently than volunteering to take in other people’s children.”
“That’s such bullshit. We have the right to expand our family if we choose to.”
“And that’s exactly what I told Terry to pass along to those who have objections.”
“How big of a deal is this going to be?”
“We’ve had reporters from CNN, NBC, the Washington Post and the New York Times call for statements today.”
Sam experienced a sinking feeling at realizing it would be a very big deal with those outlets nosing around. “What did you tell them?”
“The same thing you just said—that we have the right to expand our family at any time, even when I’m in office, and that we also have the right to have our family protected from people who’d do us harm simply because of the office I hold. Terry thinks it’s going to be a bit of a thing.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? You haven’t done anything.”
“I brought home two kids without a thought as to what it could mean for all of us.”
“And I’d certainly hope if you had it to do over again, you’d do exactly the same thing despite any heartburn it might cause us. As I’ve said repeatedly—our heartburn is nothing compared to their heartache.”
“I love you so much, Nick. All the time, but the way you’ve gone to bat for two kids who aren’t yours makes me love you even more than I already did.”
“Same goes, babe. I love the way you saw them and had to help. I’ll never regret stepping up for them.”
“Even if there’s a massive shitstorm?”
“Even then. Especially then.” He kissed her again. “Let’s get the hell out of here and go home to our family.”
* * *
HOURS LATER, AFTER spending quality time with the kids, which included lasagna for dinner and a competitive game of Candy Land that Scotty had won, baths, bedtime stories and a few tears from two little ones, who were still missing their beloved parents, Sam curled up to Nick in bed, exhausted and drained.
He caressed her arm as she breathed in the familiar scent of him, the scent of home. “I used to dream about having what we do now,” he said. “A family to call my own. There’s nothing else quite like it.”
“No, there really isn’t. I just worry about what’ll happen when Elijah finishes school.”
“You want my prediction?”
Sam eyed him with surprise. “You have one?”
“Babe, you know me. I’m always thinking ten steps ahead, and my guess is by the time he graduates, the kids will be so settled with us, he wouldn’t dream of disrupting them. And besides, he’s going to be a twenty-two-year-old recent college grad. What’s he going to do with two seven-year-olds?”
“Don’t forget that recent college grad will have billions at his disposal. He could pay for whatever help he needs.”
“Granted, but he won’t want to disrupt them—again. They’re not going anywhere, Samantha. If we want them, and I think we both agree that we do, they’ll be with us until they leave home.”
“I’m afraid to hope for that, only to be disappointed when he comes to collect them. What if he does want them when he graduates? Maybe we should talk to him about that at some point.”