Chapter Ten
As Sam walked home from her dad’s house, a caravan of black SUVs pulled up to their place. She recognized the agents from Nick’s detail and walked a little quicker so she could be there to greet him when he emerged from the back of the car.
His face lit up with pleasure when he saw her there. And like it always did when he walked into a room—or onto a sidewalk in this case—her heart skipped a happy beat at the sight of him.
“This is a nice surprise, the little woman greeting the conquering hero when he returns from battle,” he said with a teasing grin.
“Conquering hero? Have you given yourself yet another promotion?”
“And here I thought the little woman thing would get me in trouble.”
She went up on tiptoes to kiss him right in front of his detail, which went against everything she believed in about public displays of affection. “I like to surprise you.”
His grin got bigger as he put his arm around her to walk her inside. “And you do it so well. How is my gorgeous little wife tonight?”
“Better than she was this morning.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded.
“That’s very good news.”
They walked up the ramp he’d had installed so her dad could visit their home.
“Good evening, Mr. Vice President, Mrs. Cappuano.”
“Good evening, Jim,” Nick said to the agent manning the door.
Sam hadn’t yet gotten used to having her own front door opened for her, but she expected it would become routine by the time Nick left office—or at least she hoped it would.
When Sam would’ve tossed her coat over the sofa, Nick grabbed it and hung it next to his in the closet while Sam looked on in amusement.
“There’s one minute of your life you’ll never get back. ”
“It was one minute well spent to keep our home orderly and neat.”
She held up a hand to her ear. “What was that noise I heard? Was it your sphincter tightening?”
He laughed. “There she is.”
Confused, Sam looked over her shoulder at an empty room. “There who is?”
“There’s my smart-mouthed, sarcastic wife. I’ve missed her the last few weeks.”
“She’s been right here.”
Shaking his head, he said, “No, she hasn’t.” He glanced at Jim, who was standing inside the door pretending not to listen to every word they said. “Would you give us a minute, please?”
“Of course, sir.”
The agent crossed to the room that used to be their study and now served as the Secret Service’s office.
“There,” Nick said. “That’s better.” He drew her into his embrace, wrapping his arms around her.
Sam burrowed her nose into his neck, breathing in the sweet scents of starch and cologne, the smell of home. “I’m sorry about last night and everything—”
He pulled back to kiss her. “No apology needed.”
“I don’t know why I felt the need to fake it, Nick. I’ve been screwed up, but I think I’m going to be better now. Talking to Harry helped and my dad. Trulo cleared me to go back to work.”
“Wow, you’ve had quite a day.”
“I’m going to wait until after the inauguration to go back. Gonzo is running things on the knife murders, and it’s good for him to have that experience. I have dress fittings and other important second lady business to attend to, so the week after next is soon enough.”
“Whatever you want to do is fine with me. I’m glad to hear you say you’re going back.”
“Are you? I sort of figured you’d be happy to hear I was thinking of quitting.”
“As much as I sweat over your safety, I’d never want you to give up something that makes you happy, especially not now. Not when it would give he-who-shall-not-be-named such pleasure to think he ran you off the force.”
“My dad said the same thing.”
“Skip is a wise man, and so is your husband.”
“Indeed. Could I schedule a little loft time tonight?” She ran her finger down the silky length of his tie and hooked it under his belt. “I owe you a do-over.”
“Um…” He swallowed hard.
“What?”
“I can’t remember what I was going to say. All the blood in my body is heading to a party in my pants.”
Sam started laughing and couldn’t stop.
Scotty came in from the kitchen and made a face at them. “Eww, are you kissing again?”
Nick smiled at her as he released her. “To be continued.” Turning to Scotty, he said, “I’m living for the day you have your first girlfriend. Be prepared to pay for all the times you’ve said how gross kissing is.”
Scotty made another disgusted face that had them both laughing.
“How’s the homework?” Sam asked.
“All done except for stinking math. Shelby and I made our own meatballs. They are so good. You gotta come have some. It’s all ready.”
“It smells fantastic,” Nick said. He took Sam’s hand to walk with her into the kitchen.
“I should be doing this stuff with him,” Sam said for Nick’s ears only.
“It’s probably better for all of us if we let Shelby handle that part of his education.”
Sam elbowed him in the ribs. “I’m not that bad in the kitchen.”
“Um, yeah you are, but luckily you shine in other rooms.”
“Sex-crazed beast.”
“I’m a victim of my environment.” He gave her a little push that carried her into the kitchen where their personal assistant and friend, Shelby Faircloth, was stirring something on the stove.
The tiny blonde wore an apron that covered the slight bump in her abdomen.
“You’re feeling better, Tinker Bell?” Sam asked.
“I might’ve turned a corner this morning. I only puked twice and then I felt good enough to come spend some time with my best buddy Scotty.”
“Glad to hear it. What’ve you brewed up for us tonight?”
“Scotty gets all the credit. I only supervised.”
“Is Avery still away?” Sam asked, casually, not wanting to show too much interest in the FBI agent who’d shown too much interest in her for Nick’s liking.
But now he was engaged to Shelby, and that was all in the past. Or at least it was for Sam.
Nick still showed his teeth a little too often when Avery was around.
“Yes, he’s in Charleston for one more night.”
“How’s his mother doing?”
“Much better. The cardiologist said the pacemaker is working perfectly, and she shouldn’t have any more issues.”
“The family must be relieved.”
“Very much so.” Shelby removed the apron, and Sam tried not to fixate overly much on the gentle swell of her abdomen under the fuzzy pink sweater she wore. “I’ll get out of here so you guys can eat.” She kissed Scotty’s cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow after school.”
“Why don’t you stay and eat with us?” Nick said. “I’m sure there’s plenty, and there’s no need for you to eat alone when you could be with us.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Don’t be silly,” Scotty said as he set a fourth place. “We love having you around.”
Shelby’s eyes filled with tears. “Damned pregnancy hormones.” She glanced at Sam, seeming to immediately regret complaining about pregnancy.
Sam smiled at her, hoping to send the message that it was okay. She could handle being around yet another pregnant woman when pregnancy had proven challenging for her.
They sat down to enjoy Scotty’s delicious meatballs and a rant about the insanity of seventh grade math.
“Can I say, for the record, that I totally agree with you?” Sam said. The glass of wine Nick had poured for her had given her liquid courage. “Middle school math sucks balls.”
“Samantha,” her husband said in the chastising tone she loved.
“What? It does! It’s the stupidest thing in the history of stupid things.
When have you ever used algebra for anything?
” She looked to Nick and Shelby, neither of whom had a satisfactory answer.
“We put kids all the way through school without teaching them a thing about personal finance or nutrition or how to open a bank account or why they need insurance or how to buy a house. We torture them with algebra and chemistry and Shakespeare, but they don’t learn much of anything that they’ll use in their lives. ”
“I love her so much,” Scotty said, seeming awestruck by her outburst.
Hearing him say that nearly reduced her to tears, but the glare she received from Nick let her know she needed to fix the damage.
Sighing, she slipped reluctantly back into mom mode. “That said, buddy, you still gotta deal with the stupid crap they make you do so you can get the piece of paper you need to get out of there. Think of your high school diploma as your get-out-of-jail free card.”
Nick shook his head in amused disbelief. “Really, Sam?”
“I understand what she’s saying,” Scotty said. “You have to play the game to get to the finish line.”
“Yes! Exactly.” Sam smirked at Nick. “He gets me.”
“Someone’s got to,” Nick said.
“Har har.”
“Y’all are funny,” Shelby said, giggling. “Is this what happens every night at dinner?”
“Thankfully not every night or our son might be a dropout by now,” Nick said.
“I only speak the truth,” Sam said.
“At the risk of getting fired and banned from your house, I sort of agree with Sam,” Shelby said.
“I’m surrounded by rebels,” Nick said, taking a long swig of his beer.
“Seriously, though,” Shelby said, “everything I needed to know to run my business I learned on the job. I would’ve loved a personal finance class in high school, something about how the stock market works and how to plan for retirement.
I think everyone needs accounting more than they need algebra. ”
Sam held up her hand to Shelby, who high-fived her. “Sing it, sister.”
“Dad, you’re the vice president. You could do something about this.”
“Yeah, Nick,” Sam said. “You should outlaw algebra. That would get you elected president of the universe.”
“What exactly do you propose that I do?” Nick asked.
“You could meet with the education people,” Scotty said in all seriousness, “and tell them the current system is messed up.”
Nick looked to Sam, his expression challenging.
“Well, um, he can’t go in there demanding widespread changes,” Sam said.
“Why not?” Scotty asked. “He’s the vice president. He can do whatever he wants to.”
“Yes, Sam,” Nick said, enjoying watching her squirm. “Why not?”