Chapter Twenty-One
When Sam rejoined her squad, she leaned in to talk to Freddie and Gonzo. “Allston is his nephew.”
“Curiouser and curiouser,” Gonzo said.
“And apparently, that relationship hasn’t been publicly disclosed.”
“We’ll dig into Allston in the morning.”
“Pass it on to Carlucci to get started tonight. Where there’s smoke…”
“We’ll find the fire.”
Tracy brought the twins over to say good night to Sam and Nick, who hugged and kissed them both.
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Nick said.
“Be good for Celia,” Sam added.
“We always are,” Aubrey said.
“We love you,” Sam said.
“Love you, too!”
With their detail in tow, Tracy took the twins upstairs to Celia, who’d see them through dinner and bedtime.
Nick stood to toast the Canadian prime minister and his wife. “Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Hutchinson, it’s our honor to host you at the White House and celebrate all things Canadian tonight. I can’t wait to try the poutine. I’ve heard it’s amazing. The partnership between our two countries is one that’s stood the test of time and more challenges than we can possibly name in just a few minutes. Our alliance has been steadfast through two world wars and numerous other crises. Our support for each other never wavers. Matthew, Samantha and I are delighted to welcome you and Courtney to the White House and to offer our friendship in the years to come. Please raise your glasses to our guests of honor.”
As their guests applauded, Matthew Hutchinson stood. “Thank you, Mr. President and Mrs. Cappuano, for the warm welcome you’ve shown Courtney and me. We’ve very much enjoyed the time we’ve spent together and look forward to working with you both to advance the interests of our North American partnership. We also invite you to visit us at your earliest convenience. Cheers.”
During dinner, they were entertained by solo performances from some of the country’s most talented musicians on violin, trumpet and vocals. Sam couldn’t believe she was in the same room with them, let alone the hostess of an event like this.
If only her dad could be there with them, she thought, it would’ve been perfect. He’d be blown away by it all. She hoped that somehow he knew and was proud to see his daughter and son-in-law living in the White House and hosting world leaders along with a Who’s Who of famous guests.
Sam wasn’t sure what she thought of the poutine, which was french fries with salty, softened cheese curds and gravy, but everyone else at their table of family and friends loved it.
Courtney leaned in to whisper to Sam, “Poutine is a Québécois, or Quebec French, slang term for ‘mess.’”
Sam laughed at the apt description.
“Frankly,” Courtney added, “I prefer my fries with vinegar.”
“Me, too!”
The menu consisted of one exquisite course after another of some of the most delicious food she’d ever had. She had to refer to the printed menu to identify a few things, but most of it was familiar to her.
Dessert was coconut cake with strawberries, followed by more champagne and Canadian chocolate in the shape of maple leaves.
“I’m stuffed,” Tracy declared.
“That was amazing,” Mike said.
“I had nothing to do with it,” Sam said, “but I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“And here we thought you planned and prepared the whole meal,” Scotty said.
The others lost it laughing.
“Very funny. If I’d been in charge, it would’ve been pizza and french fries for everyone.” She reached for Nick’s hand under the table. “Somehow, our amazing White House team pulls off a daily miracle, especially on days like this.”
“I understand our hosts recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary,” Jon Bon Jovi said from the stage. “I was honored to perform at their wedding, and if they’d come to the dance floor, I’ve got a throwback to that day ready for them.”
Nick stood and offered Sam his hand. “Shall we, my love?”
“Yes, we shall, Mr. President.”
Tracy fanned her face. “Swoon.”
Nick led the way to the dance floor as everyone in the massive tent applauded.
After recently having had tomatoes thrown at them by protesters, it was nice to be surrounded by a friendly crowd.
Sam would never get used to being the center of attention, so she chose to focus on her gorgeous husband and the opportunity to dance with him to music by her favorite singer.
The opening notes of “Make a Memory” reminded her of a few special moments, including the night he’d come home to find her reading Congress for Dummies because she wanted to understand his job as a senator. She’d had the song on blast that night. It also made her think of their glorious wedding day and all the amazing days since then.
“You and me, kid,” he whispered in her ear. “Forever and ever.”
His sweet words gave her goose bumps. For him she juggled two full-time jobs while trying to be a halfway decent mother. He was worth all the stress and aggravation.
“Best part of my day, hands down,” he said.
“Same, love.”
Being held by him, even with hundreds of people watching, was the best thing ever.
Jon invited the Hutchinsons to join them on the dance floor for the second half of the song.
“Am I drooling?” Courtney asked Sam as she gazed at Jon.
“Hands off. He’s mine.”
“She’s not kidding,” Nick said.
They laughed as they swayed to the final notes of “Make a Memory.”
Then Jon played an up-tempo set that got everyone dancing.
She and Nick posed for photos with most of their guests. Fortunately, he knew just about everyone and handled most of the small talk for both of them. She was beginning to run out of steam after the long, busy day and was beginning to crave her bed—and some time alone with him.
They’d sent Scotty up to bed after dinner since it was a school night.
Nick, being Nick, tuned in to her exhaustion and orchestrated a smooth escape that included a few minutes with the Hutchinsons before they headed for the door without drawing much attention from guests who were now dancing to music from a jazz band.
“What time will the party go to?”
“Probably after two.”
“Jeez. Thank God we don’t have to stay until then.”
“I could see you were starting to wilt.”
“Long day.”
“Yes, it was.”
He guided her up the stairs to the residence, where they looked in on sleeping kids and a dog before heading into their suite.
“I’m ready to kick off these heels and get comfy.”
“Before you do…” He came up behind her and ran his hands over her hips as he kissed the back of her neck. “You looked so incredibly beautiful tonight.”
“Aw, thanks. I loved this dress the first time Marcus showed me the drawing of it.”
“Please pass along my appreciation for his fine work.”
“I’ll do that.” They stood with his arms around her from behind and his chin on her shoulder for a long moment. “It all seemed to go well, right?”
“It was exceptional in every way. The White House staff and our teams pulled off a stunner, and I’ll tell them so tomorrow.”
“They’ll appreciate hearing that from you.”
“It’s hard to believe what goes on here every day, most of which you and I have nothing to do with, but they know exactly what’s required and how to pull it off without breaking a sweat.”
“Thank goodness for all the great people who make it happen.”
He kissed her neck and sent a shiver through her. “And thank goodness for my first lady, who had to cut a busy workday short to come home for tea and frivolity when she certainly has more important things to do.”
She stepped forward so she could turn to face him, curling her arms around his neck. “There is nothing in this world that’s more important to me than you and our family and whatever you guys need from me.”
“Figuring out who killed Tom and getting justice for him is more important than a silly state dinner.”
“No, it really isn’t. As much as I want justice for him—and we’ll get it, eventually—today was all about you and whatever you needed.”
“I’m very thankful for you every day, but especially on days like this when you have to put aside your own important work to support me.”
“I was very happy to support you. I love you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, which I hope I’ve proven by allowing myself to be referred to as your first lady.”
His smile lit up his face and her world. “That term could use an update.”
“Do you think?”
He found the tab to the zipper of her dress and tugged it down. “Are you still up for some loft time?” Waggling his brows, he added, “You mentioned something about the good sex, not that any sex isn’t good sex.”
She smiled. “I’ve been looking forward to it all night.”
Sam’s cell phone rang on the bedside table, where she’d plugged it in earlier. She groaned. “I have to take that.”
Nick went to retrieve the phone and handed it to her.
Sam took the call from Carlucci. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re having such a big night there.”
“It’s fine. We’re back in the residence.”
“Ah, okay. Hope it all went well.”
“It did.”
“I’m calling because Gonzo passed me the info about Henry Allston being Cox’s nephew and how he was raised by Cox and his first wife. I looked into him, and it’s the strangest thing. There’s no info about him online at all. No high school or college graduations, no social media, no nothing. I think I should request a warrant for his phone data, but I wanted to clear that with you before I did it.”
“Go ahead. I’m getting a buzz that something’s up there.”
“Me, too. Gonzo said the guy is in his thirties?”
“Maybe early thirties.”
“And no presence at all online? That’s bizarre.”
“Yep.”
“I’ll text you with any developments.”
“Thanks, Dani.”
Sam brought the phone with her into the bathroom, where she found Nick stripped down to boxers and standing at the sink to brush his teeth. “Thank goodness the rest of the world can’t see you like that, or there’d be a line at the door for a turn with the POTUS.”
“As if the POTUS would have anything to do with that nonsense. He’s a one-girl kind of guy.”
“She must be one very lucky girl.”
“She’s about to be if she’ll hurry it up.”
“She’s hurrying!”
Sam went into her closet, removed the dress and everything underneath it before changing into a nightgown and robe that she tied tightly around her waist. In the bathroom, she removed her makeup, washed her face and brushed her teeth.
She found Nick in the sitting room, also wearing a robe.
“Ready?”
Sam grabbed the monitor for the twins from Nick’s bedside. “Yep.”
Hand in hand, they went upstairs to the third floor and ducked into the room where he’d re-created their loft from their Ninth Street home that’d been inspired by their trips to Bora Bora.
He lit the candles while she sat on the edge of the double lounger.
“It’s been too long since we came up here. The days go flying by.”
Nick sat next to her. “They sure do. I’ve never been so aware of how fast the time goes by than I have since we’ve been here.”
“I guess it’s a good thing that it’s going by fast.”
“It’s a very good thing. I’m looking forward to being a private citizen again.”
“You’ll never be that again. Neither of us will be.”
“Well, it’ll be much more private than it is now.”
He put his arm around her and leaned his head against hers. “Today was a good day for the Cappuano administration. The pictures will be blasted around the world, which will help with the illegitimacy bullshit.”
“That’s all it is, you know. Bullshit.”
“I do know that, but the shooting at Fort Liberty hurt. That a military member could shoot his fellow service members because of me…”
“It was because of him, not you. Tell me you know that.”
“I do, but enough about that. This time is for us.”
She gave him a side-eyed look. “Whatever shall we do?”
Smiling, he kissed her as they reclined on the lounger, arms and legs intertwined as the kiss quickly became urgent.
“Vacation feels like a very long time ago, doesn’t it?” he asked as he kissed her neck and pulled at the tie to her robe.
“Ages and ages ago.”
Since it was late and they were both tired, he helped her up and out of the robe and nightgown.
He shrugged off his robe and removed his briefs and came to her, fully erect and ready.
Sam held out her arms to him as he made himself at home on top of her. “Absolute best part of my whole day.”
“Mine, too.”
“Although dancing with you and seeing the kids all dressed up was pretty great, too.”
“Sure was. They’re so cute.”
“It was fun to watch Scotty work the room.”
“He’s a politician in training.”
Nick groaned. “Not if I can help it.”
“Oh stop. He wants to be you when he grows up.”
“Enough of that and more of this.” He kissed her as his hand found her breast, his thumb skating over her nipple.
That sent shivers all the way through her.
“I’ve missed you since we left the beach,” he said.
“Me, too. I’ve wished we were back there a million times since we left.”
“That many, huh?”
Sam curled her hand around his erection. “Possibly two million.”
He gasped when she stroked him. “Samantha…”
“Yes?”
“This is going to end quickly if you keep that up.”
“We can’t let that happen.” She gave his chest a push and moved carefully to straddle him, taking him by surprise.
“Nice move.”
She was relieved to have pulled it off without hurting her hip. “You liked that?”
“I like all your moves. What else have you got?”
“How about this?” She sank down on him, going slowly while enjoying the way his gorgeous hazel eyes heated with desire.
No one else had ever made her feel the way he did, which gave her the confidence to take the lead, to focus on his pleasure rather than her own.
“Sexiest wife in the history of sexy wives.”
“Nah.”
“Hands down. No competition.”
She smiled as she pivoted her hips, drawing a deep groan from him.
His fingers dug into the flesh of her hips. “Let’s turn over so you can come, too.”
“I’m fine just like this.”
“Sam…”
“Shhh, just enjoy it. What you said to Cox might go down as the single sexiest moment in your entire sexy life.”
“You liked that, huh?”
“I liked it a lot. You scared the shit out of him. It was epic.”
“Anything for you, love.”
“Right back atcha.” She wanted to give something to him, something only she could give him—a few minutes in which he wasn’t thinking of anything other than pleasure.
His gaze stayed focused on her every move, as if he didn’t want to miss anything. She hoped he’d think of this the next time the weight of his responsibilities became too heavy once again.
Her own worries felt far away as she drove him up and over the top.
He brought her down to rest on top of him. “It’s not fair that only one of us got the big finish.”
“I got everything I wanted and then some.”
“Not sure what I did to get so lucky to have the best wife ever.”
“You loved me like no one else ever has. That’s all you had to do.”
He caressed her back as he held her close. “That’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”