Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

GARNER

I'd hidden in the executive washroom not because I needed to use the facilities but because I knew Kenan would come for me, and I'd wanted a moment alone with him before our interview.

I stood up and stepped into his large body, sliding my hands inside his suit jacket and around to his back. His aftershave was fresh and familiar.

My voice was muffled by his shirt front. "Theodore Roosevelt once said some bullshit about nothing worth having or doing comes without pain and difficulty. I would really like for that to not be true."

His rumble of laughter moved through his chest and into mine. "I once asked you to spare me the Trumanesque bullshit, but I'm going to Truman you right now. Do your best. History will do the rest ."

I let out a melodramatic sigh. "One day, I'm going to one-up you with the Trumanesque bullshit, Commander."

He leaned in and kissed me before pulling away and cupping my face. "Beloved. I am so incredibly proud of you. And I'm even prouder to be the person you've chosen to share this life with. Today, our life of freedom begins."

I smiled at him and followed him out of the bathroom. Cat teased us and accused us of sneaking in a stress-relieving quickie.

"I wish," Kenan muttered. Cat was still laughing when Rosa and the press secretary came in to retrieve us. The interview was set up on a wooden bench in the Rose Garden. The sun was fat and golden in the western sky, laying warm stripes across the cooling green grass. I greeted the well-respected news personality who'd been selected for the sit-down interview.

"Thank you for coming, Sam," I said, holding out my hand for a shake. "I don't believe you've met Commander Kenan Harper. Kenan, Sam Tetlow."

Kenan nodded, and it occurred to me that he was so used to being unseen and unheard, always half a step behind me, that it might take him a while to be comfortable taking up space at my side.

More than likely, he still wouldn't. At least, not unless we were in private and he was technically off the clock.

Sam's greeting was warm and inclusive. "Nice to finally meet you, Commander Harper. I've seen you around the Hill, but we've never been formally introduced."

As Kenan and I were seated together on the bench and miked up, Sam took the nearby chair that had been brought in for the purpose. He went over a few notes about what he would and wouldn't ask us about and then inquired whether we had anything we wanted to discuss before the interview began.

I shook my head. "All good here." I knew better than to ask Kenan. He'd already made it clear he would follow my lead, and the press team had strongly advised him to appear polite and as unintimidating as possible. Thankfully, he hadn't interpreted their instructions so strictly as to not sit up straight. You could take the man out of the military, but you couldn't take the military out of the man, apparently.

As I glanced at him, I noticed he was regulating his breathing. It was a technique he'd taught me a while ago, so I took a moment to do the same.

When Sam officially began the interview, I sat up straighter and reached over to take Kenan's hand. I'd like to say I took his hand without thinking, but that would be wrong.

I'd never in my life been able to take a man's hand in public without thinking.

But this time, finally, I could take it after only a split second of wondering whether or not it was the right thing to do.

It absolutely was.