“Can I ask a favor?” He wears a playful smile I’ve known all my life without even knowingit.
It’s my smile.
“Sure.”
“When Carter gets here…can you bring him down here, too? SusieJo and Owen would get a real kick out of a picture of him in here.”
I don’t miss how he lists Owen. “Only if I can ask you something, just between us.”
“Okay.”
“I…know. About them. We talked to them early on for…advice. Notjustpolitical advice. And we’re friends.”
I can tell he doesn’t want to saytoo much from the way he slowly nods.
I continue. “We have something…similar going on.”
The playful smile returns. “Guess my instincts are right, then.”
“What instincts?”
He shrugs. “I suspected the day I married you and Chris, but it wasn’t my place to say anything. I had a feeling maybe you guys had done something before I got there. I saw the rings. Today, you were focused on Christopherand the kids. Kevin was focused onyou, and not just because he’s your chief of staff. Chris is his best friend, but I could see they’re more. From the way Kevin would lay a hand on Chris’ shoulder and leave it there for a long moment, more than just a friend. Like Carter and Owen. But even before, when we had our talks, I could see it in him. He loves Christopher, too, doesn’t he?”
I nod. “It’sa long story, but they were together briefly a long time ago, then didn’t see each other for twenty years.”
“And you and Christopher were a thing by then?”
“Sort of.” I realize who I’m talking to. “We were, but it was a secret.”
“Well, if SusieJo and her boys can manage the juggling act since college, I don’t see why you three can’t. What’s your question, though?”
“Oh. Right.” I meet his gaze.“I don’t want to lose either of them.”
“Then don’t.”
“How do I protect them? Especially Kevin? Now that we have kids.”
“I think Kevin protectsyou, am I right?”
For the first time in a long time, I blush.
“Lethim,” Benchley continues. “Let him do his job as your chief of staff and your…partner. There’s a reason Carter was Owen’s chief, and there might not be a better one ever known thanhim, with Kevin a close second. Carter’s loyal, driven, and focused on one thing—protect his loved ones atallcost. Even at the expense of himself. And that’s what hewantsto do. So let Kevin bethatforyou. What SusieJo and the boys have works because they let the bromance shine, as she says it. Focus on the friendship. How does your press secretary play into that? Kev’s ex?”
“She’s a friend.She knows about Chris and Kev, but not about me and Kev, and that has to stay a secret for his reasons. It’s a long story, but I agree with those reasons.”
“By the way, you did damn good with Lauren. Hiring her was a stroke of genius.”
I smile. “That was all Kev. He wanted control of staffing that position and making her head of Communications.”
He laughs. “See? He’s already been protectingyou.”
* * * *
Benchley and I are up in the living room when everyone returns a couple of hours later. We’ve already eaten dinner. There was a full buffet at the wake and Kev texted me to not wait to eat. The kids are exhausted, so after I give them hugs and kisses, Chris and Kev put them to bed while Carter joins me and Benchley. We’ve told people Kev is spending the next several nights herein the residence. Under the circumstances, fuck what anyone says about it.
Carter’s loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar, and I can see what Susa loves about him. As always, I’m struck by his very bearing, his quiet confidence. The man’s a Dom, for sure. I know he’s also former military, and he also saluted during the funeral.
Benchley waves Carter toward me. “Go downstairs with her, Carter,”he says. “Get a picture of you behind her desk.”
