“Really.”
She nods toward my agents, who remain in the hallway outside. “They won’t, like, tackle me or something?”
I laugh. “No. I’ll even disable the imposter ejector button.”
That finally pulls a snort from her. Maybe I’ve finally scored my first point.
She walks over and settles in my chair, her eyes widening again as it slams home where, exactly, she’s sitting. “Wow.”
I settle into the chair at the end of my desk, one Jordan frequently occupies when we’re talking in here. “Right? TheResolutedesk. A piece of history. Maybethemost famous desk in the world.”
She lightly strokes the top of it with her hand before she slowly swivels the chair completely around. “My brother-in-law is the frickingpresidentof the United States.”
“Kinda cool, huh? Want me to have the photographer called in to take a picture of you sitting here?”
Kayley shudders. “Can we do it tomorrow? When I’ve had a chance to, you know, sober up and brush my hair?”
“Sure.”
She leans back in the chair and studies me for a moment. “Why did you come out now? Why not after the first election?”
“Because I’m a chickenshit. I was too scared. I’d planned to do it back in November, but everything went sideways. A guy shot his estranged wife just before I was going to pop the question, and we were hustled out of there. Was going to do it while on the hike.”
She sits forward again. “Yeah, well, at least I know this isn’t a publicity stunt for votes. That’s something, I suppose.”
“It’s not a publicity stunt. I don’t want to keep Leo in limbo. And, hey, Christmases and other holidays at the White House are kind of pretty.”
She stands, dangerously swaying this time. I swoop in and hook an arm around her as I take the wine glass from her. “You all right?”
“Yeah.” She smirks. “I had three glasses of wine on the plane before I even got here, along with a Xanax. I’m not a great flier.” She nods toward her glass. “I honestly quit counting how many I’ve had since I got here.”
“Ah. Maybe we should get some coffee in you.”
“That’s a myth.” She studies me, her brow scrunching as she tries to focus on me. “What happens if I get married to someone? Do they get let in on the family secret?”
“That’s up to Leo. Regardless, they’d have to sign an NDA to spend time around us.”
Her tone softens. “Leo told me on the way here that you proposing to him made him happier than he’s ever been in his life.”
“I’m glad. Because I have a lot of years to make up to him and Jordan, both. Good to know I’m starting out on the right foot.”
She pointedly looks down at my bare feet, where Duck is visible. “Yeah well, that’s theonlyfoot you’ve got, right? Your right one?” She also has Leo’s dry sense of humor.
I adjust my arm around her as I chuckle. “Exactly.” I return the wine glass to her so she can finish the last few swallows and then leave it on my desk. Someone will take care of it. “Want to see the rest of the place?”
Her smirks looks a lot like Leo’s. “Sure. If I’ve got you as a tour guide, might as well get my money’s worth.”
By the time we return to the executive residence about thirty minutes later she’s a little more sober, I’ve made her giggle a few times, and we both laugh at the nearly frantic expression Jordan’s wearing.
She untangles herself from me and lurches over to Jordan to hug him. “I won’t kill him, I promise. Think I need help to my room, though.”
Leo smiles. “Thanks, sis.”
She makes Jordan turn her so she can waggle a finger at me. “I’d have beenpissedif you’d used the ejector button.”
I don’t know what’s funnier—her drunken wink or the confused look Leo and Jordan exchange. “You’re family, Kayley. Couldn’t do that to you.”
Jordan heads down the hall with her as she giggles.
