When the pilot announced that they’d reached forty thousand feet, Taylor unfastened her seatbelt and moved to sit across from Victor. “Where were you last night?”
When Victor looked up, Taylor could see the lie forming behind his eyes. “Hmm?”
“Hmm?” Taylor mocked. “I woke up at 3AM and you were gone. Where did you go?”
Victor raised the coffee cup to his lips and took a sip.
Taylor frowned at the scars on his knuckles. “Victor, what happened to your hands?”
“I sneaked pass the Secret Service to get some fresh air and ran into a problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
“The kind that was easily solved,” Victor quipped with a confident smirk.
Taylor raised a brow. “What are you up to, Governor Creed?”
Victor slipped his arm behind her and pulled her onto his lap. “Nothing for you to worry about. Gimme a kiss,” he said, puckering his lips.
Taylor pushed her fingers through his thick, black hair and kissed his lips. Even though he’d glazed over his explanation, she decided to let it go. She trusted her husband andmostof his decisions.
Kena, Victor’s assistant, approached and killed their tender moment by handing them both sheets of paper. “Here are both of your itineraries for the day.”
Taylor looked down at the paper. “We have different itineraries?”
“Yes, ma’am. While the governor is meeting with the Baptist Leadership of Louisiana, you’ll be having brunch with the Leading Ladies of Louisiana.”
“How fun,” Taylor muttered with sarcasm. “I get to break bread with a bunch of rich white women who couldn’t possibly understand the everyday struggles of the average woman.”
“Yep,” Kena confirmed with a sympathetic smile. “By the way, we really need to find you an assistant.”
“Me?” Taylor asked with a wrinkled brow. “Why do I need an assistant?”
“Well, for one, you need someone to schedule your appointments and appearances. Since Victor is in the race for the presidency, I’m sorry to say that your carefree days of just being the governor’s wife are over.”
“Carefree?” Taylor scoffed. “You’re funny.”
Kena laughed. “I’ll have a list of candidates for you by tomorrow.”
“I guess,” Taylor muttered.
Kena offered a sympathetic smile. “It won’t be so bad. I’ll find someone who won’t get on your nerves. In the meantime, you’ll be staying in the presidential suite in one of the oldest hotels in New Orleans. La Maison d’Auriette is quite elegant.”
Taylor grabbed Kena ‘s wrist when she turned to walk away. “Thank you,” she expressed softly. “You are so appreciated.”
Kena smiled. “I know. We’ll get through this.”
“We will,” Taylor agreed optimistically.
When Kena walked away, Victor squeezed Taylor tight and kissed her cheek. “The Leading Ladies of Louisiana are not ready for you,” he proclaimed.
Taylor rolled her eyes with a frustrated sigh. “I’ll bet you a finger one of them tries to touch my hair.”
Victor laughed and pushed his fingers through her thick, natural curls. “Because it’s beautiful.”
Taylor pushed off his lap and returned to her seat. She picked up her copy of Love and Heartbreak by Sage Young and opened the pages. She was ready to pick up where she left off, but before she could do a deep-dive, Kena returned. “I forgot to tell you. We’ve hired a stylist. She’ll be waiting at the hotel for you.”
Taylor frowned. “I need astylist?”
