Page 36 of The Devil Goes to Washington

“Fucking overjoyed to be primped and posed, right?” Michael murmured to her.

“Fucking yeah!” Micah repeated.

“Micah, you know better. And you should too, Michael.” Evelyn reprimanded, trying not to laugh.

“We need you to speak up so we can hear you on the video,” Ethan announced. Evelyn and Michael guffawed but gave them a thumbs up and plastered their most pleasant smiles on.

“This looks like a good spot.” Michael went off script, but no one stopped him. He laid out the blanket and sat down with the basket.

“I bet you two are hungry after all that walking. I can’t wait to see what Cora packed for us.” Evelyn tried to stick to her lines, but make it sound natural, kneeling between them.

“I know this is your favorite,” Michael held a strawberry to her lips and she was obliged to taste it. He stared at her a moment longer before taking a bite himself. She watched his lips close around it, sucking on the juices, then his teeth sunk into the flesh. Swallowing hard, she turned her attention to her son.

“Did you find a sandwich you like?” she asked, seeing him take the last bite of one.

“That’s lunch!” a faceless voice declared. Micah jumped up and ran toward the Monument, the bodyguard following more slowly than before, while the crew dug into their cooler of food.

“I think we may finally get a couple of minutes uninterrupted,” Michael uttered, removing Evelyn’s hat and releasing the pins from her hair.

“Did you eat enough?” She asked, trying to think clearly, as he combed his fingers through her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders.

“What I want is not in that container.” He hummed, holding up her oversized hat and blocking their view of his team and the photographers. His lips brushed across her like he was asking for permission. She leaned into him, capturing his full bottom lip between her teeth. His hand clutched the back of her head, his tongue invading her mouth, searching for more.

“Eww! They’re at it again.” Micah complained, with good reason.

Since the day he first joined them for breakfast, Michael had been attentive and supportive as he promised. Her walls crumbled a little more each time he showed up for them. But he also took every opportunity to express his affection to the point of frustration. He declared that he wouldn’t take her to bed until he won her heart again.

“Geesh, one little kiss, and an entire production is made.” Michael pulled away and winked at Evelyn.

“That was off the charts hot. Don’t think you're hiding it from anyone,” Meghan grinned, standing unnoticed next to the blanket.

“How about one quick game of soccer before we call it a day?” He said to Micah, ignoring Meghan’s comment or the hoots from the crew who had likely gotten a picture.

Evelyn watched Michael give her son pointers on how to control the ball more easily. Ethan and the photographers joined in for the fun until Micah started yawning and Michael proclaimed the outing complete. He led them to the car, nodding a quick hello to Stevenson, letting everyone else clean up.

Getting out of town took longer, needing to navigate around tourists and school buses. By the time they were crossing the bridge, Micah had fallen asleep in the seat facing Michael and Evelyn.

“I should give these back to you before I forget.” She handed the rings to him.

“Or we could play a question game.” He said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“YOU MEAN LIKE 21 QUESTIONS?” She looked confused, still holding the rings out to him.

“I hope there won’t be that many to get to the good stuff.”

“There can’t be any good stuff with Micah here, besides you said—” She didn’t sound horrified at the idea, so it gave him hope.

“I guess it depends on the answers to your questions and how creative we can be.”

“What does that have to do with these?” She asked, shaking her hand in frustration.

“Well, it has to do with this little document.” He drew out a thick, folded sheaf of papers from the side of the seat and unfolded it.”

“Our prenup? I thought things were going ok. Please don’t do this. Don’t pull the rug out from under us,” she begged. He didn’t mean to make her panic, but with their history, he should have known better.

“Shh. Evie, I’m not. I want to give you the option to make some changes to it.”

“But you said—” Dropping the papers, he cradled her face and pressed his lips to hers. He moved back when he felt her body relax and her breathing slow.