Aidan and Mary Beth arrived a half an hour after Berkley and Preston, and they separated with plans for dinner in an hour. Berkley and Aidan shared a shower, and Berkley dressed while Aidan put on makeup, then got thrown out of the bedroom so Aidan could get ready. “I want to surprise you, so lose the pout, fly girl.”
The time alone in the front room gave Berkley a chance to make sure she was ready, and she was both nervous and anxious to get going. There was no way to make up for the years they’d lost after they broke up, but tonight was the first step in assuring it would never happen again.
It took another twenty minutes before Aidan opened the door and stepped out in a midnight-blue dress that left Berkley speechless. “My god—you’re so beautiful,” she finally got out, holding Aidan’s hands and not able to stop looking Aidan up and down. “Truly stunning.”
“Thank you, and you should remember this the next time you complain about shopping.” Aidan pulled her down by her jacket lapels and kissed her. “I love you.”
“I love you too, and I’m going to have a hard time not rushing through dinner.”
“My mother has been reading about this place for months after your mom mentioned it, so you might be out of luck when it comes to quick, baby. Later on, though, I hope to have the same problem when I get you all to myself.” Aidan kissed her again before smoothing her jacket back in place. “You’re too sexy for words in this suit, and I’m planning to take my time peeling it off you later.”
“You’re a cruel woman, my love, but damn if I don’t love your torture techniques.”
Preston didn’t mind sitting in the back this time, and she gladly held Aidan’s hand all the way to Blanchard’s in the Garden District. The hostess greeted Berkley with a hug before leading them to the upstairs dining room, since she’d been here often with her parents. Someone from the kitchen staff came up before they ordered drinks and asked if she and Aidan minded coming down to talk to their head chef for a few minutes.
“You two go ahead,” Preston said, taking Mary Beth’s hand. “I love your company but wouldn’t mind getting my girl alone for a few minutes.”
She held Aidan’s hand as they descended the back stairs that led to the kitchen, and they did spend some time talking to Keegan Blanchard, who seemed happy to help with what Berkley had called about earlier. “Thank you both for your service, guys, but there’s one more spot you need to see before I get to feed you. Berkley, you know the way, right?” Keegan asked.
“Thanks, and yes, I do.” She led Aidan outside from the kitchen door and to the garden by the outdoor seating space.
“This is a beautiful spot,” Aidan said, sitting on the bench under the big oak. “It’s like a secret garden.”
She sat next to her and nodded. “This is a special spot.” She had to stop and take a few breaths to calm down. The box in her pocket had been in her travel kit for three months, but she’d waited until they were in this place, on this bench. “The Blanchards are old friends of my mom and her family, and have been since Della Blanchard, the current owner, went to school with my grandmother.”
“Really? It’s nice they still keep in touch. You must’ve come here often.”
“I have, and I’m glad your parents accepted my invitation. Tonight I wanted to share an old family tradition with you.”
“If it’s making out under this great tree, my father will eventually hunt you down and drag you back inside.” The teasing made Berkley smile, and Aidan kissed her.
“Maybe later, when I’m not under Triton’s gun,” she said, taking Aidan’s hand. “And that’s not the tradition I’m talking about.”
“If it involves you putting your hands under this dress, you can forget it.” Aidan tapped her on the nose and laughed.
“Such heathens you think the Levines to be.” She kissed Aidan again and couldn’t wait any longer to ask. “My father proposed to my mother here,” she said softly, and Aidan’s fingers tightened around hers. “That proposal was one of many, and I thought all those yeses would bring me luck.”
“Bring you luck?” Aidan asked, sounding out of breath.
She moved down to one knee and took the box out of her pocket. “You are the love of my life, and I think that’s been true from the moment I showed up at your door with flowers. You’re beautiful, but so much more than that.” She opened the box, took out the ring her mom and sisters had helped her shop for, and held it up. “We may not know where life will take us, what our futures hold, or what we’ll face, but I never want to do it without you by my side. Will you marry me?”
Aidan had pressed her hands to her mouth and had been nodding as she spoke, but then she stopped and simply said, “Yes.” They kissed, and she’d never experienced this level of happiness. “I love you.”
“This means you’re stuck with me,” she joked as she placed the ring on Aidan’s finger.
“There’s no place I’d rather be, my love, and wow.” Aidan held up her hand and studied her finger. “Thank you for sharing your family’s traditions with me and for this. It’s beautiful.”
“I understand that, until we’re out of the service, you won’t get to wear it every day.” She reached into her coat pocket and took out a platinum chain. “But knowing you might want to keep it close, I got you this. Thank you for saying yes.”
“God, baby, I’m so ready for the picket fence you promised me,” Aidan said and kissed her again.
“I know exactly what you mean. Let’s go celebrate, and you can tell Triton I didn’t screw it up.”
“You realize he’s going to be as happy as I am, don’t you?”
“He seemed pretty happy when I talked to him today. I think he just doubts my romantic abilities.”
“If he only knew…he’d kill you slowly and with a lot of pain…but it would put that fear to rest.”
Berkley gave Keegan a thumbs-up when they went back in, and she promised to send something up to toast the occasion. The celebration and hugs started when Aidan lifted her hand and Mary Beth slapped hers together.
“Remember everything I said,” Preston said when he hugged Berkley tightly.
“I will. You have my word, sir.”
“I’ve got no worries, and congratulations. I’m damn proud to call you family.” Preston released her and swiped at his eyes. For all his gruffness, he was a softy at heart.
“Thank you, sir.”
“No, thank you for loving our little girl, Berkley. I’m always going to worry about her, but it’ll be nice to share the load with you.”
“She’s in good hands, ma’am, but then so am I,” Berkley said, and Aidan caressed her thigh. “Now we have to work on you guys moving down here, and we can enjoy retirement together.”
“You’re really thinking of retiring?” Preston asked.
“We can’t just yet, but hopefully soon, Daddy. Tonight, though, isn’t for talking about that.”
“No. Tonight is for eating fast so I can get this beautiful woman home,” Berkley said, and Aidan slapped her arm. Preston simply laughed, making her think it was okay to order. “Waiter.”
* * *
President Peter Khalid stopped talking until the White House staff finished serving dinner. He’d gone to the residence to see his family for a bit, but these dinner meetings with Vice President Olivia Michaels, Defense Secretary Drew Orr, NSA Director Calvin Vaughn, CIA Director Marcus Newton, new FBI Director Jonas Chapman, and head of security for the Pentagon, Commander Mark “Rooster” Palmer, happened once a week. He’d been in office just over a year, and so far, he’d spent a lot of his presidency trying to weed out traitors who’d been sprinkled throughout government by the previous vice president.
“Any new leads?” Peter asked, glancing at Calvin.
“Chandler has effectively disappeared and left no trail of where he could be. We have every one of our allies working on this search as well, which leads us to conclude he’s fled to a rogue state.” Calvin shook his head in apparent disgust, and Peter shared the sentiment. “This man was a heartbeat away from the highest office, and this is what he was doing. It’s the most treasonous act in our history, sir.”
“No ideas or guesses?” Peter asked, wondering what a rogue nation would gain from harboring Chandler.
“Sir, we have too much at stake to guess,” Drew said. “We’ve started a complete investigation of every branch of the military, searching for any connection to New Horizons and anyone serving, no matter their rank. The number of folks in custody is growing, but we’ll keep at it until we reach everyone.”
“Anyone talk so far?” Olivia asked, beating Peter to it.
“The only cooperating person so far is Jerry Teague’s assistant, who swears on a stack he didn’t know what he was getting into,” Rooster said and snorted. “He’s full of it, but the heat down at Gitmo is starting to twist his brain. Walby Edwards has been interrogating the others, but so far all they’re doing is screaming their name, rank, and serial number as well as how unfair we’re treating them. Erika Gibson and the other woman, Skinner, are complaining about the heat.”
“This is a war of their own making, and if they hadn’t joined, they wouldn’t be hot. It’s pretty simple,” Peter said, taking a sip of his beer. “We need some breakthroughs on this, but I appreciate your hard work.”
“You all have done great work, but are we ready for our next phase?” Olivia asked.
“The excuse they’ve used up to now for their actions has been Captain Sullivan and Commander Levine, and they’re on board with what we’ve asked of them so far. We don’t foresee any problems,” Marcus said. “From my understanding, they’re ready to return to sea, even if that means becoming a target for these fools. They’re also okay with having some of my guys on board once the Jefferson sets sail.”
“Is that totally necessary?” Jonas asked.
“It’s important for me to know what’s happening on that ship,” Marcus said staring at Jonas like he was some irritating fly trying to land on him. “Sullivan will answer to Command and might not have time for us, and I for one don’t want to be out of the loop.”
“Just as long as they don’t get in Aidan’s way,” Olivia said.
“Give me more credit than that.” Marcus tried to bleed the sarcasm from his tone, but from Olivia’s expression, he’d failed miserably.
“Thank you all, and I expect you all tomorrow with your guests, but if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you with Olivia to finish this.” Everyone stood with him, and he walked with his Secret-Service agent back to the Oval Office. “How’s the family?” he asked Agent Lainey Willcott.
“My son has a summer cold, but aside from that, all’s well, sir.” Lainey filled in some nights when the lead of the president’s security detail, Shimmy Laurel, needed her. “I’ll be waiting outside the door if you need anything, sir.”
“How about some good luck?”
“Luck then, Mr. President,” Lainey said, opening the door to his office, prompting his secretary Judy Harper to excuse herself.
The man waiting on him appeared comfortable, but then the space had been his office for the eight years before Peter arrived. President George Butler had been in office only nine months when the terrorists had attacked on American soil, and he’d become a wartime president for the rest of his term. It was a quagmire Peter was still trying to navigate a way out of, but it was time to bring George in on their investigation.
“George, thank you for coming.” He walked in and shook hands with the former president before George embraced him. They might’ve disagreed on almost everything politically, except for keeping the American people safe, but he couldn’t help but like George and his good-ole-boy demeanor. “How are your parents and family?”
“Dad is as ornery as ever, but my mama is too, so it balances out. Victoria and the girls are great after leaving the glare of this fishbowl, and I can’t disagree on that sentiment.” George nodded when he pointed to the coffee service Peter had brought in, since his predecessor didn’t drink any alcohol. “And I was glad to come,” George said, then laughed. “Hopefully it’s not for you to beat me with a hose over this Chandler business.”
“There’s no way in hell you had anything to do with this, so you’ve got no hoses in your future.” They sat across from each other and chuckled. “I am, though, going to ask you for your help.”
“Mr. President, how can you be so sure? That I’m not involved, I mean.”
“You and your father served our nation when called to do so, and I, as well as every American, thank you for your service. No man or woman who enlisted during wartime would try to destroy what they fought to defend. Granted, I have plenty of enlisted men and women in custody right now, but I in no way think of you betraying something you love.”
“You’re damn right,” George said with conviction.
“Then stop with the Mr. President and help me solve this.”
“I’ll be happy to, Peter. Dick Chandler was my mistake, and I’d like to be a part of bringing his ass in to answer for his crimes. You give me a job, and I’ll do my best to find him and serve him up to whatever court you want him to face.”
“It would send a strong message if you’d join the team we have working on this. You’re the only one I can think of, aside from Chandler’s family, who knows him better.”
George stared at him as if he’d lost his sanity by asking him that. “Dick was a con man who blinded me with his line about his connections in the oil and gas industry. It’s the world I come from. My goal was to bring us to oil independency, and he said he was the best man for that job.” The sudden honesty was a clue George regretted his first and most important decision. “Once we were elected under a cloud of doubt because we lost the popular vote, he showed his hand. He wanted the power I could wield but knew he could never win on his own.”
“Thank you for sharing that.” He reached over and placed his hand on George’s knee. “I understand now more than ever what you said about legacy. I really don’t want another civil war on my watch.”
“Believe me, they’ll blame us both. You tell me what you want, and I’ll give you all I’ve got.” George spoke with such passion, Peter thought he’d won an important battle that’d be crucial in flushing more of Chandler’s minions out of government.
“Let’s get to work.”