Annalise put the yesterday’s death threat out of her mind and walked into to The Justice Project with Eddie at her side. “We’re going to Nate’s office. I don’t have a desk in Luke’s anymore.” Why was she sad about that?
“You liked working here, didn’t you?”
She thought about the good things TJP did. She thought of Luke and how solicitous Luke had been yesterday. “I did.”
“Are you continuing on with the abuse case at Hastings and Higgins?”
“We’ve made them a financial offer. Mitch will take it from here, as I can’t be involved in private lawsuits in my new job.”
When they reached Nate’s office, Eddie stood in the doorway and studied the area.
When they walked into Nate’s office, he crossed to them. “Hey, there.” He smiled at Eddie. “Hello.”
Adam Crenshaw introduced himself, too. Then Eddie said, “I’ll be outside the door. Keep it open,” and left.
When they were alone, Adam frowned. “Nate told me what happened. I’m sorry about the threat.”
“Yeah, me too. Right on the first day.”
They took seats. “I’m thrilled to be working on your campaign.” He outlined what they’d do first.
Annalise knew the drill: an introductory video, a policy one, then interview and endorsement videos for social media and TV.
When he finished, she said, “Since my appointment happened recently, I’m hiring staff now and will be hammering out my policies this week. I have ideas in my head, but the people I choose will help me frame them.”
“Then let’s talk about who’ll endorse you. I assume your father.”
Annalise stilled. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not running on his coattails.”
Adam recoiled a bit. “I don’t understand.”
That irritated her. “You don’t understand why I want to be elected on my own merits?”
“Yes, I can see that. But Annalise you’re new to the game and haven’t spent much time in Maryland, so we need to go…extreme with the endorsements.”
“The party thinks I can win. And I’ll be in the state more now since running for office is my full-time job.”
“Whatever you say. How about holding an event in Maryland to announce your candidacy?”
“I’ll plan that, too, after I get my team together.”
They discussed what they could do in other areas but it was clear that Nate had jumped the gun in calling Creative Campaigns.
She left TJP, feeling as if she’d wasted her time. Eddie drove her to her office in the Rayburn Building, parked in her designated spot and accompanied her inside. The room smelled like cleaning fluids. She took out the potpourri she’d brought in and sweeter scents fill the air.
“Aren’t you bored standing around all day for a lowly congresswoman?” she asked Eddie.
“Not a bit, Shining Star. It’s fun to see you in this element. I knew you’d get here.”
“A lovely thing to say.”
He looked behind the office furniture, scoped out the bathroom then went out to the hall to stand since she was alone. “At least get a chair,” she called out when he left the door open.
Annalise studied her surroundings. The furniture was masculine but she liked the glow of the honey-oak table off to the left. She’d replace the couches with ones of warmer colors and fabric, not leather. The hardwood flooring was beautiful. She glanced at the two windows. Hmm. Archaic drapes. Those could go now. Preferring bare windows, she was about to pull at them when something struck her. “Come in for a minute, would you Eddie?”
He hurried in.
“Can I take down these awful drapes?”
He crossed to the curtains and parted them. “I’m afraid not. Even though you’re on the fifth floor, you face the parking lot and other buildings. Anyone with a long-range gun could see your every move.”
“Shit!”
He hid a smile. Then he said, “Annalise, these precautions will be necessary for a few days until we catch the sender. Meanwhile, find some drapes you like but make sure they keep you out of sight. Actually, leave it to me, I’ll get something. What color?”
Suddenly, she was bombarded by how the White House kids’ bedrooms were exactly like the ones in her house. Power, she knew, had privileges.
“Slate blue and some sheers.”
“Got it.” He reached the door and came face to face with a young woman. “Identification, please.”
“I’m Elise Faraday. I’m here to interview for chief of staff.” She held up her visitor’s pass. She would have been put through security for anything she was carrying or had on her person. Still, Eddie rummaged through her computer bag, then stepped aside.
“Come on in, Elise.” The woman was in her thirties, with warm blue eyes and wore a tailored navy suit.
“I’ll need to stay when you have visitors in this office,” Eddie told her, all Secret Service agent now. “I can stand over in the corner.”
“Fine.” She smiled at the woman. “Let’s sit on those couches and get to know each other.”
* * *
While Luke and Andy were waiting for food to be delivered, Luke switched on the TV to listen to the news.
The anchor said, “This just in. Apparently, a new member of the House received a death threat yesterday. Annalise Manwaring, appointed by Governor Carl Crane of Maryland, got a negative introduction to her new job. Our station has not seen the paper, but the threat was enough for Ms. Manwaring to require a bodyguard.”
Luke groaned. “Just what she needs.”
He was bothered by what had happened to her all through his dinner with Andy. When they finished, he threw up his hand. “Would you mind staying with Mrs. Parks while I go out for a couple of hours?”
“Why?”
“I’d like to see Annalise.”
“She’s gotta be scared.”
“Rightly so.”
“I’ll go hang with Mrs. Parks. She’s teachin’ me to play chess.”
Once Andy was settled in his room, playing video games, Luke got his car, left and drove to Annalise’s condo. He told himself he was going there because the news disturbed him, because it would disturb her.
He drove in the parking garage and walked up to the door. Jittery, he rang the bell. A man answered. Agent Eddie, her protection. “Hi, I’m Luke Branson.”
“We’ve met. Stay out here for a minute.” He came back shortly. “She says she’ll see you.”
He was glad Eddie was careful of visitors.
Once inside, the bodyguard frisked him, then went into the kitchen and Luke found Annalise on the living room couch, with the TV on. She looked over at him. “Hi, Luke. I’m surprised to see you.”
“I couldn’t stay away because of that.” He nodded to the TV. “I’m sorry it’s public.”
“The press gets wind of everything. Somebody probably spotted me with Eddie and worked backward to find out why.” She patted the cushion next to her. “Sit with me.”
“No luck in tracking down the culprit?”
“Dad said they have a lead. I’m hoping it’s all over soon.”
“I hope so, too.” He drank in her presence. She wore a light summer jersey outfit in a green that matched her eyes. Her hair was up in a ponytail. “Can I stay for a bit?”
“I’d like that, but where’s Andy?”
“As luck would have it, this grandmother lives in my apartment building. I’ve done some errands for her. When I picked her up some milk, I told her about Andy. She volunteered to watch him if I needed her. She has three grandsons.”
“You guys deserve a break.”
“Well, the kid deserves some.”
“So do you.” She held his gaze. Her expression was loving and curled inside him like a kiss. “For what it’s worth, I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” He drew in a heavy breath. “I’m sorry about this whole mess and the one I created.”
“Tell me what’s going on in your life to distract me.”
“I do happen to have news.”
“What is it?”
“Seth came to see me….” He was well into the story about Seth’s reversal when a crash came from the kitchen.
Then, “Son-of-a bitch.” Eddie flew into the living room. “Go into your den. There’s one window but the blinds are closed. Stay out of its range anyway. Go with her, Luke, and lock the door.”
He was out the front in under a minute.
“Damn all this,” she said when they locked themselves in the small room and sat in a corner.
Luke said, “I’m glad you’re angry and not upset.”
“I’m sick of this. And man, will Dad be mad at me. He wanted me to get a place in a high rise.”
They waited ten minutes, making small talk. Then her phone buzzed. She put it on speaker. “Annalise, I got the perpetrator. The police are on their way to your house. Stay where you are until they get here. I’ll be outside with her.”
“Her? It’s a woman?”
“Yep.” He clicked off.
Briefly, she closed her eyes. “Why is this more upsetting that the person is a woman?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because it’s unusual for a female to make threats?”
They heard the sirens outside. They waited. Soon Eddie called from the other side of the door, “Annalise, it’s me. You can come out.”
She unlocked the door. The three of them went to the living room. “We need to wait to hear from the police to make sure that she was working alone. But you can’t stay at this condo with the hole in the window. Let me take you to your Dad’s.”
“No. I don’t want him involved.”
“How about my apartment, Eddie? You come, too, of course. It’s on the fourth floor.”
“Good idea. Let’s go.”
* * *
After they retrieved Andy and got back to Luke’s apartment, Annalise sighed. “I’m sorry to drag you into this.” She said to Andy, “Especially you.”
The boy arched his brows mischievously. “Nah. It’s exciting.”
She could see why the boy would think that. He was particularly interested in Eddie, who’d come inside to check the apartment before they all went in. He’d retreated to the kitchen giving them some privacy.
“Too exciting.” This from Luke. “Why don’t you go set up the blowup mattress in my room. Annalise will stay in yours.”
“Can I watch TV? I’m too excited to sleep.”
“Go ahead.”
When he left, Luke turned to her, grasped her arms. “Want to sleep?” By now it was eleven.
“I should.” Instead, she moved in close, cuddled into him. He smelled of the outdoors and very male. She didn’t say anything, and he held on.
When she moved back, he kissed her head. “I’ll get you something to wear.”
He found a T-shirt and some sweats that were too small for him. They said goodnight when he brought them to her, then Eddie opened the door to the second bedroom. Searched it. “I’ll be outside all night, Annalise.”
“Thanks.” The spare room was decorated with colorful posters of Star War characters saving the world. Action figures lined one whole shelf. His bedspread sported a big Luke Skywalker.
She changed into Luke’s clothes, turned on a small light in the corner because it made her feel better, and got in bed, not expecting to sleep.
She didn’t expect the tears, either. She cried out all the tension of the night.
A knock on the door. “Eddie,” she called out, sniffling. “I’m okay.”
Instead of Eddie, Luke entered the room and crossed to the bed. “He came and got me. Told me you were crying.”
She pouted. “It’s okay to cry.”
“I know.” He was bare chested, wearing pj bottoms. “But it’s better not to cry alone.” He slid onto the mattress, stuffed a pillow behind his head and pulled her to him.
She didn’t cry anymore as he held her close and murmured, “It’ll be all right. This might be the end of it.”
She nestled in, feeling safer in his arms.
* * *
“Breaking news. On Friday night, Annalise Manwaring, the soon to be representative for Maryland, was attacked with a brick through her window. WWDC News has confirmed that the alleged perpetrator, a female, claimed Annalise didn’t deserve the appointment. It turns out she was a relative of someone who’d been considered for the seat. More details to follow.”
* * *
The following Monday…
Hey, beautiful. Good news this weekend.
Yes. I feel sorry for the poor woman. She’s had mental problems. Her husband’s a state official and thought he’d get the promotion.
That was on the news.
I asked to see her, but the police said no.
Are you feeling better?
More settled. Thanks for harboring me Friday. Poor Andy.
Andy’s ten and loved the excitement.
I miss you.
I miss you, too.
Tuesday
How are you today?
I have more news. I got full custody of Andy as his foster parent. The process got fast-tracked because of his circumstances and my kinship care.
Fantastic.
What’s going on with you?
I’ll be sworn in Thursday.
Good for you.
The whole gang is coming. My parents. Sisters. Even Andraya is flying in again from Italy.
Ah.
I wish you could be there.
No can do, sweetheart. But I would if I could. Knock ‘em dead.
Wednesday
Are you awake?
Yes, why are you? Big day tomorrow.
I can’t sleep.
Are you too excited?
Nope, it’s you mister. I really want you there.
Honey…
Yeah. You said no.
I’ll be with you in spirt.
Lotta good that’ll do.
Ha! Good night. Sweet dreams.
Of you probably. Goodnight.
* * *
Luke should be ecstatic. He was close to permanent guardianship of Andy. The adoption papers were in the works. Everything was right in his world.
Except Annalise wasn’t in it.
All week they’d dipped their toes into a relationship through texting. He’d been thinking about it for nearly seventy-two hours. Maybe if they waited a few months. Hell, even after the November election.
Or they could get married!
He moaned when Adam Crenshaw walked in to his office. “Hey, Luke. Ready to talk about Carter?” A new candidate assigned to him.
“That’s why you’re here.”
They sat at the conference table. Adam angled his head across the room. “Annalise’s desk is gone. Do you miss her?
He managed to say in a neutral tone, “A lot.”
“She’ll do great. What an easy candidate she is to sell.”
“So, what about Carter? You’ve got the first video done.”
When they started it, he realized this was hitting too close to home. He tried to focus on Crenshaw’s video, but all he could think about was how he’d done all this with Annalise. How they’d kissed for the first time that night after Crenshaw had flirted with her during Meredith’s campaign.
Halfway through the video, there was a knock on the ajar door.
Luke glanced over and practically swallowed his tongue. President James Manwaring stood in the doorway, tall and imposing, even in casual clothes. “Sorry to interrupt, Luke.” He glanced at Crenshaw. “Would you mind if I talked to Luke alone for a few minutes?”
“No, Sir, not at all.”
When Crenshaw left, the president closed the door, his Secret Service agent and Crenshaw waited in the hall. Luke didn’t know if he should be terrified, or…he didn’t know what the hell to think.
“Would you like to sit?”
The president took the chair Crenshaw vacated and pierced him with his green gaze, identical to Annalise’s.
“I’ll get right to the point.” As if he knew any other way. “You have my permission to court my daughter.”
“I-I…” Speechless, Luke stuttered. Then, “I can’t court your daughter. She could be accused—”
“Yeah, yeah. I know the issue! There are more important things to worry about. Like how unhappy she is. This should be one of the best days of her life. But I overheard her talking to Andraya last night. She’s miserable.”
“I am, too.”
“Well, get some guts, boy.”
That pissed him off. “I got guts! Don’t you get it? I’m doing this for her.”
“You don’t need to. She’s positioned well for the November election. And if you two get any grief, I’ll intervene.”
“She’d be mad if you did that.”
“What I’m saying is she’s going to make it. Are you man enough to be by her side?”
“Maybe after she’s elected, we could—"
“You could get hit by a bus, or she could. You have to live in the now because we don’t know how much time we have.” He hesitated. “Once, when I was embroiled in my job, Karen had a cancer scare. I realized what mattered in life was her.” He stood, shaking off the thought. “Enough of that. I’m leaving. Don’t disappoint me.”
And he walked out.
Hell! Must be that’s where Annalise got her gumption. Her pursuit of her goals. Her knack for living life to the fullest.
Now what the hell was Luke going to do?
* * *
Her heart fluttering with joy, Annalise put her hand on the Bible her father used when he first took a government office. “I, Annalise Manwaring, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Photographs were snapped by the press in attendance.
Governor Crane smiled at her. “Welcome to our state, Representative Manwaring.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The reporters snapped more pictures, then they were ushered out of the small ballroom in the governor’s mansion. Her family had requested no photographs be taken of them by the media. The officials up front went out through the side door but the governor stayed with her.
He gestured to the room. “You can come up now and congratulate your daughter and sister.” They’d invited Governor Crane to dinner, but he’d returned from his vacation and excused himself to catch up.
Her family swarmed her. Dad first, who said, “I’m so proud of you.” Then Sasha, then Hannah, then Andraya who squealed with delight. Her mother was last. They hugged. Karen whispered in her ear, “Sweetie, look in the back of the room.”
She looked. And felt her joy double, triple, go off the charts. “Oh, he came!”
“Now, make the most of this. We’ll meet you at The Courtyard. Remember to come in through the back door to the private room.”
She barely heard her mother. She was mesmerized by Luke, who leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
They all walked to the back of the room.
The girls glared at Luke but didn’t stop to say anything to him.
“Hello, Congresswoman.” Luke said pushing off the wall. He was attractive in his navy-blue suit, crisp white shirt and striped tie. “Congratulations. And I got to see you get sworn in.”
“Looks that way.”
They stared at each other.
“Are you—”
“I came because—”
They spoke the words together.
“You first,” she said.
His handsome face turned serious. “I came because I couldn’t stay away. I came because I’m willing to give us a shot. I came because I want to be at your side when you have all your swearings-in.”
She threw herself at him. “I want that, too.” The embrace lasted a long time. When she stepped back, she caressed his cheek. “What made you change your mind?”
“Now that’s a long story. That I’ll tell you later. Let’s go to lunch.”
“You’re coming to lunch with us, too?”
“I was invited.”
He took her hand.
“By whom?”
“Part of the long story, babe!”
* * *
The private room of The Courtyard was stunning. Its slate walls, a large bowed window, and a modern chandelier of glass and chrome was befitting of the Manwaring family’s celebration.
Her father gave a champagne toast. “To the new congresswoman in our family.”
Everyone chimed in.
Sitting next to the guest of honor, Andraya observed her sister with fondness. Never once in her life had she felt jealous of this woman’s accomplishments. How wonderful to see her begin her journey to the presidency. And have Luke at her side.
Annalise sat between her and him and sipped her bubbly. “Where’d you go, sis?”
Andraya shrugged. “Thinking of how proud I am of you.”
“I can’t believe you came. You were just here.”
“I could never miss this momentous occasion. Thankfully, Alessio sent me in his plane.” The king of Casarina treated all of them like daughters.
“You’re his favorite.”
“She is not!” Across from them, Sasha feigned indignance. “I am. Because I’m the littlest.” She was lying, as they all knew the king was partial to Andraya.
With mischief in her eyes, Andraya attacked. “Tell us about your crush, girl. Has the farm helper asked you out?”
“Are you kidding?” Hannah put in. “He’s as shy as a mouse.”
“Probably biding his time.” Annalise was enjoying the byplay.
Andraya asked, “What’re you going to do when he leaves, Han?”
At the head of the table, their father sat back and glared at Hannah. “You still need help, young woman. You cannot do all that work by yourself. You could get hurt again.”
Her face softening, Hannah peered at him over the rim of her glass. “I know, Dad. I’ll get some. I promise.”
“Do you mean it?” Sasha asked.
Hannah ducked her head. “I do. The accident scared me.”
Sasha sensed this was true.
Luke leaned into Annalise. “Is it always like this?”
“Yes, it is!” The four of them spoke in unison.
Karen Masters watched her girls. How had she given birth to four such different, wonderful people?
“A penny for your thoughts,” Jim whispered while the kids were still sniping.
“I was thinking how special they are.”
“Thanks to you.”
“You were a good dad.”
He shrugged. “I tried. I wish they were still little.”
“Hmm. Hard to see them grow up.”
He put his hand over hers. “We have each other.” He nodded to the table. “And them.”
Staying mostly silent, Luke watched the waiter come around with more champagne and fill the glasses of this incredible family. How they interacted, how they loved each other, how normal they were in many ways. But he didn’t envy them anymore. He had Seth and Marion, a niece and nephews and Andy.
And her, he thought sappily, staring at Annalise.
“Um, where’s Andy?” she asked.
“He’s out at Seth’s farm. He jumped at the invitation to stay the weekend. He said he had cousins now. Which thrilled me. I can’t believe all this.”
“Believe it, Luke.”
Dinner was Beef Wellington, an array of fresh vegetables and twice baked potatoes. Everybody dug in. Luke ate the rare meat and accompaniments. He hadn’t known this was her favorite meal. As was the gooey lava cake they had for dessert.
A while later, the dinner broke up and the girls hugged each other, then did the same to Luke. They started out the back door. Luke and Annalise stayed back, alone in the grand room. She sidled close, put her hand on his knee. “Everybody’s dispersing tonight. Come back to the house with me?”
Luke’s heart filled with so much love it almost hurt. He took her hand. “I have a better idea. Want to wake up the Brentwood Justice of the Peace with me?”
Her mouth dropped open. Her eyes widened. Then she broke into a delighted smile. “I do, love. I do.”
* * * * *
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