Sound of Silence(78)

I bite my bottom lip and nod. Her smile is reassuring, so is Anna's and I sigh out a "Thank you" while transitioning the bag into her waiting hand.

"Charlie?"

My pulse flutters as a deep voice resonates through the room. I flick my gaze from Caden, who smiles, to Gram and Anna, and then Charlie, who turns and takes my wiggling baby with her to the edge of the living room. "Oh, my God," I whisper.

The man stepping in front of Charlie is . . . Holy snickerdoodle. I swallow the breath stuck in my throat. Broad, powerful shoulders taper to a narrow waist and long legs. He towers over his wife. An etched jaw and cobalt eyes soften as soon as he narrows his focus on her and stops fiddling with the knotted tie at his neck.

The President caresses his wife's cheek, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his full mouth. He waits while she says something only he can hear, finally dragging his gaze from Charlie to the infant in her arms. A second later, he looks to find Caden and finally me before turning his attention back to the pair before him. He bends to Charlie's ear, whispering until a flush races across her chest. Her hand lands on his neck, holding him in place. The scene is intimate and almost too indecent to watch yet I can't look away.

"You get used to it," Gram says, flinging the dishtowel over her shoulder. "It's a miracle the two of them don't burn the house down with all the smoldering looks they throw around."

"Gram." Anna laughs, brushing her wispy brown bangs to the side. Charlie doesn't resemble her mother at all, but then I remember from media reports that she was adopted as a child. "You remember what it was like when you first got married. I'm sure Gramps only had eyes for you. I know Keith did with me."

"Yes, well, Hank may have thought I was a hot little sex kitten, but I got pregnant the old-fashioned way. I think Colin just simpers at Charlie and bam, twins."

I laugh and squeak out "Twins?" before I can hold in that tidbit of information. The press has speculated pregnancy without any official word coming from the White House, but now insider information has doubled the baby count.

Anna nods. "She can't hide it anymore. Not wearing dresses like that."

I glance at the couple, elegant and radiating lust and love. The President brushes a kiss to Charlie's forehead and then straightens to his full height. With a hand on the small of his wife's back, he leads her over to us.

Gram takes JT from Charlie and retreats with Anna to one of two couches. He seems enamored with his babysitters, and I make a mental note to thank Charlie again for thinking of everything.

"Lieutenant Commander Lawless." The President takes Caden's outstretched hand before turning to me. "And you must be Ms. Stevens."

Say something. My mind screams. When placed in front of the most powerful man in the world, one whose warm fingers wrap around mine in a friendly gesture, my mind shuts down and verbal vomit bursts from my mouth.

"I voted for you." Oh shit. "And you're doing a great job, really great. Nice job. In the White House. For the country. You know good work. The tax cut is genius."

The corner of his mouth twitches. Twitches. I'm so ridiculous.

"Really, really great work."

"I appreciate your support Ms. Stevens." He studies me so intently I feel the inquisition down to my toes. I know a question is coming, yet his stoic expression never changes as his eyes flick between Caden and me. I'm not prepared for his quick wink in my direction or the harsh tone that follows. "Now tell me, which one of you has gotten my wife into trouble with the Secretary of Defense?"



       
         
       
        





CHAPTER NINETEEN


ANGELS AND DEMONS





Caden



WELL SHIT. CHARLIE'S eyes flare but she recovers with a suggestion we move the discussion into an adjacent room. She offers refreshments, an eighty proof refreshment, that I accept and Piper forgoes for lemonade. But sitting across from the President of the United States, no matter how strong the hundred-year-old scotch, is daunting. Even for me. Sitting across from the President of the United States while he admonishes his wife for a favor I asked of her has me requesting a refill.

"Start talking, Charlie."

"Colin, it's nothing. I ran into Secretary Matthews at a fundraiser last week. I asked him if he could help find some information and inquired after an old friend."

The President relaxes into gray velvet, ankle on knee, and arches a brow. "And who might that be?"

"Gavin Lawless, Caden's father." Charlie shifts closer into his side even though two cushions remain unattended on the couch.