who weren’t already booked solid for the next three months, that is) for coming across too eager or too flashy. Although I knew that legally, standing before a judge wasn’t any different than standing before one of the “Get married today!” agents, it sure seemed as though it would
feel
different.
“Choosing an officiant from an online ad didn’t sit well with us,” I said. Uncomfortable explaining myself beyond that, I shrugged. “Plus, most of them have waiting lists, too.”
Bucky and Cyan didn’t know why Gav and I intended to keep our engagement as short as possible. They didn’t know that Gav had suffered heartbreaking loss in the past. He’d been engaged twice before, both women dying tragically before they could be wed. Despite the fact that he wasn’t superstitious by nature, Gav believed he’d been cursed by some implacable wedding fates.
The man constantly worried for my safety. As a Secret Service agent, it was his nature to see danger lurking around every corner. Now that we’d made the decision to get married, his panic would skyrocket.
The fact that I’d developed a habit of getting into trouble while working at the White House made the waiting all the worse.
“I know,” I said, putting on a cheerful face. “Even though eight weeks feels like forever right now, I’m sure someday we’ll look back and this will be nothing but a minor blip.” I thought about how tough this time would be for Gav. For both of us. “All I can tell you is that the sooner we say our vows, the happier I’ll be.”
CHAPTER 2
ON THE RIDE HOME ON THE METRO THAT EVENING , I thought about how my life would change once Gav and I were actually married. We hadn’t had much chance to talk about it—seeing as how we’d only made the decision the day before—and I looked forward to making future plans with him. For the first time in my life I’d met someone who understood my curious tendencies and who loved me for who I was.
I stared out the window at nothing as my train trundled through one of many dark tunnels on its trip to Crystal City. Another thing Gav and I hadn’t discussed yet was where we’d live. Gav had a tiny apartment with a gorgeous view of Washington, D.C. My apartment was a little farther out, but it was larger and my neighbors were nice.
My knee bounced with impatience, both because I’d been thrown by this wedding delay and because of the upcoming Durasi dinner. Bucky, Cyan, and I had pulled major events together in the past, but nothing quite like this.
As much as I hated to admit it, this eight-week delay could prove to be a godsend. How could I even imagine getting married in the midst of organizing and executing a major White House dinner? I sighed and reminded myself that things work out for the best sometimes, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. This might be one of those times.
I clapped my hand to my forehead, remembering that I hadn’t even called my mother yet. I’d planned to do so as soon as we’d filed the marriage application, but the news of the unexpected delay had thrown me. Gav and I had been so disappointed that I’d decided to wait until I was cheerier again. This afternoon would have worked, but the day had gotten away from me. I’d call her tonight as soon as I got home. For sure.
My train pulled into my station and as I disembarked and made my way up into the warm evening air, my cell phone rang. Gav.
“Hey,” he said when I answered, “you busy?”
“Never too busy for you.”
He laughed. “That’s a lie. You’re going to be far too busy for me over the next week, I’m sure of it.”
“This Durasi dinner
will
keep us flying, no question about it.”
“That’s all anyone is talking about. Lots of interesting fallout from that decision.”
“Fallout?” I asked. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“I’ll tell you about it later. But for now, are you up for an adventure?”
“Always,” I said. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll
feel
different.
“Choosing an officiant from an online ad didn’t sit well with us,” I said. Uncomfortable explaining myself beyond that, I shrugged. “Plus, most of them have waiting lists, too.”
Bucky and Cyan didn’t know why Gav and I intended to keep our engagement as short as possible. They didn’t know that Gav had suffered heartbreaking loss in the past. He’d been engaged twice before, both women dying tragically before they could be wed. Despite the fact that he wasn’t superstitious by nature, Gav believed he’d been cursed by some implacable wedding fates.
The man constantly worried for my safety. As a Secret Service agent, it was his nature to see danger lurking around every corner. Now that we’d made the decision to get married, his panic would skyrocket.
The fact that I’d developed a habit of getting into trouble while working at the White House made the waiting all the worse.
“I know,” I said, putting on a cheerful face. “Even though eight weeks feels like forever right now, I’m sure someday we’ll look back and this will be nothing but a minor blip.” I thought about how tough this time would be for Gav. For both of us. “All I can tell you is that the sooner we say our vows, the happier I’ll be.”
CHAPTER 2
ON THE RIDE HOME ON THE METRO THAT EVENING , I thought about how my life would change once Gav and I were actually married. We hadn’t had much chance to talk about it—seeing as how we’d only made the decision the day before—and I looked forward to making future plans with him. For the first time in my life I’d met someone who understood my curious tendencies and who loved me for who I was.
I stared out the window at nothing as my train trundled through one of many dark tunnels on its trip to Crystal City. Another thing Gav and I hadn’t discussed yet was where we’d live. Gav had a tiny apartment with a gorgeous view of Washington, D.C. My apartment was a little farther out, but it was larger and my neighbors were nice.
My knee bounced with impatience, both because I’d been thrown by this wedding delay and because of the upcoming Durasi dinner. Bucky, Cyan, and I had pulled major events together in the past, but nothing quite like this.
As much as I hated to admit it, this eight-week delay could prove to be a godsend. How could I even imagine getting married in the midst of organizing and executing a major White House dinner? I sighed and reminded myself that things work out for the best sometimes, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. This might be one of those times.
I clapped my hand to my forehead, remembering that I hadn’t even called my mother yet. I’d planned to do so as soon as we’d filed the marriage application, but the news of the unexpected delay had thrown me. Gav and I had been so disappointed that I’d decided to wait until I was cheerier again. This afternoon would have worked, but the day had gotten away from me. I’d call her tonight as soon as I got home. For sure.
My train pulled into my station and as I disembarked and made my way up into the warm evening air, my cell phone rang. Gav.
“Hey,” he said when I answered, “you busy?”
“Never too busy for you.”
He laughed. “That’s a lie. You’re going to be far too busy for me over the next week, I’m sure of it.”
“This Durasi dinner
will
keep us flying, no question about it.”
“That’s all anyone is talking about. Lots of interesting fallout from that decision.”
“Fallout?” I asked. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“I’ll tell you about it later. But for now, are you up for an adventure?”
“Always,” I said. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll
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