Worried, Isabelle hurried into the White House with Max right behind her. Jimmy had called him to tell him to bring Isabelle over immediately. He’d told her agent it was important. God, she hoped she didn’t have to move back here, as he said to meet her in the rooms where she and the boys had stayed earlier. And why hadn’t Jimmy called her directly? He always did.

Max knocked on the door.

“It’s open.” Jimmy’s voice came from the other side.

Max allowed her inside. Her brother was there at the entrance. “Come in, sweetie. I need to talk to Max first.”

“Jimmy, you’re scaring me to death.”

He kissed her head. “It’ll all be worth it in the end.”

She didn’t have any idea what that meant, but she shut the door behind him. The room was dim with partial light coming in from the windows through sheer white cloth. She sighed and headed for the couch.

Someone came out of the shadows. Oh, my God.

“Hello, love.”

Her heartbeat had skyrocketed and didn’t quiet down much when she recognized the intruder.

“Nick?”

He crossed to her. “It’s me.”

She frowned at his khaki slacks and white shirt. “You’ve got civilian clothes on like you used to wear at the lake.”

“Funny you should say that. I’m feeling a lot like I did at the lake.”

“I know you had to protect me there, but if Jimmy thinks he’s going to assign you to do that here, given our situation, he’s crazy.”

Gently, he cupped her face. “Jimmy doesn’t think that.”

“I…” Wait… He never called her brother by his name. “He doesn’t?”

His knuckles brushed her skin, so softly she closed her eyes to savor the caress. “No. Things have changed. Come sit.”

Drawing her to the couch, she sat and he dropped down on the coffee table in front of her. “I had a long talk with your brother. He initiated it. He knows about us.”

Tears formed in her eyes. “Did he fire you? Is that why you’re dressed as you are?”

“No, he didn’t fire me. He said I’ll have a job in the Secret Service as long as I want one.”

“You’re talking but not saying anything. Tell me what’s going on.”

Gently, he grasped her hands. Something was different about him. Gone was the conflict that appeared in his eyes and features every time they were together. “I love you.”

The world opened up. Sun and bright colors filled her heart. She said simply, “I love you, too.”

“I know. And we’re going to be together, if you’ll have me.”

A few tears. “Of course I’ll have you. Any way I can get you.”

“Let me fill you in. Jimmy guessed about us. I told him the truth, and he said he’d rather have me as a brother-in-law than an agent.”

“I love that he said that. But you want to be an agent.”

“I can be. I’m going to stay in the Secret Service, but I don’t know what I’ll be doing. You and the boys will have a say in that.”

“Oh, Nick. I appreciate your willingness to change jobs. But I can’t let you do that. You said you love being in the kill zone.”

“I did. But that was before I met you. I don’t need that anymore. Sure, I might have stayed on the PPD if you hadn’t come into my life, but now that’s not an option.”

“What about the directorship? Can you get that if we are together?”

“No, if I marry you, that’ll be ruled out.”

“Oh, Nick. I can’t let you give up so much for me.”

In an instant, he scooped her up and cradled her in his arms. “Well, let’s see if I can convince you.”

Two weeks later

From behind, Nick slid his arms around Isabelle’s waist. She’d been staring out at the moon-kissed water, and when she felt his presence, she leaned back into him. “Happy?” he asked.

“Very.”

“The boys were shocked, weren’t they?”

“Yes. But they took the news well.”

“Not Whitney, I’m afraid.”

“She still angry at you for forsaking your ambitions at the Secret Service?”

“Angry isn’t the word. Disappointed, I guess. She’s stubborn, that one. Someday she’s going to learn things aren’t black-and-white.”

At that, Isabelle turned to him. “And how are you, Agent Marino?”

“I’m good as gold.”

“Won’t you miss my brother’s detail?”

“Nah.” He was on the PPD only until he could be replaced.

“Still sad about the directorship?”

“Yeah, though Gabe and Max, and even Jim, think I might want to pursue it eventually. When things settle down.”

“Is that why you married me so fast?”

“Nope. I couldn’t wait for our honeymoon. Do you like the destination I picked?”

“Uh-huh.”

They’d come to a lake only forty minutes away from D.C.“Whew! That’s a relief because I bought this place.”

“What?”

“I thought we could have a lake home to go to when I’m free.”

“Oh, Nick. That’s so sweet.”

Isabelle, in turn, had given up the house she shared with Michael in Catasaga. The property had never even made it to the real estate market computers before someone put in an offer for an exorbitant amount of money. Combined with Mary Ellen buying out half the bookstore and Nick selling his condo, they were building a new house in Maryland. And having a second home.

“We’re going to be happy, babe, I promise.”

“I believe you, Nick. There is one thing in life that I don’t have, though, that I’d like.”

He seemed a bit miffed. “What is it?”

She gave him an intimate smile. “A little girl.”

His mouth fell open. His eyes rounded like moons. Then he laughed out loud this time. How had he ever thought he could live without her? “I think I can make that happen.” He kissed her—a tender, sweet kiss full of adoration and promises. “When”—he had to clear his throat—“when would you like to start?”

“How about right now, husband?”

“You’re on, wife.” He scooped her off her feet and carried her into the house. This time, their joined laughter filled the air, was swept up and taken out to the water.