The silence stretches for an uncomfortable amount of time. I’m getting ready to break it when Cal clears his throat and sits back in his chair. “Well, then. I’m sure you’ve been briefed on this assignment. Your job will be to protect my wife.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. Looking at him, I meet his gaze and smile before turning back toward Alex. My breath catches as his eyes collide with mine. He’s studying me closely and it’s unnerving.

“Yes, sir. I understand there was a break-in recently and you’ll need someone to watch over your ...” He trails off and quickly cuts his eyes to me before returning them back to Cal, “assets.” Wait a second. Is he referring to me as an asset? My eyebrows furrow at the insinuation and I open my mouth to respond, but I stop myself. That wouldn’t be very becoming of the wife of a Fitzgerald, so I clench my jaw and keep quiet. Alex watches me through my inner battle and he picks up on the moment I decide to keep quiet. The reason I know is because the corners of his mouth twitch slightly. He looks away when I narrow my eyes at him, but his full lips continue to twitch.

Ass.

“Great. I’ll be announcing my candidacy later today, so you’ll need to start right away.” Cal stands up and both of us follow suit.

“Yes, sir,” he replies with a single nod. I’m curious as to how much he’ll be watching me. Surely he has to go home and sleep at some point. “I’ll hang out down here by the door and check the perimeter every so often until you’re ready to leave to make your announcement.”

I head upstairs to get away from everyone. I’m not too thrilled with the thought of someone following my every move. In fact, I hate it. I hate that I’m going to have to wear this mask even when I’m here alone. Well, not alone since Alex will be here, but this is the only time I get to be me. The only time I don’t have to smile and pretend that I’m thrilled with everything my husband does and says. The only time I can let out how miserable I truly am. Now, I’m going to have to suck it up and pretend in front of him too. Cal strolls in a couple minutes later.

“What do you think of Alex? Will you feel safe with him when I’m not around?” he asks. Even though I don’t know Alex, I do feel safe with him, and the realization strikes me as odd. I’ve never been one to trust others easily, knowing that most people always have a hidden agenda. I’m not sure what it is. It could be something in his eyes, or the confidence he exudes, but it makes me feel like he knows what he’s doing. Even if I didn’t feel safe, I’d never tell Cal. He would make the choice regardless, so how I feel is of no consequence. I’m actually surprised he even asked.

“Yes, he seems like he’d be proficient at his job. I do have a question though.” His eyebrows raise expectantly. “Will there be someone else that stops by? He can’t possibly watch over the house twenty-four hours a day.”

“He’ll set up a living quarters in one of the spare bedrooms. It’s already been arranged. He’ll have a partner that will relieve him at night for a few hours while he rests, but otherwise, it’ll just be him with you. I’ll have a separate security detail with me. I met with him last week when I decided to run for office.”

“Okay, that makes sense,” I reply with a small smile. Inside I want to scream at him. He’s known for a fucking week that he was going to run for president and he just told me last night? My jaw clenches with the need to lash out at him, but I pull it back not wanting him to know how much I despise his lack of respect for me as his partner in life.

“THAT’S WHY, WITH the support of my wife,” he pauses to glance at me standing beside him before returning his attention back to the crowd, “I’ve decided to run for the office of president in 2016.” The crowd goes nuts with cheers and applause. I smile and clap along in the celebration, but my eyes keep roaming around, more alert to my surroundings than ever before.

Sure, there’s always been a small group of security personnel when he’d give speeches, but I never paid them much attention. Now, with the home invasion, it seems to be one of the only things I notice. A few guys line the bottom of the stage we’re standing on, facing the crowd. It makes me feel better knowing they’re actively surveying the audience for anything out of the ordinary, but that’s not what has my senses heightened. It’s the exquisite specimen behind me. I don’t have to look to know he’s there. I can feel him. And that realization is troubling to me.

A man has never, ever made me feel this way. Call me a gold digger, but I’ve always entered a relationship knowing how many zeros were at the end of their banking account balance, and that knowledge definitely didn’t zap my panties like one look from this man does. He has this mysterious air about him that I want to pick apart and dissect. He’s rather quiet; of course I’ve only been around the guy for less than twenty-four hours. I can’t figure out what is drawing me to him, but I know I need to stop immediately. I’m married and Cal would flip his shit if he knew the thoughts running through my mind regarding Alex.

A shadow looming over me pulls me to the here and now. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Alex close behind me. “I’ll take you back to the car while he finishes up. Okay, ma’am?” he says close to my ear. Goose bumps race down my flesh as his breath hits my skin. Butterflies dance in my stomach and I have to resist the urge to close my eyes and savor the moment. My body’s reaction is alarming and unwelcome. Swallowing hard, I do everything I can to squelch the feelings whirling inside me.

I nod and turn back to Cal. “Alex says he’s going to escort me to the car while I wait for you to finish up here. Is that okay, dear?”

He glances down at me and says, “That’s perfect. I shouldn’t be long. I’m just going to talk to a few potential donors and set up some lunch meetings with them for later on in the week.” His attention turns back to the crowd, waving at them as they continue to applaud.

Standing up on my toes, I kiss him on the cheek and smile lovingly at him. Of course, this is all for show. The cameras are rolling and I’m expected to be the supportive, totally devoted wife of a politician. So that’s what you’re going to get. “You did wonderful today, Cal. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you in a few.” He kisses me chastely on the lips before I turn to Alex where he is studying me closely, his head tilted to the side just the slightest bit. Again, I feel like he sees through my shield, the façade that protects me from displaying the phony that I am. Quickly turning away from his scrutinizing eyes, I walk off the stage. He’s close behind me in seconds and puts a hand on my lower back to guide me to the awaiting car. I swallow hard, trying to ignore the way my skin ignites from his touch.

Alex carefully helps me into the back of the car, looking around at our surroundings while he does it. Walking around to the other side of the car, he opens the door and slides into the front passenger seat. Neither of us talks and it’s so incredibly awkward for me. I find myself shifting in my seat often, playing with my nails, and looking around aimlessly. He looks ahead, his eyes covered with sunglasses, making it impossible to see exactly what he’s looking at. I take the opportunity to study his profile. He really is a stunning man, with his sharp jaw line and full lips. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to look at him without being obvious and getting caught, and I’m taking advantage of it. Upon closer inspection, I see a thin, jagged scar that runs along his jaw line. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if I wasn’t studying the side of his face. I almost want to reach out and touch it to see if it’s as rough as it looks. The mark isn’t a flaw by any means and does nothing to detract from his looks. If anything, it makes him look more rugged and manly.