Special Clearance

#𝟎𝟎𝟐

chapter two
present day...

     It was raining the day we returned to work, which meant I had to take it slow on the steps. Trudging up slick marble was a good way to bust my ass, especially in five inch red bottoms.

"Careful, Ma'am," Stephen said, offering me his arm. Stephen was my annoyingly cautious temporary-Aaron who chewed mint gum and couldn't tie a double Windsor to save his life. When it came to other people's, he was efficient and by the book. No jokes. Just a Capitol Police officer shuffled onto my detail.

"Thank you," I said, knowing if I brushed him away I'd probably lose my balance and crack my head open.

My office was in one of the less desirable buildings on the Hill. The Capitol Complex offices were dished out like the worst sorority bid day in the world. Lucky me, I was stuck on "freshman row" with the other new reps. Basement level, inward facing office. (I'm pretty sure it used to be a broom closet.)

I was grateful when I spied Chris in the lobby. He was sitting on a bench, crossword balanced in his lap. Maybe things really could get back to normal—not that the last few months had been anything short of weird.

"Hey." He tucked the crossword under his arm, wiping the donut crumbs off his suit jacket. "First day back in the office. How you feeling?"

     "Fine," was all that I could muster for some reason. "At least I didn't get mobbed outside. Darcy must be doing her job. Press conference this week?"

     Darcy was pulling double duty as my personal and Press Secretary. She was lucky enough to have been late the morning of the accident, working remote while I recovered. We all did. I was so done taking video calls and screening faceless resumes for Aaron's replacement—as if he could be replaced.

     "Mmhm," Chris confirmed. "Next Monday, actually." He checked his watch. "And, in five minutes, you have an interview. You've been putting off choosing a new head of your detail for months. We can't wait anymore, Nat. Trust me, you'll like this guy."

     I don't know what to be more mad about: the fact that Chris went behind my back to schedule an interview or that I'd put it off so long that he felt like he had to. Ugh.

     Instead of strangling Chris, I just stepped in time with him as we headed down the hall to the elevator. Stephen was right beside me—like the world's most annoying shadow. "Stephen, I'll be alright now. There's Capitol Police posted here. It's a secure building. Darcy will forward you the rest of the day's schedule, in case I need to head out."

Stephen was unconvinced, grinding his gum with his teeth as he and Chris had a western standoff. There was still some bad blood from a dinner Kelsey threw for me, Chris, and Darcy last month. (Stephen patted Chris down at the door like a TSA agent, confiscating his e-cig.)

     "Yes, Ma'am," he conceded, giving Chris a withering look before turning on his heel.

      "See ya," Chris muttered as we got into the elevator. The doors closed, and we started our descent to the dungeon—sorry, lower offices. "And, Isaac should already be here. Please try to be...cordial."

Cordial? I was so cordial. I rolled my eyes. "Okay, I'll bite. Who exactly is Isaac? You said I'll like him."

     "I worked with his dad back when I was with the State Department. I owe him one, and Isaac's looking for work. He just did two tours. Navy Seals." Chris jammed his thumb against the 'open' button when the elevator came to a halt. The doors slid open. "He's not Aaron...Isaac's pretty closed off. But, I'd hate to see you pass on him and lose him to the private sector just because he isn't Mr. Personality. Catch my drift?"

     "Yeah. I get it." I stepped out into the empty, low ceilinged hallway. It was lined with offices, a few sporting American flags out front. Mine was stuck somewhere in the middle. Standing in front of my open door was Darcy, clutching a stack of files in her arms.

     I liked Darcy. She was around my age, efficient and a great attention to detail. Her shyness could use some work, especially with her new Press Secretary title. She was due for a move on up, and despite her reservations, I appointed her—rather, had Chris appoint her.

     "Good morning, Ma'am," she said crisply, fixing her glasses a bit. "Hello, Chris."

     "Good morning."

     Chris gave a little salute. "Her eight-thirty appointment isn't here? I'm suprised. Isaac's always on time—a great quality to have."

     "I get it, Chris," I mumbled under my breath. Chris was laying it on thick. At this rate, Isaac might as well've been superhuman.

     "Bathroom," Darcy explained. She pulled out a file from her stack. "I have his resume and service record, if you want to take a look before he gets back."

    On my way to my desk, I opened the file. There was no picture, and large portions of Isaac's service record were redacted. "Thanks, Darcy." I settled into my chair, flipping through what she'd compiled. Chris wrote him a recommendation letter, which was oddly sweet. There was another one from the State Department, probably another friend of Isaac's father.

     "It's no problem." Darcy had a strange look on her face, almost flushed. She twisted on her heels, adding in a hushed tone: "He's like, the most gorgeous man I've ever seen."

     I suppressed a chuckle. Darcy said that about nearly every guy on the Hill, from aids right up to the VP. (Vice President Conner Sitwell was hot as hell, and I shamelessly let that influence my vote.) The truth was, Darcy had never left her 'boy crazy' phase. I suspected she didn't get a lot of attention in college.

     "Uh huh," I was fixated on the page I was reading. Something from Isaac's first tour caught my eye. "Sexy isn't a requirement."

     "That's too bad. I've been told I'm overqualified," came a low voice. For a joke, it wasn't said with any inflection.

     I glanced up and into a pair of striking, dark eyes who could only belong to Isaac Flynn.

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