“We have only to wait until Sunday at seven to see.”

“By the way, I’m headed back to Washington tomorrow,” Holly said. “Maybe I can get a ride with Will. Will you ask him?”

“Have you served your sentence already?”

“Almost. I’ve got some things to do around the house that I’ve been postponing for nearly four years. Here’s my chance to do them without guilt.”

They got undressed and into the shower together. Somehow, being clean was a turn-on for them both. When they had exhausted each other they talked.

“Here’s a thought,” Stone said. “Don’t go back to Washington at all.”

“That’s a surprising thought.”

“After all, they’ve had time to forget about you at the White House. If you didn’t go back they’d never miss you.”

“Thank you so much, what a compliment!”

“I’d rather have you here with me.”

“On what basis?”

“All the sex I can manage at my advanced age.”

“And that’s it? That’s all you want from me?”

“Didn’t I mention marriage?”

“You did not.”

“Funny, I thought I did.”

“You could mention it now, if you’re so inclined.”

“All right, marriage.”

“What about it?”

“Doing it.”

“Doing it is sex, not marriage.”

Stone searched for the words: “Marriage, together.”

“You just can’t bring yourself to say the words, can you?”

“If I do, will you accept?”

“Try it and see.”

“Oh, all right. Will you marry me?”

“No.”

“You were just leading me on, weren’t you?”

“Certainly not. I just needed to know your clear intentions before—”

“Before turning me down?”

“Stone, you know I love you, and I know you love me.”

“That’s right, I do,” Stone said, sounding surprised.

“But we lead such different lives.”

“Not for the past two weeks. We’ve led pretty much one life together, and I think we did it very well.”

“I can’t argue with that,” Holly said.

“Then what are you arguing about?”

“You know I love my job.”

“All right, I propose a compromise.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do the job for the rest of Kate’s term, then ditch Washington once and for all and devote yourself to me forever.”

“Devote myself to you, instead of to my country?”

“I’m a better catch.”

“I’ll concede that, for the purposes of argument.”

“We’ll live a free life in New York, Santa Fe, England, and Paris,” he said. “We’ll see the world, live well, and fuck each other’s brains out.”

“I’ll tell you what—if Kate isn’t reelected, I’ll marry you and we’ll do everything you just said, especially that last part.”

“Now you’re putting me in an impossible position,” Stone complained.

“How so?”

“I can no longer support Kate for reelection, or even vote for her.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”