“I’ll always love you.”

“You want your present?”

“Hell yes, I want my present.”

As he got out of bed and walked out of the room, Sam enjoyed the view of his spectacular ass. He returned with a cardboard box. “Did you know the first anniversary is paper?”

“My sisters told me that.” She reached for the package she’d stashed next to the bed when they first arrived. “Which is why I got you this.”

“And here I thought you’d gone with wax over paper.”

She snorted with laughter. “I did both.”

“You first.”

Sam tore into the box and found a smaller box on top of a layer of tissue paper. Inside she found a gorgeous platinum bracelet on which he’d had the words “The first of many” engraved. “It’s so beautiful! I love it.” She put it on and held up her arm for him to see.

“It matches the one I got you for the inauguration.”

“I see that. It’s perfect.” She leaned in to kiss him. “Thank you.”

“There’s more, and in case you’re wondering, the tissue paper is my contribution to tradition.”

Under the layer of bright red paper were a treasure trove of intimate goodies, including massage oil, lubricant, a vibrator and a couple of odd-shaped objects she couldn’t immediately identify. Her body flushed with heat and desire, but before she could indulge the desire, she had questions. “How in the world does the vice president of the United States make a purchase like this and get away with it?”

“Carefully,” he said with a chuckle. “I had it shipped to Shelby’s.”

“So she knows about this?”

“She has no idea what was in the box, just that I needed to have it sent to her so you wouldn’t know. I made a joke about being married to a detective.”

“Wow, I’m impressed and intrigued. Now open yours.”

He tore the paper off the framed collage she’d made at Angela’s suggestion of her favorite pictures from their first year of marriage, including their wedding, honeymoon, Scotty’s adoption, the inauguration and group shots with the people they loved best.

“This is fantastic, Sam.”

“It’s not as exciting as massage oil, but—”

“It’s amazing. What a year this has been. I love it, thank you.” He put down the frame and moved the box to the floor so he could hold her. “What do you suppose our second year will be like?”

Resting her head on her favorite chest, she said, “Probably a lot like the first—chaotic and busy and crazy and absolutely incredible.”

“I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for every minute of it.”

Smiling, she kissed him, lingering over the sweet taste of his lips. “As a very wise boy once said, bring it on.”

* * * * *

Dear Reader

Dear Reader,