“Days?”

He put his hands on her hips and tugged her in closer to him, resting his forehead on hers. “Days. Gooding’s in a bad way. They need to make a move, and they want to make it by Friday.”

“As in this Friday?”

“This Friday.”

“They don’t call it Black Friday for nothing, huh?”

His soft laughter and appealing scent surrounded her as he held her. “True. Of course Congress has to approve the appointment, so it wouldn’t be official for a couple of weeks. Let’s order some food and take it upstairs. I desperately need some time with you.”

“I’m all yours until seven tomorrow morning.”

“I thought you were hot on the trail of a killer.”

“So did I.” After they called in an order to their favorite local Italian place, she filled him in on the latest with the case.

“That’s very odd.”

“We think so too. I just hope my colleagues in vice don’t let that scumbag slip through their fingers overnight.”

“Is it okay to be secretly glad you got sprung for the night?”

“Hell yes, it’s okay. I’m thrilled to have gotten sprung and to have a night alone with the hottest politician in town.”

Predictably, he scowled and shook his head.

“In this case I wasn’t necessarily referring to your physical hotness, which is as hot as ever. I meant your political hotness.”

“I’m glad you’re able to make light of it. I was afraid you’d be packing my bags and shipping me out by now.”

“Never,” she said softly, curling her arms around his neck. “Never, ever, ever.”

“Samantha, don’t be nice to me right now. I can’t handle it.”

Rather than tell him how she felt about him with words, she went up on tiptoes and kissed him. The instant her lips connected with his, everything else faded away—the case, the troubles with Brooke, her worries about her dad’s upcoming surgery, the turkey dinner she was expected to produce on Thursday and the huge decision they had to make about his career. Right now, right here, there was only him.

“You’re being nice,” he whispered against her lips.

“I’m feeling really nice.”

His sexy smile stretched across his face. “I need to get this suit off. It’s hardly vacation attire.”

“I’d be happy to help with that.”

“We are going to talk about this, aren’t we?”

She took him by the hand and led him upstairs to their bedroom. “Eventually. First, we’re going to enjoy a rare moment alone before we ruin it with business.”

“I do so love the way you think.”

“Can I have that in writing for the next time you’re accusing me of being off the rails?”

“Absolutely not.”