“Think about it, Terry.” Nick gestured to the kitchen door, which was the only thing between them and the team of cops in his living room. “You know why.”

“Because of Sam. And her job.”

“And Scotty, who’s only been with us a few months and has made a very smooth transition. Everything would change, and I like things the way they are.” He thought of the interrupted vacation. “Most of the time.”

“But... It’s vice president...of the United States.”

“I know,” Nick said with a smile. “It’s just not the right time.”

Terry looked like he wanted to cry as he took a drink of his soda.

“Are you going to be okay?” Nick asked him.

Terry dabbed at his eyes dramatically. “In time. Maybe.”

“You and your dad,” Nick said, laughing. “Cut from the same political cloth. He nearly had an embolism when I told him I turned down Nelson’s offer.”

“I’m surprised that’s all he almost had. From what I heard, Nelson hasn’t given up on you yet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I said no.”

Terry shrugged. “You’re still his first choice. I think you can expect the White House to play some hardball before he moves on. You might want to talk to Derek and get his take.”

Nick’s friend Derek Kavanaugh had recently returned to his post as Nelson’s deputy chief of staff, months after his wife, Victoria, was murdered. Derek was easing back to work, but he’d certainly have the scoop on Nelson’s vice presidential deliberations. “I’ll see what he has to say, but I’m not changing my mind.”

“What does Sam think of it?”

“She wasn’t happy to have heard about it through the grapevine. She won’t tell me how she heard it, but I think one of the reporter-stalkers told her.”

“You didn’t tell her?”

“What was the point in bringing it up? He asked, I said no, thank you, Mr. President, and that was the end of it.”

“Hmm.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m just wondering what she had to say about being kept in the dark about your conversation with Mr. President.”

“She wasn’t pleased that I didn’t tell her, but she gets why I said no. Can you imagine her as second lady?”

“Umm...” Terry’s lips quivered.

“It’s okay to laugh. The thought of it cracks me up too.”

They shared a laugh, and Nick was thankful to have something to laugh about after the brutal night and day they’d just endured.

“She’d do it for you, you know.”