“Are we going to be people who do what’s easy? Or are we going to be people who take a chance to be more than we thought we’d ever be?”

He stood up and held out his hands to stop her from pacing. “What are you saying?”

She smiled as a sense of peace came over her. “Run, Nick. This is your destiny. It’s who you were meant to be.”

Perplexed by her sudden change of heart, he tilted his head with inquisition.

“You don’t see it, do you?” she asked.

“See what?”

“The way you’ve changed in the last month. How you carry yourself, the confidence.”

He released a choppy laugh. “Yeah, right. I feel like a total fraud. As if I’m playing the part until the real guy gets back.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You are the real guy. You’re a United States senator, Nicholas Cappuano. That’s who you are now.”

“But Sam, the press…”

“We can handle them. We’ll toss them an occasional bone to keep them off our backs.”

His hands landed on her shoulders. “Are you sure, babe? We don’t have to decide anything tonight.”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, except that I was meant to spend it with you. Run. Win big. Make me proud. Just don’t expect me to make any speeches.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” His grin lit up his face. “You never cease to surprise me, Samantha. Just when I think you’re going to freak, you go all Zen on me.”

Flashing her most dazzling smile, she went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “It’s my goal in life to keep you guessing.”

“So far, you’re succeeding brilliantly.”

When he tried to kiss her with more serious intent, she dodged him. “No way, buster. I have to get back to work.”

“All right,” he said with a dejected sigh. “Be that way. I cooked and I get stuck with the dishes. I see how this is going to be.”

“Such is the glamorous life of a United States senator, and by the way, no one said we were running a democracy at home, too.”

“She giveth and she taketh away.”

Laughing, she refilled her wine glass and took it with her. Over her shoulder, she said, “Come visit me when you finish kitchen duty.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Chapter 30

Sam wandered into the cozy study that Nick had put together with his unique blend of style and practicality. She marveled at how quickly he had made this big empty house into a warm, inviting home. His outstanding taste and sense of style were just two more reasons to love him. Sam had to admit that it no longer seemed preposterous to imagine living here with him.