Over his shoulder, one of the White House valets seemed to be trying to get his attention. “Friend of yours?” Sam asked, nodding to the other man.

The valet gestured them over to where he stood by the door to the ballroom.

Baffled, Sam held Nick’s hand and followed him.

“Everything’s all set, Senator. Right this way.”

“Thank you, Mike.”

The older man’s smile lit up his face. “You’re quite welcome, sir.”

“What’s going on, Nick?”

He brought his lips down close to her ear. “Just come with me, and try not to make a scene, okay?”

She scowled at him but did as he asked. They followed Mike through several corridors before coming to a stop at a set of French doors.

Mike opened them and gestured for Sam and Nick to go out ahead of him. “I’ll wait for you right here, Senator.” He flashed another dazzling smile. “You take your time now, you hear?”

Nick shook his hand on the way by. “Thanks again, Mike.”

“My pleasure, sir.”

Outside, Nick slipped his tuxedo jacket over Sam’s bare shoulders.

Steeped in his essence, Sam burrowed into his warm jacket as the faint scent of something else filled her senses. Roses. Even out of season, the fragrance drifted lightly through the air. She gasped. “Oh, Nick, is this the Rose Garden?”

“It is. What do you think?”

The light of a three-quarter moon silvered the leaves and grass in the garden where the roses lay dormant for the winter.

“It’s amazing. How did you do this?”

“I told you. The deputy chief of staff is a buddy of mine.”

“Who isn’t a buddy of yours?”

His sheepish grin touched her heart.

“What’re we doing out here?”

“Come over here, and I’ll tell you.” He led her to a stone bench along one of the walkways and sat next to her. “Are you warm enough?”

She nodded.

“I had a meeting today with the chair and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.”

“What did they want?”

“To gauge my interest in a run for the White House in four years.”

Sam’s mouth fell open. “They did not.”

He laughed at her reaction. “They really did.”

“But…I don’t get…I mean…Wow.”

“Yeah,” he said, chuckling again. “That’s what I said, too.”

“What did you tell them?”

“I suggested they talk to me in a year or two when I have a chance to see how things go in the Senate. My numbers are really good right now, but I’m just getting started. Who knows what they’ll be a year from now?”

“I’m sure they’ll be higher than ever.”

“You have such faith in me, Sam.”

“Of course I do. There’s nothing you can’t do when you set your mind to it.”