After a shower and shave, he found a bag from the dry cleaner in the closet Lindsey had cleared out to make room for his suits. Though he still had an apartment of his own, he went there rarely these days to water a couple of lonely plants, pick up the mail and pay the bills.

He was knotting a red silk tie when she came into the bedroom bearing coffee fixed just the way he liked it—dark with a hint of sugar. “Thanks, hon, and thanks for picking up the dry cleaning. You’re too good to me.”

She patted his cheek and kissed him. “You’re just as good to me,” she said with a wink that was a not-so-subtle reminder of the bonus orgasm he’d treated her to before he let her out of bed.

“Did the papers come?” He’d had his subscriptions to all the major papers moved to her house, since he spent most mornings there.

“They’re on the kitchen table. What’s up later?”

“We’ve got a campaign meet and greet in Arlington after work. I shouldn’t be too late if you want to grab dinner.”

“That sounds good. Byron is on the early shift this morning, so I’m working until seven anyway.”

“Perfect.” He took her by surprise when he looped an arm around her waist and pulled her in close so her back was snug against his chest. He nibbled on her neck and made her tremble. “Have I told you yet today that I love you?”

“Only a couple of times.”

“I’m slacking off.”

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”

Terry had never been in a relationship like this one. They talked and laughed and poked fun at each other. They made mad, passionate love and even laughed in bed too. Underneath it all was a foundation of respect and mutual admiration that humbled him. Every day he tried to make sure he deserved her. The thought of losing her respect or her love kept him sober. It was that simple.

She turned in his arms and raised her hands to his face. “I love you too.”

Looking down at her, he took note of her bright green eyes, the dusting of freckles across her nose and the pink lips that were slightly swollen from his kisses. He fisted her long red hair and gave a gentle tug to position her for another kiss. “When I think about the way I was living a year ago... I had no idea life could be this sweet.”

“My life was perfectly fine before, but this is so much better than perfectly fine.”

They shared a warm smile that nearly made him forget all about the day of meetings and campaign business to attend to. “After the election, I want to get out of town for a week or so. Would you be game for that?”