“I do, too, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love him with everything we’ve got to give.”

“He’d never want you to be upset by something he intended to be good-natured teasing, Nick.”

“You’re right.”

“It was nothing more than another jab at how disgusting we are,” Sam said.

“We are pretty gross.”

“Super gross, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He brought her in for a kiss that quickly turned into tongues and the rampant desire that was ever present between them—so much so that anyone who knew them could see it. Unfortunately, the whole world knew them now, and their smoking-hot love affair was the source of late-night jokes.

“In case I forget to tell you later, you taking him down wearing an evening gown was super sexy.”

“Was it?”

“Oh yeah.” He cupped her ass and gave it a squeeze through the red silk, feeling around like he was looking for something. “No panties?”

“No panty lines. They’re there.”

His brows lifted. “Oh, the in-between kind? I like that kind.”

“Hands off, Mr. President. Don’t start something the Secret Service could interrupt at any second.”

“Ugh, why do people have to leave bombs for us when my wife is looking extra sexy and wearing a thong? Don’t they know it’s Christmas?”

“Maybe they did it because it’s Christmas.”

“I hope they figure out who it was sooner rather than later so we don’t have to be worried about that all week.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

An hour later, Sam was dozing with her head on Nick’s shoulder when a knock on the door roused her.

“Come in,” Nick said.

John Brantley Jr., Nick’s lead Secret Service agent, stepped into the room. “We’re all clear, Mr. President, Mrs. Cappuano.”

“Thanks, Brant.”

Sam got up from Nick’s lap and stretched out the kinks before going to wake Scotty and Elijah. Eli carried Alden, and Nick took Aubrey as they trooped up the stairs to the residence. They’d lived there for only a month, so Sam didn’t expect it to feel like home yet, but she had a strange feeling of homecoming after having been detained in the bunker. Anything looked good to her after that.

They got the kids settled in bed and said good night to Scotty and Eli.

“Wake me up when Alden and Aubrey are up,” Scotty said. “I don’t want to miss a second of our first Christmas with them.”

“Will do,” Sam said, kissing his cheek. “Merry Christmas.”

“Same to you.”

After Scotty closed his bedroom door, Sam and Nick turned to Brant.

“What do you know?” Sam asked.

“Nothing yet. The device has been disarmed and taken to the lab for further analysis. We should know more in the morning.”

“So it was an active explosive device?” Sam asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”