Joe looked at the couple and opened his mouth to introduce them. “Marco and Colleen Marcelli,” he said. Then without planning the words in advance, he added, “My parents.”
There was a moment of silence. The Grands, Colleen, and Marco turned to stare at him. Colleen recovered first.
“It’s a long drive, Captain. Thank you so much for making it.”
“My pleasure, ma’am.”
“Please, call me Colleen.”
He shook her hand. “And you must call me Owen. All of you.” He glanced at Joe. “Not you.”
Joe grinned. “Yes, sir. Understood.”
Joe finally got everyone in the house. Katie, Zach, and Valerie were in Los Angeles, but the rest of the family had come for dinner. He made introductions, then realized not everyone was there.
“Where’s Darcy?” he asked.
“With her sister,” Mia said smugly. “They were trying to figure out what to wear. It could be hours.”
“Not likely,” Colleen said, chiding her youngest. “Darcy is always on time.” She smiled at Owen. “Very polite and simply charming. I’ll admit we were a little nervous about hosting a daughter of the president.”
“Too much like royalty,” Mia joked.
“Actually, that’s true,” Colleen said. “But she’s been a delight. We’ll all be sorry to see her go.”
Mia jabbed Joe in the ribs. “You could do something about that.”
Before he could tell her to shut up, he heard something on the stairs and glanced up. Darcy and the sister he’d yet to meet started down the stairs. He had a vague impression of long blond hair and curves, but neither interested him. Instead he couldn’t stop staring at Darcy.
She wore a long, silky-looking dress in a pale peach color. The cut or style or something emphasized her slender body in a way that got his blood boiling. Thin straps were all that held it up, he thought, knowing he could make quick work of them.
Her large eyes seemed to glow and her mouth was soft and pouty-looking. Pearl earrings hung nearly to her bare shoulders, while a twisted strand hugged her neck.
She was beautiful. More than beautiful-she was spectacular. Feminine, sexy as hell, and if he remembered correctly, he’d spent the last few days acting like a complete idiot around her.
Colleen moved toward the two women. “You’re both so lovely,” she said with a smile. “Allow me to present our dinner guest. Captain Owen Phillips. Captain, this is Darcy Jensen and Lauren Jensen-Smith.”
“Nice to meet you,” Darcy said as she shook his hand.
Lauren did the same and pleasantries were exchanged. Colleen ushered everyone into the living room for a predinner drink, but Joe lingered in the hallway. He touched Darcy’s arm before she could follow the family.
“You look great,” he said, when they were alone.
She gave him a once-over, then shrugged. “Not bad, yourself. I always did like dress whites.”
Emotions swelled up inside him. The sensations were unfamiliar and uncomfortable and all unnamed. But they made him want to say something, do something.
“Darcy, I-”
“Comin’ through,” Grammy M said as she walked toward them with a tray of appetizers. “Hot food here.”
Joe moved to one side and let his grandmother pass. He tried to think of what to say when Marco came out of the living room.
“Your captain wants to start with our wines.” He grinned. “It’s going to be a long night. Good thing we booked him a room at the hotel down the road.”
When Marco had passed, Darcy touched his hand. “It’s okay,” she told him. “I understand.”
An interesting concept, when he didn’t understand himself.
“Now will you believe me?” Lauren asked sometime close to midnight as she sprawled across Darcy’s bed. “I swear, Joe looked like something out of a cartoon the way his mouth dropped open when he saw you. I thought he was going to dislocate his jaw or something.”
Darcy curled up in a chair in the corner of the room. She’d traded in the dress she’d borrowed from her sister for shorts and a T-shirt, but she could still remember the sensual feel of the silk on her body and the stunned appreciation in Joe’s eyes.
“He was pretty surprised.”
Lauren grinned. “Color is our friend. When we go home, I want to go shopping with you and you’re not allowed to buy anything black.”
“Except for lingerie.”
“Okay. Yeah, that can be black, but nothing else.” Lauren sat up and faced her. “He’s really great. I can see the appeal. And when you look at him, there are stars in your eyes.”
“Not stars.”
“Something. You’re in love with him.”
Darcy nodded. “Which doesn’t mean anything.”
“Of course it does. You’ve never been in love before.”
“My track record with men isn’t the greatest, and I don’t think this time is going to work out any better.”
Lauren shook her head. “You’re wrong. Joe couldn’t stop looking at you all through dinner.”
“I know, and it was really cool, but how much does that mean? He finds me attractive, and okay, the sex is hot, but that’s not a real relationship.”
“It’s not a bad start.”
Darcy wished that were true. “He’s not like other guys. He holds back. No one touches his heart. He let his wife go without a word. It’s been three years and he’s still resisting the Marcellis. How long will he resist me?”
“Maybe he won’t. Maybe he’s starting to get it.”
Darcy wished that were true, but she didn’t have any evidence to back it up. “He’s a good man. Strong and loyal. I’d trust him with my life and even my heart, but I don’t think he’s interested in either. I’ve learned so much being here. About myself and life and people. I’ll be okay when it’s time to leave. I’ll…”
“Survive?” Lauren asked, her face serious, but her eyes bright with humor.
“Don’t you dare disco me. Yes. I’ll survive. Better than that. I want to get closer to you and Dad. I want to come to the White House and find a charity I can support and get involved in.”
“What about Joe?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to tell him how you feel?” Lauren asked. “Before you leave.”
“I can’t decide. It’s not that I want to keep the truth from him, it’s that I’m not sure letting him know how I feel is very kind. I don’t think he can take one more person wanting him to love her back.”
“I don’t agree. He seems like a pretty tough guy.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Lauren said as she stood and crossed the room.
She pulled open the door, and Darcy saw Joe standing there. He looked between the women.
Before he could speak, Lauren grinned and stepped into the hallway. “I was just leaving. You kids have a good time. Don’t stay up too late.”
With that, she was gone.
Joe hovered awkwardly in the hallway. “She didn’t have to leave,” he said.
Darcy laughed. “Okay. That could make things interesting.”
He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. “I meant I didn’t want to run her off.”
He stood in the center of the room and stared at her. There was a sadness in his eyes she hadn’t seen before. She rose and faced him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Hell if I know.” He took a step toward her. “I’m sorry. I’ve been difficult and a jerk. Whatever I have going on isn’t your fault. I’ve always been good at moving on. At taking the next assignment. I don’t know what to do. But I do know that this is the only place where I can draw a breath.”
“My room?” she asked, surprised it was anything close to a haven for him. “It’s not as if your family won’t think to look for you here.”
He reached for her and pulled her close. “Not your room. Being with you. It doesn’t matter where.”
