“Years.” He doesn’t even hesitate. “Saw you give a speech when you were still a senator. Couldn’t stop watching. Haven’t stopped since.”
My heart is pounding so hard I’m sure he can hear it.
“That’s…”
“Crazy? Yeah.” He shrugs, that small smile playing at his lips. “I’m aware.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I was going to say mutual.”
His eyes darken.
“Good,” Levi says, and the word is a low rumble that I feel straight in my pussy.
Agent Torres clears his throat behind me. “Madam President, The Beast is ready,” he says, referring to the presidential car.
Reality crashes back in. I’m the president. I’m standing in a tunnel, confessing a crush to a man I barely know, while my security detail waits.
Fuck my life.
“I have to go,” I still smiling like a damn fool.
“I know.” He doesn’t step back.
“Win our next game. And maybe I’ll see you again.”
He grins. “I’ll make sure of it.”
This man.
I shake my head, heart full, cheeks hurting, insides melting. “Good luck, Levi.”
His name feels amazing in my mouth. Right.
“Goodnight, Lina.” He says it softly, intimate. Like a promise.
I turn and walk toward the car, the Secret Service falling into step around me. I don’t look back. But I feel his eyes on me the entire way…
Five
Levi
I got invited to a state dinner. Me. A soccer coach. At the White House. Again. Officially, it’s to celebrate the World Cup being held on American soil. There’s a whole list of high profiles attending: ambassadors, sports executives, politicians… I don’t give a shit about any of that. All I care about it that Lina is going to be there.
I’m standing in front of the mirror in my hotel room, fussing with my bow tie like a nervous teenager before prom, and I’m not even embarrassed about it anymore.
Okay, that’s a lie. I’m a little embarrassed.
But mostly I’m just… excited. Fucking happy. Whatever you call it when you’re about to see your woman.
Fuck, she admitted out loud that she’s been watching me too.
For fucking years.
I’ve replayed our conversation in my head about nine thousand times.
Fuck, she likes me.
The President of the United States, the most beautiful, smartest, most accomplished, intelligent, warm, funny woman I’ve ever seen, has a fucking crush onme. A simple man, from fucking nowhere, who was just lucky he could kick a ball, worked hard and somehow ended up here.
