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She wanted to curl up next to Lucy and stay there forever, but she forced herself to get out of bed. Button was still asleep on the floor. She stepped around her and let herself in the bathroom to shower and dress. So far he’d kept the news to himself. If he hadn’t, the Secret Service would already have pounded on the door this morning. She tried to feel grateful for these past four days instead of bitter because they were being snatched away, but she couldn’t quite manage it.
Lucy was still asleep when she came out, and Mat was holding Button while he made baby cereal. Although the baby still wore her sleeper, he’d added her pink cap. This morning the bill was turned to the side, giving her a Little Rascals look. For a tough guy, he had a big soft spot. But not for her. That had ended last night.
Her throat tightened. They’d all grown so precious to her. How was she going to leave them behind?
“Gah!” The baby pumped her legs and regarded Nealy happily from her perch in his arms.
Nealy smiled back. “Gah yourself.” She reached for the box of baby cereal. “I’ll fix it.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
His formality hadn’t faded. If anything, it seemed to have settled in deeper. Now, however, she heard the angry edge behind it. Mat was stiff-necked and proud. In his eyes, she’d made a fool of him.
She gazed at his messy hair and the wrinkled T-shirt he’d thrown on with a pair of shorts. His jaw was unshaven, his feet bare. He looked disheveled and gorgeous, so thoroughly at home in his oversized body that the act of making baby cereal seemed as masculine as growing a beard.
“I’ve made coffee if you want some.” He usually made the coffee, but this was the first time he’d felt the need to announce it. She’d become a houseguest.
“Thank you.”
“There’s not much for breakfast.”
“I know. We went shopping together, remember?”
“If you need anything—”
“I’m fine.”
“There’s some cereal left, a little milk, but I don’t think there’s any—”
“Stop it! Just stop it!”
His expression stiffened. “Excuse me?”
“I’m exactly the same person today that I was yesterday, and I don’t need you tiptoeing around me.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” he said stiffly.
She turned away and went outside.
Mat cursed himself for letting anger get in his way. The story was the only thing that counted now, and he had to put his own feelings aside so he could do his job. He grabbed a teething biscuit from a box on the counter, shoved it in Button’s hand, and carried her outside with him.
The day was gloomy, humid, and overcast. Weeds, wet with morning dew, brushed his bare feet as he walked toward the orchard where she stood with her arms wrapped around herself. For a moment he felt himself weakening. She looked so damned vulnerable. But the moment passed.
“Mrs. Case.”
“I’m Nell!” Wisps of light brown hair fluttered as she whirled around. “Just Nell.”
“With all due respect, you’re not. And that’s a problem.”
Her hands slammed on her hips. “I’ll tell you where you can put your due respect!”
“I need to know what’s going on.”
“No, you don’t!” And then her arms fell. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound imperious.”
“You owe me the truth,” he said stonily.
He was right, but she’d lost the habit of confiding in anyone. First Ladies couldn’t afford to tell their secrets. Still, she owed him something.
