Fatal Series 01 - Fatal Affair

bottle-blonde reporter from one of the gossip rags.
    “It’s been a week,” Sam said, laughing off the question.
    “But is it serious? ”
    What is this? Sam wanted to shoot back at her. High school? “Would I have gotten involved if it wasn’t? Next question.” She looked away from the reporter’s satisfied grin, sending the signal that she was finished with the discourse into her personal life.
    “Are you concerned by Destiny Johnson’s threats?” another reporter asked.
    Relieved to be moving on, Sam made eye contact with the new reporter, a woman she recognized from one of the network affiliates. “Mrs. Johnson is a grieving mother. My heart goes out to her.”
    “How about Marquis Johnson?”
    “As I’m due to testify in his probable cause hearing on Tuesday, I have no comment.”
    “Sergeant, the second anniversary of your father’s shooting is coming up next week. Are there any new leads in his case?”
    “Unfortunately, no, but it remains an open investigation. Anyone with information is urged to come forward.”
    “And how’s he doing?”
    “Very well. Thank you for asking.”
    Chief Farnsworth stepped forward to rescue her.
    Sam held up her hand to stop him. “I just want to say…” She cleared the emotion from her throat. “That it’s an honor to serve the people of this city, and while you’ve taken your digs at me lately, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do, no risk I wouldn’t take, to protect our citizens. If that’s not enough for you, well then you can continue to make me the story rather than focusing on real news. That’s it.”
    As they hollered more questions at her, she pushed through them to the staff parking lot where her gleaming new car waited for her. Only when she was safely inside could she begin to breathe her way through the pain.

    Sam called Nick from the car.
    “Hey, babe,” he said.
    She took a moment to enjoy the easy familiarity they had slid into, as if they’d been together for years rather than days.
    “Sam?”
    “I’m here.”
    “Everything all right?”
    “It is now that I’m talking to you. What’re you doing?”
    “I’m sitting on your bed trying to write what I have to say at the funeral tomorrow. It’s just dawned on me that I have to speak in front of the president and most of Congress.”
    Sam released a low whistle. “I don’t think I could do it.”
    “Sure you could. You just took on the Washington press corps.”
    “You saw that, huh?”
    “Yep. I heard it’s serious between us. Did you know that?”
    Laughing, she said, “I’ve heard that rumor.”
    “Say it again, Sam,” he said, his voice gruff and sexy.
    Her heart contracted. “Say what?” she asked, even though she knew exactly what he was after.
    “Don’t play coy with me. Say it.”
    “When I see you.”
    “And when will that be?”
    “I’m almost home. Want to meet me outside and go for a walk? I promised I’d take you to the market.”
    “So you did. Was that only yesterday?”
    “Sure was. Meet me on the corner in five? If I come in, I’ll get trapped, and I need some air.”
    “I’ll be right there.”

    He was waiting for her when she parked in front of the house and set out toward the corner.
    Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him in jeans and a black leather jacket, and she couldn’t help but break into a jog to get to him faster. She hurled herself into his outstretched arms and squealed when he lifted her right off her feet.
    His mouth descended on hers for a hot, breathtaking kiss.
    “Mmm,” she said against his lips. “I missed you.”
    “You just saw me a couple of hours ago.”
    “Long time.” She burrowed into his neck to nibble on warm skin.
    He trembled and tightened his hold on her. “What happened to your ban on PDA?”
    “Momentary lapse.”
    “I like it.” He returned her to terra firma and tipped her chin up. “There was something you were going to tell me?”
    She thought about playing coy again, but as she looked up at his handsome face, she found she couldn’t do it. “I love you. Big.”
    His hazel eyes danced with delight. “Big, huh?”
    “Scary big.”
    “Not scary.” He hugged her. “Because I love you bigger.”
    “Not possible.”
    “Bet?” Laughing at the face she made at him, he slipped his arm around her shoulders for the walk to the market.
    A melting pot of crafts, colors, nationalities, smells and textures, Eastern Market was mobbed with last-minute Christmas shoppers braving the