I have yet to meet the Secretary himself, but Spencer says he's a sweet man and that she doesn't get to see him very often. He's always busy or jetting across the globe.

I can tell it saddens her by the look she has in her eyes when she talks about him.

I bet they were close at one point in time.

She still hasn't mentioned the kiss or even hinted that she remembers.

Damn you, Spencer Carlin, damn you and your beautiful, radiant body.

------

Spencer's in my room talking about books or movies or something. I would know if I could stop focusing on the way her lips are moving and actually listen.

Fuck, I just want to kiss her again.

I just nod and smile instead.

It's only been a week and a half since she kissed me but I'm already head over heels. Let's just say it's pretty easy to always have to be around her.

The threats have become more persistent but so far there's been no action. The Pentagon doesn't seem too concerned, but I know they're not planning on pulling any of the detail units off.

I'm sure as hell not complaining.

"So, um," she begins, "I have plans tomorrow."

"Yeah? What are these plans?" I ask.

"Well, I have a date," she responds.

I try to stop the dejected 'oh' from escaping my lips but it does anyway. This girl's amazing. Of course she has a date.

"Where?" I simply ask, trying to gain my professionalism back.

"The Gerenous George's on Duke Street," she replies. "I love that place."

As do I. Well, at least Dennison and I can eat while she's on her date.

Bleh.

Chick better be hot.

------

I'm quiet on the drive through Alexandria. Spencer must notice because she's been trying to get me to talk this entire time.

But I'm in no mood to talk. I'm just not.

It has nothing to do with Spencer's date. Really, I swear.

I mean, she has every right to go out and see people. It's not like she's even into me in the first place. She was just wasted that night. But if I have to take her to some chick's house after dinner and wait while they have "coffee," I'll shoot myself in the face.

Not really, but I'll think about it.

We eventually make it to the restaurant and before I can get out to open her door for her, she's out of the vehicle and walking toward Dennison's Suburban. He rolls down the window and she whispers something in his ear so I don't hear through it my earpiece.

He nods and smiles. What a d-bag.

I finally get out of my Porsche and Spencer flashes me a dazzling smile. I can't help but feel a little better.

"I'm staying in the truck," Aiden says.

I shoot him a 'you're seriously making me go in by myself?' look over my shoulder. God, I can't believe him.

"What's wrong, Ash?" Spencer asks as I open the door for her.

"Nothing, Ms. Carlin," I respond.

She nods her head while sporting a frown and I feel terrible. She's being led to a table right away and on our way over, I ask, "you aren't going to wait for your date?"

"No need," Spencer replies.

Okay, I'm confused.

She sits down and thanks the hostess. She shoots me an expectant look and I ask why.

"Ash, don't you get it?"

"Um, no," I slowly answer.

"My date's already here," she says.

"Okay," I reply, my eyes scanning the restaurant.

She must recognize my confused face and she laughs softly. "You're kind of slow tonight, huh? It's you."

Wait, what?

Oh, shit. I feel like the biggest ass right now.

"I couldn't exactly ask you out in front of everyone, so I devised this little plan," she says with a devious smirk after I sit down. "Hopefully, your partners won't tell on you."

"Shit, I'm sorry, Spencer," I say sincerely. "I'll be honest, I was completely jealous and I've kinda been an ass...I'm sorry."

She just smiles in response.

------

"I'm really glad you're the one who has this assignment," Spencer says after a bite of pizza.

"I am too," I say, giving her my best smile.

"I'm also really glad that you're here with me right now," she adds.

"You're amazing, Spence," I counter. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

She blushes and at this moment, I think I'm the happiest I've ever been.

"LAME, Davies," I hear Aiden say.

"God damnit, Dennison, can't you go back to pretending you aren't listening?" I whisper.

Spencer laughs and suddenly everything's back to perfect.

"There's another party at my house this weekend," she says, looking me dead in the eye.

I saw it. The little sparkle in her eyes that tells me she remembers.

"Yeah? Well, I suppose I can make time to show up if you want," I tease.

"Oh, you must be so busy these days," she says with a smile. "But if you find the time, please do stop by and dance with me."

"Of course, Ms. Carlin," I reply with a sly smile.

"Tell me about yourself, Ashley," she voices after a few minutes.

"Well, I was born and raised in LA. My dad was always on the road and my mom's a bitch. She sent me to Culver Military Academy in Indiana when I was eight. Um, I graduated from West Point three years ago. I have a sister, well, half-sister, too. Her name is Kyla. She has a ranch in Maryland. It's about three hours away. Dennison and I usually go up there every other weekend."

"You're pretty modest for graduating West Point as First Captain," she says. "And you're definitely not like most kids who have rock star dads."

Wha...how did she know those things?

"My brother went through a hair metal phase when he was thirteen. He loved Purple Venom," she replies. "Oh, you thought you could get away with not telling me your dad is Raife Davies?"

I chuckle and shake my head.

"I have my sources, too, you know," she says with a wink.

"Well, my dad wasn't around much," I state. "I was only home during the holidays and if he was home too, he was always out on the Strip partying. He loved me, but his lifestyle was everything to him."

"I'm sorry, Ash," she responds, placing her hand on top of mine. "It still must have been hard when he passed away."

"It was," I say quietly.

I'm strangely comfortable having this conversation with her.

"And you, Spencer? Tell me about your life," I say, changing the subject.

"Well, I'm majoring in Poli/Sci and minoring in German," she says casually.

German? Mmm, hot.

"I have a brother, Glenn, who's twenty-five. He's stationed in Katterbach, Germany. That's where my mom is right now, thank God," she states.

"Do you not get along with your mom?" I ask.

"She's a MILF!" I hear Dennison say in my ear.

I reach around my back and hit the mute button on my receiver as she responds with, "no. She's a bitch."

She smiles when I laugh.

I'm totally falling in love.

------

What a night.

I sportin' the perma-grin right now. I can't help it...Spencer's fucking amazing.

We're driving back when Dennison says, "Davies, we're being followed by two Crown Vic's--one maroon, one black. They've been on us since the restaurant. I'm calling for back-up. Take the next lef--fuck!"

I look back to see the Suburban swerving wildly. Then I see the cause--the black Crown Vic is ramming his SUV. I punch the gas as I see the maroon Ford careen around the other two vehicles and try to catch up to us. Aiden side swipes the maroon car, but it's only momentarily thrown off course until it accelerates past the SUV.

"Ash, what's going on?" Spencer asks shakily.

"Hold on, Spence," I say as I weave through traffic.

I look back in time to see Dennison's Suburban slam into a parked vehicle and the black Crown Vic spins out into oncoming traffic. I don't see the other Ford until its headlights come into view of the side mirror from directly behind us. It slams into the back of my Cayenne and Spencer screams. I swerve around a parked taxi at the last minute and I look in my overhead mirror only to see the Crown Vic barely miss it.

I nearly tip the Cayenne making a last second right turn and I can tell that Spencer's pretty freaked out.

"Hey, it's going to be all right, Spence," I say as she looks over to me. "I'll die before I let someone hurt you."

I fly through a red light at an intersection and my dash mounted radio crackles to life.

"Davies, what the hell is going on out there?!" I hear.

I grab it and say, "I'm being pursued by a late model maroon Crown Victoria. Requesting back-up. Dennison and Vanichkul are down near Lincoln and Euclid--"

Before I can finish, the Crown Vic PITs my Cayenne despite my evasive driving and when we spin out, all I can hear is Spencer screaming and then safety glass shattering and crunching metal as my SUV flips on the driver's side. We roll twice and I'm grateful when we land on the wheels. I can feel the glass in my face and arm but I'm far more worried about Spence and the Crown Vic. I see that after it hit us, it plowed into a median. I look over to the blonde, trying to see her through the thick dust from the airbags, and notice her hand is bleeding but I don't see any major injuries.

I both praise and curse whoever that this isn't a busy street.

I grab my radio from by my feet and hand it to her. "Call for back-up and an ambulance. I'll be right back, okay, Spence?"

She nods, so I force my door open and step out on unsteady legs. I draw my SIG from inside my jacket and slowly approach the maroon Ford. I look inside but don't see anyone.

Right now, it's way too quiet.

I look back to my destroyed Porsche and see a man bringing a shotgun level with Spencer's door. I don't bother calling out a warning to him before I open fire.