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Ashley Graham clutched her champagne flute as she gazed around the glowing ballroom still decked in holiday splendor on this final night of the year. She’d been looking forward to this party all week. She’d always loved the glitter and romance of New Year’s Eve. The fancy dresses, the lights, the sophisticated cocktails and hors d’oeuvres always made her feel like she was in one of the best old Hollywood movies. She’d meant to enjoy herself immensely, and really she was enjoying herself, but still an ache had been growing in her chest all evening.
She turned away, suddenly unable to watch as a couple on the far side of the dance floor exchanged a furtive kiss, no doubt rehearsing for midnight. The only thing her own lips had touched tonight was her cocktail glass.
Quickly, before Pauline or Sasha could see her go, she strode to the big double doors which opened onto the balcony outside. The end-of-December air was bracing, but she didn’t mind—it meant no one else was likely to wander out here and try to ask her what was wrong.
She had hoped to spend this night with Leon, but he had disappeared on an assignment two days after Christmas with no estimate of when he would return. She’d always known exactly what he was: she’d fallen in love with the daring hero who unflinchingly risked his life for others. She didn’t want to change him.
And still it was hard not knowing where he was or when he would come home. Most of all, she just missed him.
“Happy New Year, Leon,” she whispered to the darkness beyond the balcony lights. “Be careful.”
Ashley downed the last of her champagne and set the empty glass on the wide marble balcony rail, then clasped her arms in an awkward self-hug that did little against the cold. She should have thought to grab her wrap before she came out here, but she wasn’t going back for it now. She didn’t want her friends seeing her running to and from the balcony like she was trying to hide. She didn’t need their concern or sympathy; she just needed a moment to herself.
The door whooshed open behind her, but she didn’t turn; she didn’t trust her face right now. Footsteps came nearer. Ashley tried and failed to suppress an obvious shiver. Damn. She was going to have to let whoever this was convince her to come back inside.
A warm weight dropped over her shoulders. “Can I offer you a coat?”
In a heartbeat, she registered the voice, the touch of shearling, the scent of leather and peppery cologne.
“Leon!” She spun and he caught her. “You didn’t tell me—”
“Thought I’d surpri—”
She cut him off with a kiss, arms winding around him. Against the broad, solid warmth of him, the ache in her chest melted away.
“I love you,” she sighed.
Leon cupped her cheek. “Ashley.” His lips pressed hers again. “You having a good time tonight?”
She nodded. “Especially now.”
He pulled back to look over her party dress, a sleek floor-length gown in pale gold satin dusted with matching crystals. “You look gorgeous. Very sparkly.”
She giggled. “Well, it had to go with this.” She waved her left hand so that the diamonds on her fourth finger glittered.
He smiled, pride and pleasure in his eyes. “It’s a shame your fiancé looks like he just got off an airplane from Timbuktu.”
“Mmm . . . a shame that he looks like the most interesting man in the room, you mean?”
Leon’s long-sleeved black Henley tee hugged his muscular arms and shoulders, while the muddy scuffs on his boots and tactical cargo pants proved that his athletic physique hadn’t been cultivated merely for vanity’s sake. It was obvious that sitting at a desk didn’t occupy a lot of his time.
Ashley tugged the leather holster still looped over his shoulders. “Seriously, you just need the fedora to look like you’ve been off fighting Nazis. Besides, I like you a little bit scruffy.” She scraped a nail along his stubbled cheek, then caught him by the back of the head and pulled their mouths together again.
“Ash, I was thinking,” Leon managed as he could between kisses, “How about the day after tomorrow—” He nipped her tongue and she squeaked. “—day after tomorrow, we could go down to the justice of the pea—hey!” He drew back, laughing, after her answering bite to his lip. “How many glasses of champagne have you had?”
“Just one.” She fluttered her lashes and smiled up at him. “And a Manhattan.”
“I see.” He tucked his jacket closer around her neck against the cold. “Well, I was thinking we could get married.”
“I think that’s a brilliant idea. But, Leon, I’m not letting you take me home till May 26th.”
“Oh?”
She fixed him with a teasing pout. “It’s just that I booked this church, and bought a dress, and ordered a cake and flowers, and I’m really excited about that.”
“Yeah, I know, sweetheart.” He kissed her nose. “Me, too. I can wait.” He brushed a thumb against the corner of her mouth. “Your lipstick is a mess.”
Ashley laughed. “So’s yours.”
With an awkward smile, Leon rubbed the back of a hand over his lips.
“Here, let me.” She pulled a tissue from her bodice and swept the last of her makeup from his face. “Snap,” she murmured as she retrieved a tube of lipstick from the same hiding spot. “Wish I had a mirror.”
“Will this work?” Leon’s hand flashed to a pocket, and he held up a knife. It wasn’t quite as big as the one he’d carried in Spain, but the blade was wide and polished to a mirror shine.
“My God,” Ashley gasped, more amused than startled. “They let you in here with that?”
“Yep. Just ’cause I’m with you.” He grinned at her. “I told them you were trouble.”
“Ha ha,” she teased dryly, tilting the blade in his hand so it was angled properly. With its aid, she tidied up the smudges and applied a fresh coat of lipstick—the same holly berry color she’d worn two years ago when Leon had come, at her invitation, to a White House Christmas party.
“There.” She clicked the gold tube shut and tucked it away. “You mostly can’t tell we were kissing.”
“Mostly?”
“I did bite you.”
Leon smirked at her. “God dammit, Ashley.”
“You kiss your mother with that mouth?” she asked.
“No, but I’ll kiss you.” And he did once more, full and firm so that she gasped for breath when he let go of her. “Happy New Year, Baby Eagle. Now, it seems I’m two drinks behind you. Let’s find that champagne.” Tucking an arm around her waist, he ushered her back towards the ballroom doors.
“Wait, Leon, you have more lipstick—”
He shrugged. “According to you, there’s no hiding it. I don’t mind if people know I’ve been kissing the most beautiful woman in the room. It adds to my mystique.”
Ashley answered with a burst of laughter. “Well, in that case—” As Leon held the door for her, she spun on her toes and pressed red lips to his cheek before dashing inside, still giggling.