A furrow appeared between Rafael’s brows, but he put down his tablet and smiled politely. “Hi.”
Nguyen smiled. “Good morning.” To the first lady, she added, “I hope we’re not too early.”
“No,” Camila Castillo answered. “Rafa was just finishing up. Darling, time to meet your new agents.” With that, she turned back to her agenda, the aide murmuring something as she flipped the pages.
Rafael pushed back his chair and came around the table, leading them into the hallway. “Are Joanna and Stuart on the next shift? I wanted to say goodbye before they got reassigned. ”
Nguyen shook her head. “I’m sorry—they’re already on their way to Livingston’s headquarters in North Carolina. Brent will still be on your detail, along with a couple other new agents for the other shifts. This is Shane Kendrick and Alan Pearce. They’ll take good care of you.”
“Oh. Right. Um, hi.” Rafael extended his hand.
Shane shook it firmly. As Alan did next, Shane quickly took stock of Rafael, automatically cataloguing his features. The kid usually stayed out of the press, so it had been a while since Shane had seen him.
His voice was surprisingly deep, and he was tall—had to be almost six foot, and only a couple inches shorter than Shane’s six-one. Darnell had called him a “beanpole,” but beneath Rafael’s pressed khakis and sky-blue button-down with navy tie, it looked like he’d filled out a bit, although he was still slim. His leather loafers just needed pennies in them to complete the perfect preppy look. Rafael’s short hair was neatly parted and slicked back, and his brown eyes had long lashes. He almost looked like he was wearing eyeliner, they were so lush. Freckles dusted his nose and the tops of his tan cheeks.
Not a bad looking kid by any means, but Shane supposed he was nothing to write home about compared to his older brothers, who got all the attention.
“Can you tell Joanna and Stuart thanks for me?” Rafael asked Nguyen. “The other agents who left too.” He glanced at Shane and Alan and hastily added, “Not that you guys won’t be great.”
“We totally understand,” Alan said. “And I know I speak for your former detail when I say we appreciate your consideration.”
Rafael checked his watch. “I guess we should get going.” He grimaced. “I have to give a speech. Do you guys mind driving me so I can look over my notes? Mom kind of sprung it on me.”
Nguyen smiled. “Not a problem. As you know, it’s always your choice to take your own vehicle or have a driver. I’ll leave you all to it. Have a great day.”
Shane nodded, breathing deeply. The butterflies had quieted, and confidence surged through him as they strode the White House halls.
This detail was going to be a piece of cake.
Chapter Three
“Valor on the move.”
As the new agent—Shane, the walking wet dream—murmured into his wrist radio, Rafa resisted the urge to snort. He climbed into the back of the Suburban as the name echoed through his mind.
Valor.
If ever there was a codename that didn’t fit, it was his. Courage and bravery were not exactly the first, or second (or third or fourth or fifth) attributes anyone would give him. Each family being protected by the service had codenames starting with the same letter, and he wondered what other names they’d considered for him. Vegan. Vomit. Vagina.
Virgin.
Squirming in the backseat as they drove away from downtown, Rafa ran a hand over his hair and tried to banish the nervous energy jangling through him. He detested public speaking, a fact of which his mother was naturally well aware. His stomach roiled with acid. He knew she thought it was good for him to get over his fear—that it would help his future career. But in a kitchen, he wouldn’t have to give speeches. He exhaled slowly and reminded himself that either way, it would be over in an hour. Even if he blew it and made a fool of himself, it would be done.
He’d scribbled notes on old-fashioned note cards, and now he pulled them out of the pocket of his navy sport coat. He repeated the words in his head, not really hearing them. His mind ping-ponged from subject to subject, and he tapped his foot on the rubber mat as he whipped through the cards one by one. He wished Ashleigh was there to tell him to chill the fuck out, as she’d surely put it. He had to focus. Healthy kids. Community support. Leading by example.
With a sigh, he stared out the window. Shit, he was horny. Should have jerked off this morning in the shower. He watched the back of Shane’s head as the agents quietly discussed the advance security report for the park. Shane was scrolling through the document on his agent phone—black, of course—as Alan drove. They were both handsome, but Rafa wondered what it would feel like to run his hand over Shane’s nearly shaved head. Wondered if Shane had hair on his chest and powerful body. Rafa had fantasized about hairy men—not too hairy, but not too smooth either—since about the time he’d moved into the White House. Even in high school, he’d never paid much attention to the other guys. Why look at boys when he had all those men in suits around?