Free Fires of Autumn by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

and
something of an introvert, things as small as that had meaning to him.
    “Yes,” he
said after a moment. “I had the general run-down on the function of office
personnel that were close to the President, but tell me how you fit into all of
this other than organizing his life.”
    Casey
leaned against the door jamb. “It depends,” she said thoughtfully. “I generally
go everywhere he goes unless it’s a family vacation or something like that. 
The President decides where and when I go, but as his personal assistant, I
pretty much shadow him, like you do.”
    Colt
nodded, not at all displeased with the prospect of Casey Cleburne going
everywhere he did.  The new job just got better.
    “I see,”
he replied. “We’ve got a trip back to New Mexico next week.”
    Casey
nodded. “I know,” she said. “My boys are jealous. They think I’m going to the
Wild West.”
    Colt stared
at her, his heart sinking a little. He had no right to feel that way, but he
did.  “I didn’t know you were married.”
    She shook
her head. “I’m not,” she said. “But I’ve got an eleven-year -old and an
eight-year-old, both of whom are interested in Wild West history.  New Mexico
sounds exotic to them.”
    Colt’s
smile was back as was, he realized, his relief. “Did you tell them it’s no big
deal?”
    “They
think I’m lying. They think I’m going to walk the streets of the old West and
call out Black Bart.”
    He snorted
but was interrupted from saying anything further when more people entered
Casey’s office. She pushed herself off the doorjamb, turning to a middle-aged
man with carefully combed hair and an expensive overcoat, and extending her
hand.
    “Senator
Dane,” Casey said pleasantly. “I hear you’re joining us this morning.”
    Scott
smiled at Casey. “Yes, I am,” he shook her soft hand and let it go.  He
couldn’t help himself from gushing a little because she looked so lovely.
“You’re looking well this morning, Miss Cleburne.   Kurt says to tell you
hello.”
    Casey
grinned as she headed over to the coffee service that was stationed on the wall
between her desk and Eckart’s.  “He won’t be joining you?” she asked.
    Scott
shook his head and began to peel off the heavy wool overcoat. “The kid’s
running a fever of one hundred and two,” he said. “I told him to stay home.  I
don’t want his germs.”
    Casey
laughed softly and picked up a white ceramic mug. “Can I get you some coffee?”
    Scott
nodded. “Thanks. Black, please.”
    Casey poured
a cup and handed to him, smiling graciously when he thanked her.  Then she
stuck her head back into Colt’s office where the man had gone back to work on
his computer.
    “Special
Agent Sheridan?” she asked. “Can I get you some coffee?”
    Colt
already had a paper cup of coffee-house coffee by his left hand. The computer
monitor had apparently blocked her view of it, so he nodded.
    “Thanks,”
he said.  “Just a little creamer.”
    Casey
flashed him a sweet smile and turned back for the coffee service.  When her
back was turned, he quickly dumped his coffee into the trash and covered it up
with a few pieces of paper. 
    Colt
watched her shapely backside as she poured him a cup of coffee. He happened to
glance at Senator Dane, standing by the edge of her desk, and noticed that he
wasn’t the only one watching Casey.  Senator Dane was zeroed in on her as
well.  Colt eyed the man he’d heard about but never met, realizing he didn’t
like the way he was looking at Casey. He couldn’t put his finger on it but he
knew, instinctively, that he didn’t like it one bit.
    Oblivious
to the pair of men checking out the shape of her ass, Casey turned around with
a full cup of coffee and went into Colt’s office, extending the cup.  He took
it from her, their fingers brushing. 
    “Thanks,
angel,” he said softly.
    He sipped
the coffee and set it down, pretending to busy himself with his computer. The
truth was that he didn’t