“You act as if I was part of the show.”

“You were the whole show, love.” He placed a kiss on her collarbone and traced his lips up to her neck.

Liz leaned forward and kissed Brady with every ounce of passion she had. There were no words to convey how she felt about him. There was only this moment.

When the show ended, they returned to the limo to go get drinks. Mollie gushed the entire time about the production and how she thought that it was even better than the last time she saw it with her girlfriends. Liz smiled and nodded at the appropriate times, but she hadn’t really paid attention to much of what had happened.

Soon enough the limo reached their destination, and they all piled out into the chic bar. Liz thought she might feel overdressed, since she was used to the college scene, but everyone inside was in business suits and dressy attire. She received a few envious glances as she passed with Brady on her arm. She didn’t know whether they were green over Brady or her dress. Maybe it was both. But she just raised her chin as if she belonged in high society.

Chris procured a booth in the back and a waiter came by to get their orders. Chris insisted on putting his card down, even after Brady tried to argue with him. But after a minute, Brady gave up and let Chris pay.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Liz said.

“What?” Mollie asked.

“Brady lost an argument and actually backed down.”

“Oh very funny,” Brady said. He pulled her close to him and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I didn’t lose an argument.”

“You’re letting Chris pay. You never let anyone do anything you don’t want.”

“Then maybe I wanted to let Chris pay.”

“No, you didn’t,” Chris said, shaking his head. “Don’t let him fool you. He hates when people do things he can’t control.”

“Oh, no,” Liz teased. “You hate me?”

Chris started laughing. “She’s got you there, B.”

“I don’t want to control you,” Brady said. “Chris has it all wrong.”

“Now that sounds accurate,” Mollie said.

“Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mols.”

“Just call ’em like I see ’em,” she crooned.

Their drinks appeared shortly and they all raised them to toast a night out with friends. Liz was so glad they had taken the time off to relax with Chris. She knew that it was the precursor to a very busy election season, and she was glad they at least got a bit of time alone before that happened.

“Brady’s a control freak and I’m a know-nothing. Sounds like college, huh, Brady?” Chris joked.

“College is a bit of a blur,” Brady confessed.

“Too much booze,” Mollie said.

“Basketball,” he corrected. “Takes over your life.”

“That it does,” Chris agreed. He raised his glass to Liz. “So, Graduate, now that you’re out in the big world writing articles and getting quoted in the Washington Post, what are your big plans? You two lovebirds moving in together?”

“Uh . . .” Liz mumbled. Yeah . . . that was one of those conversations they hadn’t had yet. They had only been officially together since February. Four whole months. Blissful months, but that was kind of fast.

Surprisingly the idea didn’t bother her at all. This was Brady. She had known for two years that she wanted him, and now that she had him everything felt as if it was moving at a perfect speed.

Brady tapped his fingers on the table and leveled Chris with an are you kidding me? look.

“What?” Chris asked innocently. “Have y’all not talked about it? I thought that was a done deal. You only moped around about this girl a million years. What’s the holdup now that you’re together?”

“Chris, you’re so tactful,” Mollie said. She rolled her eyes and nudged him.

“I don’t need tact with my buddy.”

“I’d tell you to learn some,” Brady said, “but after nearly thirty years of this, I should be the one to know better.”

“Probably.”

She wondered what exactly she was going to do about the living situation now that Victoria had moved out. It seemed sad to be in Chapel Hill by herself. Plus, after spending the week over spring break and the week after graduation with Brady, she found that she really liked being around him all the time. She liked being the person he came home to, spent his time with, got dinner with, talked about his job with. It made their relationship feel more complete. The phone could never do justice to that.

“I can’t believe you haven’t asked her,” Chris said, pushing.

“Well, I was planning to talk about this in private after we go back, but Chris jumped the gun,” Brady said, shaking his head. He turned to Liz and cupped her hand in his. “Will you move in with me?”

“I don’t want you to feel pressured,” she whispered, conscious of Chris and Mollie watching them.

“I’ve wanted you by my side since we got back together. Now that you’re out of school there’s no physical barrier between us and I don’t want there to be ever again.” His brown eyes were intense and sincere. “Please move in with me. I have the election ahead of me and I want my woman by my side.”

“Are you sure?” she breathed emotionally.

“I’ve never been more sure. I don’t want to control you or your decisions. If you don’t want to move in with me yet, please tell me, but know that I want nothing more than to have you with me all the time,” Brady said, his voice laced with power and seduction that came with a life built for politics.

“Okay,” she whispered without another moment of hesitation. “I’ll move in with you.”

Chapter 19

ROAD TRIP

When they returned from New York City, Brady hired someone to move Liz up to D.C. A box of clothes and some toiletries were sent to his house in Raleigh for when they were in North Carolina, but otherwise her life now officially belonged with Brady.

He had wanted to have her car shipped up to D.C. for her, but she thought that was ridiculous. It was only a five-hour drive and she had done it before by herself. She badgered Brady enough about how stupid it was to ship her car no matter the cost that he finally gave up. It was a mini victory.

When the time came and she had the backseat full of stuff that she didn’t trust the moving company with, she offered to drive Brady to the airport.