Interlude: First Noel (The Executive Office #1.5)

by Tal Bauer

Jack’s big blue eyes turned back to him. “Nothing is more important than us, Ethan. And no one can ever use you against me.” Ethan’s heart stopped. “Jack―” “I want to be with you,” Jack whispered. “Really with you, Ethan. Like this isn’t a scandal. I want you by my side in those photos I just had to take. I don’t want you hanging out in the corners. I don’t want you to be my dirty little secret.” He stared into Jack’s eyes, filled with a mixture of love and aching sadness. “I guess we do what we have to do, though,” Jack whispered again. “Right?”

More room opened up on the dance floor, a bubble surrounding them as the crowd watched. Ethan could feel their stares, could feel their questions, but he pushed it all away and nuzzled Jack’s cheek. A moment later, he felt Jack’s lips press against his skin. Grinning, Ethan pulled back, gazing at Jack as the rest of the world faded away. Jack was smiling that wondrous smile of his, the one that made Ethan’s heart beat faster and convinced him to break all his own rules. They gazed into each other’s eyes as they kept dancing, their foreheads resting together, and traded soft kisses in between smiles and gentle giggles.

“Wow,” he finally breathed, just when Ethan thought his heart was going to burst. “This is a… really nice watch.” He’d gone all-out, getting something tasteful and classy, not boastful, but something he had to dip into his savings to afford. “I, uhh.” Ethan cleared his throat. “I had the back engraved.” Jack’s eyes darted to his before he plucked the watch from its satin pillow. Ethan watched him read the words Ethan had agonized over for days: J, All of my hours and all of my minutes now belong to you. ~ E

“She turned herself in. Wanted to give herself up in exchange for us protecting her girls.” “She was a madam, right?” “Of a sort. But that’s the FBI’s case. Tomorrow, I’m back on counterfeiting. That’s not our mystery to solve.” “But you did great work. Helped put things together. Connected people, and hopefully more people will be saved out there.” Ethan was quiet. “Like what you’re doing over there? Connecting the world and putting a stop to those evils? Saving lives?” Dammit. Jack closed his eyes as his lips quivered. “Hard choices require hard love. The kind of love that sometimes hurts it runs so deep. You have that kind of love for the world, Jack. And for everybody.” Ethan’s voice had dropped, rougher and deeper. “You are a good man.”