Page 2 of Kissing Kayley
I rolled my eyes as I walked down to join him, well aware of the two Secret Service agents who followed close behind.
“Sorry, Brian.” In his early seventies, he was also a friend of my parents.
He shrugged. “Never dull around here now.” He gently nudged me. “Now you understand why Leo was so adamant about you having a security detail.”
I grudgingly blew a loose strand of hair out of my eyes. “I still wish you hadn’t helped him gang up on me about it, but yeah.Now, I get it.”
Of course I’d agreed with Leo that my parents should have a detail.
They were ourparents, duh.
Still, I’d kept insisting to my older brother that no, I didn’t need a detail, that it was ridiculous to think anyone would pay a second’s worth of attention to me. I wasn’t famous. I wasn’t the least bitfuck-yourich to be of interest to anyone, I wasn’tslutting around the greater LA area with famous guys, and I damned sure didn’t inhabit the kinds of social circles that the press and general public gave a shit about.
But my older brother also possesses a psychology degree as well as has a couple dozen years of Secret Service and private security experience under his belt…
And he’s my only sibling.
I’d move heaven and hell for him, especially after I almost lost him several years prior.
I love Leo, but I haaaate it when he can tell mesee I told you so.
Twenty minutes later, after putting eyes on everyone in our office to assure myself they were safe, I was riding in the back of a black SUV with two Secret Service agents in the front, and another team in a car following us.
I stared out the window as we navigated the busy streets toward my home in Laguna Beach.
If it’s this crazy now, how bad will it beaftertheir wedding?
And why thehelldid Elliot have to propose to Leo? Why couldn’t Leo have married Jordan?
Over the years, a long series of events played out beyond my ken involving my older brother, Leo Davidson Cruz, who was a former Secret Service special agent, security expert, body man to the previous President of the United States ShaeLynn Samuels, and, until recently, was also Samuels’ deputy chief of staff.
That last position was terminated because Leo was now slated to become the First Gentleman of the United States, thanks to a surprise proposal by Elliot in front of the whole goddamned world at the ball on the night of Elliot’s inauguration for his second term.
My parents were just as clueless and shocked as I was.
Not because Leo’s gay. Hellooo, that’s old news and a complete non-issue for my family.
But because we had no clue he’d been in a relationship with Elliot in the first place.
Once I was safely locked inside my house for the night I kicked off my shoes and flopped back onto the couch. I stared at the ceiling for a long time as my mind spun in a thousand directions.
Elliot’s a lucky idiot. I hope he appreciates how much Leo loves him and how much he’s given up for him over the years.
And the things Leo would give up for him in the future.
Like privacy, and the ability to move unimpeded throughout the world without drawing any attention.
My burner cell phone rang and I reached for where I’d left it on the coffee table next to my personal phone. “Hey, big bro.”
“What’s my ringtone now?” Leo asked.
“‘Love Shack’.” I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I thought it was appropriate, given what you’re up to.”
He didn’t reply at first. “Kay, we told you?—”
“I know, I know.” I sighed. “It was ajoke. Igetit—Jordan’s happy, you’re happy, Elliot’s an idiot and happy—you’re all a happy, secret throuple I can’t say a damned word about.”
“You sound like you disapprove. I thought we were okay?”
