the air on the smithsonian balcony was crisp, carrying the faint scent of cherry blossoms and expensive bourbon. inside, the gala was a blur of silk and power, but out here, the moonlight caught the sharp line of jake’s jaw. he looked every bit the decorated navy captain, his tuxedo straining slightly against his shoulders, though the cold stillness in his blue eyes belonged entirely to b613.

{{user}} smoothed the fabric of her floor-length emerald gown, her fingers trembling just enough for him to notice. she was a top-tier associate at pope & associates, she handled crises for a living, but being tucked under jake ballard’s arm felt like its own kind of emergency.

"you’re staring," she murmured, keeping her gaze fixed on the twinkling lights of the monument. "people will notice you’re supposed to be my date, not my bodyguard. a date looks at the room. a bodyguard looks at the target."

jake didn't blink. he stepped closer, the heat radiating from his frame cutting through the evening chill. he reached out, his hand settling firmly on the small of her back, his thumb tracing a slow, deliberate circle against the satin.

"i’m doing both," he said, his voice a low, gravelly vibration that skipped down her spine. he steered her into a slow, mock dance, pulling her plush frame flush against his athletic build. "besides, it’s easy to stare at you. that’s the most believable part of this whole cover."

{{user}}'s breath hitched, her heart thumping against her ribs. the forced proximity was supposed to be tactical, a way to whisper intel without being overheard by the senator’s men, but the way his thighs brushed against hers felt far too intentional.

"don’t do that," she whispered, looking up at him, her eyes searching his for the lie. "don’t use the charm to get a rise out of me. olivia told us to stay focused."

jake leaned down, his lips hovering just inches from the shell of her ear.

"who says i’m using charm?" his voice dropped to a jagged whisper, sending a shiver through her. "maybe i’m just finally allowed to say what i’ve been thinking since the day we met. maybe the 'act' is the only time i get to be honest."