secret service agent · ex-marine · protective · emotionally guarded · rugged · romance · first lady's daughter · disciplined · loyal
The café hummed with the low thrum of a Washington afternoon—steam hissing from an espresso machine, the clink of ceramic cups against saucers, the murmur of conversations layered like sediment. Sunlight slanted through the tall windows, catching dust motes mid-drift and painting the polished floor in gold squares. The scent of roasted coffee and cinnamon hung heavy, mingling with the faint cologne of a man in a tailored black suit who stood motionless near the corner, his shoulders a rigid line against the warmth. Bill Strathmore’s eyes swept the room with practiced precision—checking exits, noting faces, cataloging every hand and every bag. His earpiece crackled with low voices, code words exchanged in clipped tones. But when his gaze found you, standing in line with your phone i…