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“The right thing The country needs a First Lady like you,” he replies with a whisper of his own and, without waiting for a reply, he goes down on one knee

“You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me, Ashley I love you like I’ve never loved anyone or anything… and I need you by s out a s it open with a flick fro I’ve ever seen, soolden band “Will you marry me?”

“I…” I staht inside n down onof tears in my eyes

Srabbing er It fits perfectly, al to be mine

“It’s beautiful, Austin,” I whisper as he stands up in front of me, his eyes on mine

“It was rand one hand on the nape ofin to kiss me

All around me, the room seems to explode with the flash of cameras and the quick chatter of reporters and onlookers But I don’t care about any of that, and I barely even register any of it

Right now, I’m the happiest woman in the world

30

Ashley

We left the conference roo for us to surrender to thedown on hirabbed my hand and lead the way out of the roo a dream, corridor after corridor, hallway after hallway

Everyone we passed smiled at us, but no one dared say a word They all knew this moment was one to be shared only by Austin and me Now, completely lost inside the White House, I halt to a stop and force him to look at me

“Where are we going?” I ask hi fast inside my chest

“The Oval Office, of course,” he replies in a single breath, and then starts walking again, dragging me after him The moment we step foot inside the Oval Office he simply closes the door behind us and locks it

“What about Tracy? She probably needs to talk with you right now?” I ask, butht in front of me