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wouldn’t leave her alone.  He was, in fact, rather
aggressive and kept trying to hold her hand or touch her in some way.  When he
went to get them both a drink, she slipped outside to the dark portico to hide.
    It was a
mistake.  It was freezing outside and all she had was that little wrap to keep
her warm.  Still, it was better than being pursued by a drunk and amorous
Chinese aide.  She could hear everyone inside, having a good time, and she
thought she might just slip out and go home.  Russ probably wouldn’t even
remember if she said good-bye to him, anyway.
     Wandering
to the edge of the portico where the big staircase led down to the south lawn,
she could hear a man’s voice with a heavy Chinese accent calling her name. 
Desperate to get away from her suitor, she slipped down the stairs as silently
as she could to hide from him.
    Now she
was underneath the dark and damp portico, and it was as cold as a freezer.  She
inched out from underneath, peering up the stairs to see if the amorous Chinese
man was still looking for her.  She could hear voices, and music, but she
didn’t hear her name any longer.  As she took another step out, thinking about
heading over to the west wing and then out to the parking structure, a hand
grabbed her from behind.
    Casey
shrieked and tried to bolt as two hands suddenly grabbed her, trapping her.  In
the darkness, she could see a very large body and, after a moment, she
recognized Sheridan’s features in the darkness.  Terror turned to relief.
    “Oh, my
God,” she gasped, her hand over her chest to still her heart. “You scared me to
death.”
    He
grinned, his big white teeth reflecting the weak light. “I saw you go out onto
the portico,” he said. “What are you doing down here?”
    He was
still holding on to her arms.  His hands were blazingly hot against the frigid
temperatures. 
    “Hiding
from some Chinese guy who wants to dance with me,” she said. “Your hands are so
warm. I’m freezing down here.”
    Colt
silently pulled off his suit jacket and slung it over her shoulders, pulling it
tightly around her.  Wrapped up in the wool coat, Casey succumbed to the heat
with comfort and relief.  It was heavenly.  It was the second time in as many
hours that Sheridan had come to her rescue.
    “Do I need
to defend your virtue?” he asked, watching her giggle. “Did he try anything?”
    She shook
her head. “No,” she said. “He was just a little drunk. He wanted to dance. But
he kept trying to grab me.”
    Colt
grinned. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
    “He’s
gross!”
    “So what
do you want me to do? Just say the word and I’ll have him escorted out of
here.”
    She
laughed softly. “You’d better not,” she said. “He’s the son of somebody
important and you’ll just create an international incident.  It would just be
best if I left.”
    “Okay,” he
said, feeling the pangs of disappointment at the thought of her leaving. All
evening, when he was supposed to be watching the President, he found himself
watching her. She’d made the night far more pleasant. “I’ll have someone walk
you to your car.”
    She shook
her head. “That’s not necessary,” she said. “I’m a big girl. My car is just
across the street.”
    “Forget
it,” he said, more firmly. He lifted his right arm and spoke into a tiny
microphone that was strung down his sleeve and ended in his hand. “This is
Sheridan. Have Case meet me in the cross hall in five.”
    Someone
came back with an affirmative. Even though Casey couldn’t hear it, she heard
his acknowledgement. 
    “Thanks,”
she said. “You really didn’t have to do that. But I guess if something happened
to me, you’d never hear the end of it.”
    His
usually neutral expression came close to a scowl.  “You’re probably right.  I’d
get fired over some woman who insulted me when I first met her and then stole
my coat and used me like a space heater.”
    Her mouth
popped open in outrage,