Glitter and Gunfire (Shadow Agents #4)(49)
Author: Cynthia Eden

He stayed silent.

She glared. “Next time, don’t wait for death, okay? Just tell me.”

Uh, okay.

“Because I love you, too, Cale. I love you so much. And when you were bleeding out on that ground, I felt like my world was ending.”

He ignored the pain and reached for her, pulled her against him as best he could and kissed her.

Her lips parted for him. Her fingers pressed to his cheek. He could taste the salt of her tears.

And the sweet promise of their future.

“I don’t want my world to end,” Cassidy whispered. She pulled back a bit to meet his stare. “Cale, I want my life to start again, with you.”

He couldn’t imagine a life without her. Things between them had developed so quickly—maybe too quickly, but he didn’t care. He knew what love was because he’d lived too long without it.

“Whatever we have to do, I’ll do it,” she promised. “I want to be with you.”

He kissed her again. The nurse cleared his throat. “You seem…uh…pretty okay in here. I’ll just…step outside a bit.”

Cale held tight to Cassidy. Plans, ideas, were racing through his head. Cassidy needed a home base, a place where she could feel safe.

He wanted to give her that—wanted to give her the world.

He would. He’d give her everything. “There’s this little town,” he whispered. “I mentioned it before, in Texas…”

“Your home.”

It hadn’t felt like home to him for years, but now, when he thought of her… “Let’s take a visit there.” See what happened. How she liked it. What she liked.

Because he’d go any place with her—London, Rio, even Whiskey Ridge, Texas.

Wherever Cassidy was happy, that was where he wanted to be.

But Cassidy laughed, a light, husky sound that skipped right through him. He loved it when she laughed. He’d make sure she had plenty of reason to laugh and smile in the years to come.

She was smiling then, flashing the little dimple that he just had to stroke.

“Oh, Cale.” Her hand lifted and brushed back his hair. “Don’t you understand? Home for me—it’s going to be wherever you are. As long as we’re together…”

They would be. Together for the rest of their lives.

“Then I’m happy,” she finished.

He gazed at her, completely lost for a moment. His society girl, his fierce fighter.

His.

The woman he’d cherish for the rest of his days.

“I love you, Cassidy Sherridan.”

Her smile widened.

Protecting her had been the best assignment of his life. He’d owe Mercer for that, for connecting him with the woman of his dreams.

Cale was sure Mercer would come collect on that debt. The guy always did.

But that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered—she was in his arms.

The place where he always wanted her to be.

Cale kissed her again.

They were both home.

* * *

MERCER TURNED AWAY from the hospital door, but Cassidy’s quiet words still rang in his ears. When you were bleeding out on the ground, I felt like my world was ending.

He knew exactly how his daughter felt.

But Cassidy’s world wouldn’t end. She’d have her man, and they’d be together. Cale was a fighter, a protector—that was why Mercer had recruited him for the EOD. And it was also why he’d sent Cale down to guard Cassidy.

I’d thought, hoped…

And his plan had worked. Cassidy would now have a warrior by her side, day in and day out. A man willing to put his life on the line for her.

More plans would have to be made. Cassidy wanted out of her prison. He had to find a way to make that happen. He’d have to figure out a way to clear her so that his enemies wouldn’t hunt for her any longer.

Had Genevieve leaked the information that she’d had? Sold it to any of her and Ian’s connections? He’d find out, and he’d eliminate any threats to his daughter.

He might have to use some bait, might have to call in some old favors, but he would give Cassidy her freedom.

Mercer had lost his chance at love, but he’d make sure that his daughter had her happiness.

She deserved it.

He began to whistle as he walked down the hallway, plans and schemes running through his mind.

Cassidy was going to be free.

And she’d have the life that she’d always wanted.

No matter what, he’d make the dream happen for her, even if it meant he had to get his hands a little bit bloody.

After all, the EOD was used to blood and death.

He was the EOD. He had this.

Epilogue

She wasn’t in a ballroom anymore. She wasn’t wearing a glimmering green gown that matched her eyes.

She wore jeans, a faded T-shirt.

She was standing in a meadow, laughing.

Cale’s arms were crossed over his chest as he stared at Cassidy. They’d been in Whiskey Ridge for two weeks—just two short weeks—and Cassidy seemed to glow with happiness.

She didn’t wake up afraid that one of her father’s enemies would find her. She slept through the nights, held carefully in his arms.

They watched sunsets together. Rose at dawn to see that same sun rise.

They made love.

They talked about the future.

And he dreamed of everything that he wanted to give her.

Because that was what she’d already given to him.

She’s every damn dream I ever had.

Cassidy glanced over at him, and she smiled. Her dimple flashed. His heartbeat kicked up.

Slowly, she strode toward him. “Hi, there, cowboy.”

The title had been mocking once—still was their own joke. The cowboy and the princess. That was how he thought of them.

Two different worlds. They probably should have never been together.

But they were.

When he’d finally been released from the hospital, Cale hadn’t been able to get her home soon enough.

And this place…with her there, it truly felt like home.

“I’m happy here,” Cassidy said, the words simple. True. No telling hitch gave away a lie.

She didn’t lie anymore or, at least, not to him. That hitch had sure slipped through when she’d gamely tried his sister’s roast beef the day before.

“Could you always be happy here?” he asked her carefully.

Her hands rose. She stroked his face, her fingertips lightly smoothing over the stubble that lined his jaw. “I told you before, I’m going to be happy as long as I’m with you. And I don’t care where we are.”