Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“Hospital. Now!” I smooth her hair from her face.
“On it.” He peels out, and we’re flying along the highway.
“Sweet girl, please.” I stroke her cheek and press my lips to her forehead. “Please wake up. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. I promise. Just wake up for me.”
“Vargas?” Her voice is slurred, but just hearing her say my name sends my heart leaping into my throat.
“Yes. I’ve got you.” I try not to squeeze her too tightly, but I can’t help it. I can’t shake the fear of losing her, of the absolute terror that thought invokes. “I’ve only just found you.” I kiss her forehead again.
“You found me.” She opens her eyes. They’re glassy, but she holds my gaze.
“I will always find you.” I kiss her softly. “I love you.”
She smiles, some color returning to her cheeks. “You do?”
“More than I’ve ever loved anything.” My throat closes up with raw emotion.
She reaches up and touches my cheek, her eyes going a little wider. “You’re telling the truth.”
“Of course, I am.” I turn my head and kiss her palm. “I love you, Cadence. I’ll say it as many times as you need to hear it.”
She smiles softly and nestles against my chest. “I only needed the once to know for sure.”
I raise a brow. “How–”
“I love you, too,” she whispers.
It hits me like a kick in my gut. “You don’t have to say–”
“I do. When it’s the truth. And it is.” She looks up at me. “I love you.”
I kiss her hard, then. Harder than I should. But she returns it, twining her arms around my neck and letting me pull her close. I kiss her until she’s breathless, until I don’t know where I end and she begins.
“Raaoowww.”
Cadence pulls back. “Sassy! Oh, God, Sassy!”
“She’s here.” Cat lifts her carrier. “Safe and sound.”
Cadence smiles, tears in her eyes. “Thank you.” She meets my gaze again, warmth in her cheeks and seeping into my soul. “For saving us.”
“I’ll always come for you, Cadence. You and I–we’re forever. I need you to know that.”
Her lips part, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “The truth.”
“With you? Always.” I wipe her tear away and kiss her breathless again as Sassy meows her disdain.
EPILOGUE
CADENCE
“Pawpaw said I could have another ice cream.” Iris blinks up at me, her dark brown eyes full of mischief.
“Is that true?” I ask.
“Totally.” Violet nods vehemently. “He said we could each have another one.”
The twins form a united front, both of them giving me as pleading a look as they can. “Go easy on the old man, girls. He’s still recovering from his last surgery,” I chide.
“He said he’s stronger than a bear and just as fearsome.” Violet sounds impressed.
He might be right. After everything he’s been through, he’s finally beaten the cancer that threatened to take his life. Ever since the girls were born, he’s been less interested in business and far more interested in giving piggyback rides and ice cream.
“All right.” I sigh, grab two more ice creams from the freezer, and hand them over. They squeal and run away with their prizes, totally unaware that I know they’re lying. They’re just too damn cute, especially when they join forces.
“Fell for it?” Vargas strides in, his eyes glinting as he takes in my outfit. I’m still dressed in a sassy little skirt suit from our time at the office this morning.
“They were quite convincing.” I shrug as Sassy winds between my ankles before heading off after the girls. I suspect they’re letting her get some free ice cream licks, but I haven’t been able to prove it.
Vargas arches a brow. “I don’t believe that for a second.” He cages me in his arms and backs me against the counter. “By the way, wife, you were amazing in that deal. I never would’ve been able to close if it weren’t for you.”
I smile at his praise. “I think you would have, but there would’ve been a lot more threats and possibly bloodshed.”
He grins. “Business can be brutal.” He’s not wrong. Ever since he and my father came to an agreement about both of us running the company–mainly after I told Dad how much I loved Vargas and how he’d saved my life–Vargas had propelled Fraser into the future. Profits are up, employees are happy, and we’ve made deals to branch out into all sorts of interesting new areas–geothermal energy, high speed rail, even space exploration. At the helm, Vargas and I make a great team, one that even my father marvels at.
“You don’t know how to take no for an answer.” I lean up and brush a kiss across his lips.
“I certainly don’t.” He grips my hips and pulls me closer, deepening the kiss as I twine my fingers around his neck.
“You know what these little skirts do to me,” he growls as his hands wander south and hitch at the hem of my skirt.