Redemption (Fateful Justice Book 2)
Page 20
“Sorry I tore into you back there.”
“It’s okay. We were all on edge,” Lash said.
“Yeah. Things got a little hairy.”
Lash looked steadily into Calhoun’s eyes. “He could have killed her.”
Calhoun could see the depth of Brogan’s feelings for his sister. He knew Brogan well enough to know it wasn’t some passing crush. “I know. And believe me, I would never be able to forgive myself if that had happened. But she’s fine. A little shaken, but fine. Now we just need to put this all behind us and move on.” He paused, “Look, I’ve got to run back to the set, I’ll catch a ride back.” He tossed Lash his keys. “I imagine you and Lauren could use some time alone.” He turned and walked down the hall.
Lash got Lauren settled into the passenger seat and walked around Calhoun’s car.
Lauren was quiet, staring out the passenger window. The moment felt surreal. He was still trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened.
But he did know one thing for sure. He’d been given a second chance at happiness and he didn’t want to blow it this time. Now he couldn’t figure out why he’d denied what he was feeling for Lauren, why he’d fought so hard against it. It was completely irrational. And he’d almost lost her just when he’d realized what they had together. The important thing was, it wasn’t too late. He reached over and took her hand in his.
“Did you really mean what you said back there?” Lauren asked, finally turning to look at him.
“You mean the part about being in love with you?” Lash asked with an innocent smile.
“You are impossible! Playing with me after the day I had.” Lauren looked away, her lips forming into a pout.
That turned his expression serious and he stopped the car and turned to her. “I meant every word.”
“Good,” Lauren replied, smiling and leaning her head back, closing her eyes.
“That’s all you have to say? Good?”
Lauren opened one eye and looked at him. “Oh. You were expecting more of a response.”
“Well, yeah.”
She sat silently for a moment, enjoying the pained expression on his face. Then she broke out in a huge grin. “Of course I love you,” she replied at last, leaning over to give him a light kiss on the cheek.
Lash sighed with relief and Lauren started laughing.
“What is so goddamned funny?”
“Your expression just then was priceless.”
“Oh, you think toying with my emotions is funny? I’ll show you funny.” He leaned over and started tickling her sides.
When she quit squirming, he stopped and kissed her passionately, feeling at long last that everything was right with his world.
Ward was waiting for Hoyt when he came out of the interview room, arms crossed, leaning against the wall. He nodded and Hoyt nodded back. “I’m impressed,” he said as Hoyt came closer.
“With what?”
“With the way you handled yourself today.”
“I was just doing my job.”
“It’s more than that and you and I both know it.” Ward paused. “I did some checking into your background. Former SEAL with a Navy Cross. Impressive. You held up well at the ambush at Lash’s ranch and you were definitely handy to have around today.”
A defensive edge crept into Hoyt’s voice. “What the hell are you getting at Calhoun?”
Ward put up his hands in self-defense. “Just complimenting you on a job well done.”
Hoyt silently returned his gaze.
“I’m sure our boy Lash can be a challenge to look after, as he’s proven himself to be, but I think you need something more.”
Hoyt gave a sarcastic smile. “You trying to recruit me, Calhoun?”
Ward shrugged. “Wouldn’t be a bad career move for you.”
“No thanks,” Hoyt replied, walking away.
“Think about it,” Ward called after him. He watched Hoyt walk down the hall. Shit. He’d worked with agents over the years that, to this day; he couldn’t figure how the hell they’d gotten into the Bureau. Now he’d faced mortal danger with an actor and his bodyguard who were better than most of the agents he had under him. He leaned his head back against the wall and laughed at the irony of it all.
Epilogue
Six months later
Lauren stared out the limo window, anxiously fingering her diamond necklace. She had declined Lash’s offer of a glass of champagne before they left, not wanting to be tipsy at her very first movie premiere. But now she wished she’d taken him up on his offer. It would have at least taken the edge off her nerves.
She was no shrinking violet, but she hadn’t fully realized what she was in for being in a relationship with a celebrity. This was their first official public appearance together and she knew there was no way she could prepare herself for the onslaught of questions to be asked and photographs to be taken when they arrived. All those people judging her and looking at her. Overwhelming didn’t even come close to describing it.
Lash reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You’re not nervous are you?”
She turned from the window and forced a smile. “A little.”
“Let me give you something else to think about,” Lash said, reaching inside his tux jacket and pulling out a small red velvet box.
Lauren swallowed hard as he opened it and she saw the huge glittering diamond set in a simple gold band. She couldn’t speak, just looked from the ring up to Lash’s face and back down again.
“Lauren, I love you. You’ve shown me what it is to truly live. And I would be honored if you would walk down that red carpet tonight as my fiancée.”
Lauren still couldn’t find her voice and had a sudden desire to pinch herself to find out if she was dreaming.
“I’ve never seen you speechless before,” Lash said, a look of concern on his face.
“Yes,” Lauren finally managed to stammer. “Yes! I would love to marry you.”
Lash relaxed back into the leather seat. “You had me worried there for a minute. I thought you were going to say no.”
“How could I? I feel like I’m living a fairy tale.” She reached out and touched his face then leaned in to kiss him.
Lash gently ran his knuckles down her cheek, then touched his forehead to hers. “I love you, Lauren Calhoun.”
“I love you, Lash Brogan.”
He grinned as he slid the ring on her finger.
Now she had another reason to be overwhelmed. But, taking her future husband’s hand in hers, she knew with utter certainty that there was nothing in this life they couldn’t get through together.
And still, Lauren’s heart started pounding as they turned onto First Street and fell in line with the other limos.
Lash smiled. “Don’t worry. You look stunning. Just relax and smile. I’ll be right next to you.”
She glanced down at the ring on her left hand. “I guess I better get used to it.”
Lash gave her one of his lopsided grins. “It will get easier. I promise.”
“I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to all of this.”
“You’d be surprised. You may even learn to love being in the spotlight.”
Lauren hadn’t realized the limo had stopped and before she knew it, the door was being opened for them. The red carpet seemed to stretch on for miles and miles, bordered on both sides by a sea of reporters and photographers.
“Here we go,” Lash whispered beside her and all she could do was take a deep breath and smile as the first camera flash went off.
Part of Ward still wanted to dislike Lash. And there were plenty of reasons for him to do so: the man was reckless, seemed to find trouble wherever he went, liked his booze and women, was a prior drug addict, and attracted violence wherever he went.
He did have his admirable qualities, though: drive and determination, the ability to bounce back from tragedy, he was a talented actor, and he had the ability to love with all his heart when he chose to do so. And d
ammit, you just had to admire a guy like that. He supposed Lauren could do a hell of a lot worse.
Lash Brogan as a brother-in-law. Calhoun allowed himself a small smile in the darkened theatre. Now that was an interesting thought. Although not an altogether unpleasant one, he added looking over at the couple. He leaned back in his seat as the movie began playing and smiled, broader this time, realizing that sometimes there were still happy endings in life. You just had to know where to look.
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