Dr. Tuska rapped on the open door and joined them. “Jared just arrived. I can hold him off if you need time before you see him.” He chuckled, flipping through her chart. His knowing smile spoke volumes. “Like I mentioned before, dab this in your eyes three times a day. Any other scratch, give a smear of Neosporin. You’re good to go. Want me to tell Jared you’re tied up for a few more minutes?”
The doctor was quickly climbing the ranks of Nicola’s favorite people, and definitely worth his weight in gold. Dr. Tuska must know how pleasant Jared could be when things didn’t go according to his plans. Nicola laughed to herself. She was getting to know the old bastard. Jared wasn’t actually much older than Cash. He just acted like it.
Nic shook her head, laughing despite her stinging face. “I’m fine. But thanks.”
Boots clomped down the corridor. She could almost feel Jared’s ever-present attitude problem.
“Here we go.” Cash chuckled.
Jared slammed into the room, eyed them both, and squared off his stance. “Princess, I need a word with you. Cash, out.”
Cash tightened his hand on hers, and she sensed he was ready to tell Jared to go to hell.
“That’s fine,” Nic said, preempting their battle.
Cash didn’t move, and she patted his hand. He couldn’t be seriously concerned that Jared would yell at her. Or worse… what would be worse? Racking her brain, she came up with nothing. Jared was harmless—to her at least.
Clearing his throat, Cash squeezed her hand again and stood. “Don’t be an asshole, boss man.”
“Out.” Jared harrumphed.
Cash kissed the side of her forehead. “I’ll be in the hall. Yell if the jackass gets too nasty.”
“Make sure you shut the door on the way out,” Jared grumbled.
“All right, guys. Enough.” This wasn’t what she needed right now.
Nic and Jared stared at each other for a long minute, and Cash slowly walked out the door, letting it click behind him. Jared paced the length of the room twice.
Paused.
Then did it again.
“Do you want me to apologize?” she asked, getting annoyed. “I didn’t need to come to your special doctors if you didn’t want me to. But they were very good, so thank you.”
Two steps and he was in front of her, growling. “Let me ask you something, princess.”
Oh shit. This couldn’t be good. “Okay.”
“Your file says you’re smart. True or false?”
“Don’t know what it says. I haven’t seen it. But, yeah I am.”
He studied her, unblinking. “Still, you fell for Cash. That can’t say much about your intelligence.”
She furrowed her brow at him, which stung despite the low-level painkiller they’d given her. “Jared—”
“I need another man on my team. Chick. Lady. Whatever you are.” He crossed his arms over his chest. He looked like a bulldog, broad, muscled, and barely fitting in his black shirt. “What would it take to steal you from the CIA?”
What the hell?
“Excuse me? Are you offering me a job?” She couldn’t wrap her head around his question. She closed her eyes, opened them, and he was still there, looking annoyed she hadn’t given a good enough answer yet. “I have a contract with the CIA. They own me.”
“I couldn’t care less about stupid government paperwork. I can have that cancelled with a text message. Here’s what I’m offering: no double agents, no bullshit games, and me. I’m the toughest boss you’ll ever have. Smartest asshole you’ll ever meet. And I’ll pay you more than you’ve ever dreamed.”
Her mind ran a million different ways. Questions bubbled and excitement coursed through her veins.
“You have three seconds to accept the job, princess, or I’ll deny it was ever suggested.”
“I’ll take it.”
“Maybe you are as smart as your file says. Your contract’s sitting on Cash’s doorstep, waiting for you to sign it. God, that’ll fuck with him. He hates when I get through his security.” Jared turned toward the door, then looked over his shoulder. “By the way, you should check your personal bank account. A nice six figure signing bonus posted this morning.”
Her jaw fell open.
Jared smiled. “What, princess? You think I didn’t know what your answer would be? I just wanted to be sure about the phrasing. The sooner you figure this out, the better off you’ll be: I know everything. I see everything. And I am everywhere.”
Jared went out the door, and Cash came in.
“What was that all about?”
“Can I see your phone?”
He looked puzzled. “Yeah, sure.”
She took it from his hand, opening the web browser and pulling up her bank account summary. “Oh my God. That crazy bastard.”
“What’s going on?”
Nic handed the phone to Cash. “Look at that. Deposit made last night. Posted today. Description: Merry Christmas in July, princess.” She pointed. “Do you see all those zeroes? Do you see that? I’m going to pass out.”
Cash wrapped an arm around her. “Well, well, Double-Oh-Seven. Congratulations and welcome to the team.” He kissed her lightly on the forehead. “That’s freakin’ awesome.”
“Are you okay with it?”
“Me? Are you kidding? Nic, you saved my life at that warehouse. You’re good—like you said—better than good, and you’ve proven it. Are you excited?”
“I never would have… God, yes. This rocks. I need to call Beth. Oh wait. Beth. We’ve been together since day one.”
“Well, she was your handler. You guys weren’t actually together in the field. You were all phone calls and meetings. Right? And she’s close. It won’t be different. Just like you’re on assignment, but you’ll get your jobs from dickhead, not communicated from Beth. Besides… ” Cash scrolled through his phone. “I just got this.”
He handed her back the phone. It was a text message from Roman. Dig for me, bro. What’s the deal on this Beth girl?
“Are you serious?” Her jaw dropped for the second time that night.
“You didn’t see that coming? Anyway, let’s get out of here. You’ve got to be ready for bed.”
She nodded, cuddling into his chest. “Totally ready to fall asleep in your arms.”
He laughed. Scooping her off the bed, Cash whispered in her ear. “If you think you’re sleeping anytime soon, you’re mistaken.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Nicola slept all day, and Cash had spent most of it watching her in his bed. She was a vision of sweet beauty: tousled hair, peacefully closed eyes with feathery eyelashes he simply adored. Warmth spread in his chest each time she gave a sleepy sigh, unconsciously snuggling against him.
Minus a few hiccups, loving this woman was the easiest damn thing he’d ever done. He twirled a piece of hair around his finger as she stirred again. She blinked awake, and his throat constricted. God, when she smiled, his world stalled. Years of training and control were gone with the bat of her eyelashes.
“Good morning,” she murmured, all sleepy and cute.
It killed him how adorable and innocent she could look, knowing she was a trained killer who had spent most of last night at the hospital after an attack. No red eyes. No telltale signs of a night gone wrong, with the exception of a few cuts and scratches. She didn’t smell like a pepper grinder anymore, only her lavender shampoo. Man, he loved the scent of lavender.
Bright sunlight poured into his bedroom. “Try, good afternoon.”
He leaned over, kissing her forehead. Nicola burrowed further into the crook of his arm. Her naked shoulder fit perfectly, as if their bodies were made to fit together. The soft caress of her skin drove him delirious with the need to kiss her again. He did, long and tender, consuming her.
The vivid nightmare of a shotgun pointed at her the night before made him want to retch. He’d be angry enough to kill Jackson if the bastard hadn’t already been dead.
It took hours of watching Nic s
leep for Cash to realize that not once had he wanted to beg her away from Titan, from the CIA. No, he’d been scared of losing her again, but he hadn’t been scared of her working a job. If anything, he was excited she’d joined the Titan team. That realization solidified the decision he’d already made. They were going to be together forever.
His girl, a Titan chick. Now, how badass is that? He broke into a grin, pulling her deep against him. “I love you.”
Her chocolate brown eyes danced, and she gave him a look that made his soul beam. “Sorry I slept so long. Must’ve needed it.”
She probably needed food too. Something quick would have to do. His mind raced through everything they could do, everything he wanted to say.
“What do you say we get your Titan contract signed and sent off, then grill up some burgers?”
“Perfect. I’m starving.”
Cash watched her pull from his arms. She drew her long legs away, then stepped out of bed naked. His stomach swam in circles remembering last night, how he’d kissed every inch of her and made love until he couldn’t think anymore.
Now he could think. Hell, he couldn’t stop thinking. Nicola Garrison. It sounded so right.
***
The charcoal grill burned off, and the sky was turning from orange to purple with the sinking sun behind a canopy of trees. They were stuffed and lounging on his deck with Nic propped against his bare chest. Her fingers trailed on his jeans, snaking designs, and that was quickly becoming one of his favorite ways to relax.
“Want to go for a ride?” Cash shifted her to face him. “I could show you around the property.”
“I’ll go anywhere with you.”
He locked a forearm around her chest and squeezed, trying both to hold her close and make sure his heart didn’t explode. No better time than now to go for their drive. “Let’s go.”
Throwing on his t-shirt, Cash took an excited breath. Taking her hand, he led her to the Rubicon. His chest felt tight. The flare of excitement licked his senses, and he was hyperaware of every glance and move she threw his way.
There was no tour, just a scenic drive. With more than a few acres to choose from, he had one area in mind. It could be seen out his bedroom window, the perfect place to create a memory. He slowed to a stop and idled.
“Pretty.” Nic looked out over the rise of the hill. “Want to get out, walk around?”
Hell yes. Did he ever.
High grass waved in a summer’s breeze, its sweet smell permeating the warm air. The western sky still held a touch of orange. In the disappearing late summer light, everything was cast in a light purple hue. Fireflies floated and swirled low across the hill, surrounding them in gold bursts of light.
Nic didn’t walk anywhere but into his arms. They stood and swayed on the sloped field. Her arms draped over his shoulders as they slow danced to nature’s symphony. With her head pressed against his chest, his strong heartbeat reached for her.
“I need to show you something,” he whispered, breathing against her ear. She pulled back, and even in the cascading shadows, her brown eyes melted through him. “It’s my secret, and I need to share it.”
His hands slowly ran up and down her back, as if his fingertips were on a mission to scan and memorize. A breeze whispered by, and their hands found one another, fingers entwining. “C’mere, sweet girl.”
He led her to the back of his Rubicon, popped the hatch open, and stared at Miss Betty’s case. For years, that gun had gone almost everywhere with him.
“Your secret is your rifle?” Nic teased and leaned into him, kissing his bicep. “It’s not a secret. I know what you do.”
He didn’t say anything, just stared at the gun case, searching for the right words.
She stepped closer, two fingers grazing over his cheekbones. Her fingers drifted across his skin, leaving a trail of heat, and stopped over his lips. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
Cash kissed her fingers and turned them both toward the case, clicking it open. He pulled the rifle out, cradling it as he had a thousand times. “Have you ever heard the Rifleman’s Creed?”
She shrugged. “Probably. I’m not sure.”
“This is my gun. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life… That’s how it starts. The whole Creed isn’t important, but its symbolism is.” He took a breath, turning to her. “Before you left, I wanted to marry you, but life changed in ways we couldn’t control, and my rifle became my world.”
“You’re a sniper. I understand how important your weapon is to you.”
He stepped closer to her, needing to press against her. “I still had your ring, and you were my best friend. You were my life, my whole world. I graduated college, and before I knew it, I had a rifle that kept me alive. That I chanted about day in, day out. My best friend. My life.”
Nic started to say something, but he took her index finger in his and smoothed it over the trigger. “I didn’t know what to do with your ring after you were gone. And this gun was with me everywhere. This is what I did: the trigger’s gold plated. I couldn’t get Roman’s tattoo. I couldn’t scream from the rooftop that the woman I loved was gone. But I could have this with me, no matter where in the world I was.”
“Cash…”
He looked at her in the dark, trying to make out her features and read her mind. “The Creed goes on to say My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. It just fit. You’d always been with me. And somehow, thinking about us together in spirit, trenched out in the hellholes and kill zones I’d been sent to, it was nice to know you were in my foxhole. And Nicola Beatrice became… Miss Betty.”
She paused, then her voice was strong and powerful. “I love you, Cash. And I love that you did that.”
“Miss Betty kept me sane. Safe. I talked to her. Trusted her. She defended my life, my country. But it was always you, and I’ve always loved you.”
Nicola palmed his face. She drew him in for a kiss that warmed his soul, reinvigorating his belief that no woman on the planet was more perfect than her.
He placed the rifle back in its case and put it away. Crickets chirped, and a night owl sang. Taking care to remember every moment, he turned back to her, and a smile curled his lips.
“I love you, Nic. But gun, or no gun, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I loved you years ago, I loved you when you were gone from me, and I love you still. Always have and always will.” He slipped a ring out of his pocket and took her left hand in his, sliding it onto her finger. “I’ve grown up with you, fallen in love with you, and I want to marry you. I hope to God you want the same thing.” He cupped her face in his hands. “What do you say, sweet girl? Think Nicola Garrison could be more than just a name on paper?”
A smile so bright he didn’t need the sun blossomed across her face. “Of course I want to marry you. That’s my dream come true. I’ve wanted to since the first day I met you.”
With her in his arms, with those words, life was perfect. She softened into his embrace, pushing into his kiss. This was more than a dream come true. This was his woman, his life, molding into what it should’ve been.
“It’s a new house, but if you don’t like it, it’s on the auction block tomorrow.”
“I love it.”
“Good. Though I do have a lot of rooms that need to be christened.”
“I’m pretty sure you have a big new car that hasn’t been…” She pulled him toward the passenger door, giggling.
“Hot damn, I love you, woman.”
EPILOGUE
Somehow Cash should’ve known that sporting a tux was part of the deal. Can’t have a wedding without a tux. Well, you can. But that’s not what Nicola wanted, and what she wanted today was priority number one. The tux could be considered mission critical.
He tugged at the black silk bowtie. Not his style. And standing in front of God and everyone, grinning like an asshole, it made him more than a little self-conscious.
The church doors flew open. The dramatic organ notes bounced off the cathedral ceiling, filling the room with the powerful processional they’d chosen. The most gorgeous vision of beauty and white lace emerged, rendering him love-struck all over again.
Yeah, for Nicola he could sport a bowtie and monkey suit. Hell, he’d do a top hat and a cane. Anything to get to, “I do.”
The walk down the aisle was almost too much. How the hell was he this lucky? The only thing Cash wanted was Nicola in his arms. But her slow procession had a payoff. Her hand landed in his, and everything felt perfect.
The preacher droned on, talking to the filled church pews. Cash wasn’t listening, totally entranced by his bride. Love swelled, thumping loudly throughout his body, and an excited constriction struck his throat. The only thing he had to do, other than stare at Nicola, was recite his vows. He’d easily agreed to write them without thinking over the consequence of that decision. Could he put into words his dreams of the future? His promises to take care of her, partner with her? Hell, worship her for the rest of their lives?
And then the preacher’s eyes were upon him. Show time. Cash unfolded the paper with his neatly printed vows. If he thought his smile couldn’t get any bigger, he was wrong. And then it was just them. He saw no one else in the church besides Nicola Garrison, his soon-to-be wife.
Nothing he wrote would do justice to what he wanted to say. Screw it. Crumbling up the paper with his vows, he shoved it back into his pocket and clasped her hands in his.
“Hey, sweet girl.” He thumbed the tops of her knuckles.
“Hi,” she whispered, smiling. “I love you.”
God, did he love this woman. Needed her too. And no pre-written vows, no matter how authentic, could encapsulate how he felt in this moment. Cash cleared his throat, pressed her knuckles to his lips in a kiss, and breathed out.
“Nic, my farthest reaching memory is you. My farthest reaching dream is this: marrying you. Promising my love, honor, and faithfulness until I take my last breath… Whether that’s from old age or from my enemy’s bullet, whether we’re on opposite sides of the world or working in the trenches together, know that you are my best friend, my truest love, the center of my existence. Every day I have with you is a gift.
The Titan Series: Military Romance Boxed Set Page 52
