by Rebecca Deel
“Enough, Dean.” Cade folded his arms over his chest. “I know what Emily told you about me. She lied, man. I never laid a hand on her in anger.”
“Shut up.” Ingram scowled. “You’re the one who’s lying to me.”
“For what purpose? Look, Em had problems. I didn’t tell you or anyone else because she promised me over and over she would stop.”
The other man’s brow furrowed. “Stop what?”
“She wanted to be the center of my attention.”
“Emily had every right to demand that place in your life. She was the center of my world. I would have done anything for her.”
“I felt the same until she made up emergencies to make me to come home and be with her. I can’t tell you how many times I raced to her house, thinking I would have to take her to the emergency room, and found her safe and happy. My commanding officer ripped me and said if it happened again, he’d strip my rank and send me back into a regular unit. My career was on the line, Dean. I encouraged her to seek help. Instead, she turned to you when I deployed with my unit.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
Despite the words and harsh tone from Ingram, Cade saw the doubt creeping into his gaze. “It’s the truth. When you told us about her death, I asked a friend to look into the details for me. I don’t think Emily intended to commit suicide. You told the police you were an hour late arriving home because of a lockdown at the base. Maybe she was playing another one of her head games and ended up dying accidentally.”
Ingram turned his face away, expression grim.
“You were Emily’s husband. Access her medical records. You’ll see I didn’t hurt her in spite of what she told you. I would never mistreat a woman. You know that to be true. I give you my word, I won’t hurt Sasha, either.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked out. He’d done what he could. Whether or not Ingram accepted the truth was up to him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Sasha wiped tears from her face, heart hurting for Cade and Dean. How could Dean live with himself? He’d betrayed his best friend, stolen the woman Cade planned to marry, and, when he’d lost her, turned that anger and hurt on Cade.
When Cade walked into the hall, concern filled his gaze. “You okay?”
She nodded. How could she say otherwise? Her boyfriend was recovering and Sasha was safe. She wrapped her arm around Cade’s waist. “Come on. You need to be back in bed or the nurses will kick me out for being a bad influence.”
“I wish they’d kick me out.”
“You’ll get your wish tomorrow.”
Although Cade insisted he was fine, by the time he kicked off his shoes and climbed on the bed, fatigue lined his face. When he extended his hand to her, she stretched out beside him, knowing he wouldn’t rest unless she was near.
Sasha curled against his side, head on his shoulder. Within a few heartbeats, Cade was asleep. She envied his ability to drop off instantly.
Sometime later, Trent walked into the room after a soft knock.
Cade’s eyes flew open, his grip on Sasha tightening as his muscles tensed, prepared to defend her. He relaxed when he saw his team leader.
“How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve gone ten rounds in the ring with Alex and Josh, and lost.”
Trent chuckled. “I’m on shift tonight with Matt. Wanted you to know I was here.”
“Grace working?”
“Yeah. She’ll check on you when she’s on break.”
Sasha grinned. “That might be her secondary motive. Her first is to steal a few kisses from you.”
The SEAL winked at her. “I won’t complain. By the way, your workers are taking care of your shop tomorrow. They said not to worry about anything.” He looked at Cade. “Go back to sleep. We have you and Sasha covered.”
Throughout the night, the nurse checked on Cade every two hours. When the sun peeked over the horizon the next morning, the noise level in the hallway began to increase.
A few minutes after seven, Dr. Anderson arrived. He checked Cade and declared him too fit to occupy a hospital bed. “You will have lingering fatigue for a few days. I recommend not returning to work until Monday unless it’s an emergency.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“When the nurse brings your discharge papers, you’re free to go. I have real patients to see. Unless you’re visiting a sick friend, I don’t want to see either of you in this establishment for a long time.” With a wave, he left.
Matt peered inside the room. “What’s the word?”
“Doc Anderson released me.”
“Excellent. I’m ready for food. Why don’t we stop at That’s A Wrap?”
“Sounds good. Sasha?”
“I’d like that.”
“Will you go home afterward?” Matt asked Cade.
“Sasha and I have to stop by the police station and run another couple errands.”
Sasha couldn’t help but smile when she remembered one of the errands. Obtaining their marriage license.
“Don’t overdo it. Your body hasn’t fully recovered.”
Cade held up a hand. “Dr. Anderson gave the same speech. I’m not planning much for a few days. Anderson won’t release me to return to work until Monday.”
Matt drove them to the town square. As soon as they walked into That’s A Wrap, Darcy hurried around the counter and hugged them.
She glanced around the deli, looking for a place for them to sit. “This place is a madhouse. Go into my office. I’ll bring you breakfast.”
The quiet was a welcome relief from the noisy crowd in the dining area. Within minutes, Darcy delivered breakfast wraps for them along with coffee, soft drinks, and water.
“I wasn’t sure what your stomach could tolerate, Cade” Darcy patted him on the shoulder.
“This is perfect, Darcy. Thanks.”
“Take your time eating. I’ll check on you in a few minutes.”
By the time they left the deli, the dining area was empty. Matt stopped on the sidewalk. “Do you want me to drop you at your SUV?”
Cade shook his head. “I need to walk the soreness from my muscles. And no, Dr. Rainer, I won’t overdo it.”
“If you don’t need me, I’m going home to sleep for a couple hours. Some of us have to work today.” With a grin and a salute, Matt drove away.
The walk to the police station took longer than normal. People frequently stopped them to talk. Any other day, Sasha would have enjoyed the conversation. Today, she wanted Cade inside Ethan’s office and off his feet.
The desk sergeant looked up when they walked into the station lobby. “Glad you two are recovering.”
“So are we,” Cade said. “Ethan asked us to come by for more questions.”
A nod. “I’ll let him know you’re here.” Following a hushed phone conversation, the sergeant pointed to the double doors. “Through those doors and straight back.”
Ethan met them in the center of a room filled with desks and law enforcement officers, including Nate’s wife, Stella. Although she was on the phone, she grinned and waved at them.
“Thanks for coming in.” Ethan ushered them into his office. “Need anything to drink? We use Serena’s Home Runs coffee blend, and the pot is fresh.”
Cade shook his head. “We’re fine.”
“Take a seat.” The police chief dropped into the chair behind his desk. “I have your statements ready. Read them. If you think of something to add, we’ll change the file. When you’re satisfied, you can sign your statements and be on your way.”
Over the next hour, Ethan took them through the kidnapping twice more and asked detailed questions. “You’re a lucky man, Cade.”
“I know.” He glanced at Sasha, smiled. “In more than one way.”
“When is the wedding?”
“Soon. We’re getting our marriage license when we leave your office.”
Ethan looked thoughtful. “This time of day, the county clerk’s office will be busy. Let me
make a call. I might be able to shorten the wait.” He pressed the phone’s handset to his ear. A moment later, he said, “Casey, it’s Ethan Blackhawk. I need a favor. Cade Ramsey and Sasha Ingram will be in your office in less than ten minutes. Can you move them to the head of the line?” A pause. “Great. Thanks.”
He glanced at them. “You’re set. “ Ethan shook hands with them. “Rest and heal. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Back on the sidewalk, Cade threaded his fingers through Sasha’s and walked toward City Hall. Again, they were stopped frequently. When they reached the clerk’s office, the waiting line to see Casey Redgrave stretched the entire length of the hall.
The clerk grinned when she saw Sasha and Cade. “What can I do for you?”
“We need a marriage license.” Cade nodded at the blue-haired lady waiting to renew her car tags.
“Yes!” Casey chair danced. “I’m thrilled for you. Congratulations.” Minutes later, they stood on the sidewalk with the license.
“Are we going home now?” Sasha asked. Cade was showing signs of fatigue.
“Not yet. We need to stop at the jewelry store.”
Not what she had expected him to say. “Why?”
“Wedding rings. I want to take care of it now.”
Inside the store, Sasha peered in display cases until a sales assistant was free.
“Choose what you want, Sassy. I’ll buy a matching wedding band.”
Mindful of his work demands, Sasha chose a plain wedding band that was a little wider and thicker than the standard.
“Perfect.” He brushed her mouth with a gentle kiss.
Once he purchased the rings, they checked on Sasha’s employees and returned to Cade’s SUV. When he didn’t start the vehicle, Sasha twisted in her seat to face him. “What is it?”
He reached for her hand. “I don’t want to be separated from you aside from deployments. I know we agreed to marry in a few weeks. When I saw you unconscious in the van, I thought the men had killed you and I had lost you. It will be a long time before I’m comfortable with you out of my sight.”
The longer Cade spoke, the faster Sasha’s heart beat. “What are you saying, Cade?”
“I don’t want to wait to get married. I love you, Sasha. I want to spend as much time as possible with you. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms where I know you’re safe and wake with you wrapped around me.”
Sasha’s mouth curved. “I planned to wait until tomorrow to ask you to marry me sooner. Call Matt. Tell him to meet us at Cornerstone Church in two hours.”
He froze. “You’re serious? You want to marry me today?”
“I need to find a dress. Otherwise, I’d marry you right now.”
After a heated kiss, Cade drew back and pulled out his phone. While he called his best friend, Sasha called Marcus and Paige Lang. Paige agreed to meet her at the dress shop. Sasha didn’t know what they had in stock, but she’d find something special. Nothing would keep her from marrying the man of her dreams.
Cade slid his phone into his pocket. “Matt’s calling our teammates.” He looked sheepish. “We may have a few more people than you wanted at the church.”
“No problem. Take me to the dress shop. Paige is meeting me there.” When he parked in front of the shop, Sasha kissed him. “I’ll be fine. Marcus is coming with Paige so I won’t be alone. Do what you need to. I’ll see you at the church in two hours.” Another kiss. “I love you, Cade. Thanks for marrying me early.”
He caught her hand. “What about your parents? Will they be angry for not giving them a chance to attend the wedding?”
“I’ll talk to them.”
Sasha hurried into the dress shop. Two hours and counting to pull this off.
Five minutes after Sasha entered the shop, Paige hurried through the door with her husband close on her heels. “Girl, you don’t mess around when you set your mind on something.”
“We don’t want to wait, not after what happened yesterday.”
Paige hugged her. “You don’t have to explain. Marcus and I didn’t wait long, either. Best decision ever. How long do we have to find your wedding dress?”
“Twenty minutes. After that, I need to go to the bakery and see what’s available.”
“I’ll call the bakery,” Marcus said. “You and Paige look for the dress.”
Sasha and her friend explained what was happening to the owner of the boutique.
The woman said, “I have just the thing. It’s not a traditional wedding dress, but it’s lacy and elegant, and the color is perfect for you.”
Standing in front of the mirror in the amethyst dress with an asymmetric hemline, Sasha agreed the dress was perfect, almost as though it were made for her.
“Wow.” Paige sighed. “You look stunning. Cade will be speechless when he sees you.” She handed Sasha a box. “Shoes that match the dress. I found a few other things. I left them at the cash register.”
“You’re the best.” Once she changed into her street clothes, the shop owner covered her wedding dress in gray plastic.
Sasha glanced at the items Paige chose, her cheeks heating. Beautiful, sexy night gowns, and matching lingerie sets. As much as she liked them, Sasha suspected Cade would love them. She purchased everything and turned to Marcus. “Does the bakery have what we need?”
“If you don’t mind cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake. They’re also bringing a punch mix. The church has a punch bowl and many cups to use. I think we have your reception covered.”
“Sounds great.” To be honest, she didn’t care as long as she married Cade.
“Good. I’ll call the bakery to confirm. What’s next?”
“Flowers,” Paige said.
They chose flowers to place around the church, arranged for delivery in an hour, and stopped at her favorite department store to purchase makeup. She didn’t know if the fire and smoke had ruined hers or not, but Sasha didn’t want to chance it.
By the time they arrived at the church, Sasha had forty minutes to prepare for her wedding.
“Don’t worry about anything but you.” Paige squeezed Sasha’s hand. “I’ll take care of everything else.”
Five minutes before the wedding was scheduled to begin, a light knock sounded on the door. Paige turned to see her mother in the doorway. She smiled. “You made it.”
“Of course.” Patsy Ingram wrapped her arms around Sasha. “This is quite a surprise.”
“We didn’t want to wait, Mom. You know what Cade does for a living. He could be deployed at a moment’s notice and gone for weeks at a time.”
She cupped Sasha’s cheeks. “You don’t have to explain, honey. I understand. The way you talked about Cade over the past few months we expected something like this.” Patsy laughed. “I had hoped for more than a two-hour notice.”
A few minutes later, Paige walked in. “It’s time. Cade and Matt are ready.”
“Give me a minute with Mom.” When her friend nodded and closed the door again, Sasha turned to her mother. “Are you and Dad okay?”
She had agonized over whether to tell her parents about Dean. In the end, she couldn’t keep her knowledge a secret. With them rushing to Otter Creek, they would hear about Black Dog and Dean. The town’s grapevine was professional grade.
Sadness seeped into her mother’s eyes. “We’re reeling from the news. We raised Dean to be better than that and feel like we failed as parents.”
“No, Mom, you didn’t. No one could ask for better parents. Dean is an adult. We all make choices and have to deal with the fallout from our decisions.”
“I know, but he’s my son. Although I don’t want him in prison, jail time is inevitable. What he did was wrong and he’ll have to pay for his crimes. It still breaks my heart.” Patsy shook her head. “Enough sadness for today. This is your wedding day. We’re going to celebrate.”
“One more question. Will you go see Dean?”
“You bet we will.”
“He doesn’t want to talk to y
ou.”
“Tough. Your father and I have a few things to say to him, and he’s going to listen. Now, I know a young man who’s anxious to marry you.”
Sasha pressed a hand to her stomach, butterflies taking flight. “Let’s go.”
When she walked into the fellowship hall, she froze. Over the last forty minutes, the large room had been transformed. The tables were covered with white cloths. Each table had a glass bowl with a floating candle and rose petals scattered around the bowl. At the front of the room, three large tables held cupcakes on elaborate tiers, nuts, mints, and a filled punch bowl.
Serena Blackhawk glanced up from arranging the plastic eating utensils, plates, and napkins. “What do you think, Sasha?”
“This is incredible. Thank you.” She scanned the tables again. “We might be eating cupcakes for weeks. That’s more than we need.”
The police chief’s wife grinned. “I don’t think so. You look beautiful. Your father’s waiting for you at the auditorium entrance.”
“Come on.” Paige tugged on Sasha’s hand. “You’re late.”
She allowed her friend to hustle her through the fellowship hall and down the corridor to the auditorium doors.
Sasha’s father beamed when he saw her. He hugged her, his grip tight. “You look gorgeous, sweetheart. I like your young man. Let’s not keep him waiting any longer.” He looked at his wife. “Go inside, sweetheart. We’ll be right behind you.”
Paige opened the doors and motioned for Patsy to walk in, then handed a bouquet of flowers to Sasha. “Cade chose these for you. Don’t cry. You’ll ruin your makeup.”
Sasha blinked rapidly to prevent tears from falling at the sight of the white roses in her hands. The roses were perfect.
Her father extended his arm to Sasha. She became aware of the hum of conversation coming from the auditorium. That sounded like more than Bravo.
Paige walked into the sanctuary at a sedate pace timed to music from a piano.
Sasha’s eyes widened. She recognized one of the pieces Darcy Kincaid played when she’d been touring as a concert pianist. Darcy was playing the piano for Sasha’s wedding?
