“We’re even man,” Rick says. “You owed me.”
“I did you a few this time, and you know it. You owe me a favor.” He disappears inside the car.
“I’m sure I don’t want you to owe that man a favor,” I say.
Rick doesn’t comment. He simply turns to face me and catches my hand, kissing it. “Let’s go home, baby.”
“Yes,” I say. “Let’s go home.”
We walk to the SUV where Memphis waits for us and climb inside. Once we’re on the road, I snuggle in close to Rick, and he holds onto me. A sense of closure isn’t quite complete, but it feels a bit like watching a building I’ve designed be built with only a few finishing touches remaining undone.
When finally we step into the apartment, our apartment, we don’t even make it out of the foyer before Rick is lifting me and carrying me to the bedroom. I curl into him and when he lays me down on the bed and comes down over me, I can’t breathe for the emotion pulsing between us. “I was half a man without you, Candace.”
“Show me.”
“For the rest of my life, baby, starting now.” He presses his lips to mine, lingering there in a kiss that is so much more than a kiss. It’s love, devotion, passion. And then his mouth caresses over my jaw, my neck, my shoulder. And as he undresses me—my nipple, my belly. My leg. And oh yes, that most intimate part of me. Rick Savage, is no Savage tonight. He is tender. He is gentle. He makes love to me. And I make love to him.
I fall asleep naked in his arms, with a smile on my lips, and excitement for the new day, and our new life, in my heart.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Savage
I spend a lot of the night holding Candace, with my mind replaying that moment I found her in that bathroom. One different moment in time, one different move, and she might have died. One part of me knows this life is dangerous, but the other knows that I will never trust anyone to protect her like I do myself. And her. She’s tough. I’m going to make her tougher. And I’m going to love the hell out of her.
I wake before her with unfinished business to attend to, shifting reluctantly out of bed, while Candace snuggles into her pillow. She sleeps through my shower, and I’m not surprised. Yesterday was emotional and the past week has been intense. To me, her rest tells me that she’s at peace. I dress in jeans and I end up in the kitchen, at the island, drinking coffee, and arranging to have her items shipped. Once that’s done, I deal with two difficult tasks. I figure out where the hell my father is, coordinate with his insurance company to deal with his house, and then after talking to Asher, dial the rehab facility where he’s now staying. They won’t let me talk to him for at least thirty days, but they assure me he’s in good hands.
Next up, I open my MacBook and the encrypted file Blake told me he’d sent me at the police station last night, in between all the chaos. It’s everything he’d found on Gabriel and after a good long read, I’m certain we could have had him arrested. The problem is, and the reason I wanted to read it before showing it to Candace, is how it connects to her father. I text Blake for the address where the general is holing up. He’s just gotten me what I need when Candace comes floating down the stairs in a pink silk robe and her hair a sexy mess.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” she asks, meeting me in the kitchen and giving me a minty fresh kiss.
“Nothing wrong with sleeping in, baby.” I stroke her hair. “Coffee is made and I washed your mug.”
She laughs. “We really do need to shop.” She pecks my cheek and heads to the coffee pot.
“I arranged to have your stuff shipped.”
“Oh great. I have mugs. Lots of mugs. Our old mugs.” She steps to the endcap of the island next to me and tilts her head to study me. “Anything on your father?”
“I took care of the insurance company and his house and talked to the rehab facility. We might need to make a trip to San Antonio in about a month. I can’t talk to him until then and I need to make sure he has a place to go after he gets out.”
“He could stay at our house there.”
“Our house,” I say. “I like how you said that.” I catch her hand. “Candace—”
“Oh God. What am I sensing all of a sudden?”
“I need to talk to your father. Alone.”
“Why?”
“I have the data Blake put together on Gabriel which would have been enough to arrest him. The problem is—”