Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
"I have a meeting, remember?"
"You're retired," she groans.
"Partially retired," I remind her.
When I sat down with Kincaid after all the shit went down, we had a very long conversation. I'm not willing to lose her. I've spent my entire life alone, and I want the rest of it in her arms. It was agreed that I could still be a handler slash case manager like I was for ICE, but this time it'll be for Cerberus, allowing me to stay full time at the cabin rather than go out in the field. I know there will be times they'll need my help, but I'm not picking up any cases that will carry me very far from her. It's the only way I figured I could have her and still do some help in the world.
If it came down to choosing between the two, I would throw a peace sign to this place and buy a tiny cabin in the woods. I'm glad Kincaid didn't force that decision because I know I can still be helpful to the organization.
"You are so damned tempting," I say, turning around and circling my thumb over one peaked nipple.
I feel as wild with her as I was in my twenties, and she shows no signs of getting tired of me either.
"How long will the meeting last?"
"Making plans for the afternoon, baby?"
She frowns, and it makes me pull my hand back. "It honestly won't take that long."
"We have to head back to Columbia today, remember?"
"Later tonight," I clarify.
"It's over a four-hour drive with traffic."
"It's less than two by helicopter," I say with an easy smile.
"Really? We're taking the helicopter?"
I have to shrug like it's no big deal but honestly, it's insane that we suggested to Kincaid that a helicopter is damn near necessary with how long it takes to get everywhere around here, and the next day we had the address of a flight station only a few miles from the house.
"He said it would be fine." I lean forward and press my lips to hers. "So we have plenty of time this afternoon for you to show me how much I was missed during my meeting."
I stand from the bed, frowning at her when she climbs out right behind me.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm going to get dressed, Eddie. I'm not going to lie in bed naked all day."
"Hasn't stopped you all week."
She chews the inside of her cheek as she grins. "That was different. You were here with me."
"And I'll be back shortly. Get your gorgeous ass back in bed. No clothes."
I grab her before she can climb back into the bed, pulling her body against mine, and we spend a moment just looking at each other. My connection to this woman is so strong, we don't even have to speak for the other to hear how we feel. I swallow, my throat threatening to clog with emotion. I just can't believe my damn fortune, and I consider myself the luckiest man in the world that she's mine.
"I'll be back soon," I tell her with a quick kiss.
The first couple of times I walked out of this room, leaving her alone inside, I wondered if she'd change her mind about me before I got back, but I was always met with a smile upon my return. It makes it no easier this time to walk out and close the door behind me, and I don't know how long I'll have before my world crumbles around me, but as the days pass that thought seems to fade a little. Hopefully, one day it'll be gone completely and I won't feel the need to clench my chest as if I'm suffering a loss of some kind.
The next few days are going to be hard for everyone involved. Sadie's memorial is planned for tomorrow, and although we'll be going back to Columbia, we won't be returning to her family estate. I know the blood has been cleared, but her memories will take longer than a week to fade.
William, although not happy about it, scheduled someone to go inside and have a lot of Cora's things packed and sent to us. I think he only agreed to do that because he wanted to make sure the person entering the home was vetted and was less likely to take pictures and sell them to TMZ. William Preston Jr. has taken the leadership role of the family and has been the one to stand before cameras and answer questions.
Kincaid had voiced his concern about Cora's link to Cerberus, but there hasn't been any chatter about our involvement in any part of the case or her life. I know there was fear that the Gatlinburg chapter would be outed, and that would complicate everything we were trying to do here. Reporters asked, once that I know of, about Cora and William, and they were simply told that she was resting and the family needed time to grieve their losses, including their younger brother and his mental health crisis.