Playing for Keeps Read online

  “No worries, the windows are open,” someone else said.

  Sadie shut the windows hard enough to rattle them and then jerked her chin at Caleb, gesturing to the front door. He stepped outside with her and the last thing he heard from inside before the door was shut was “Ten to one his body’s never found.”

  Sadie had been practicing all her life at playing it cool, at making sure no one knew when she was ruffled, much less down for the count, but all her skills had deserted her.

  Caleb not only had admitted to making a mistake and apologized for it, he wanted to make it up to her. But even that was eclipsed by what else he’d said.

  He loved her.

  He’d even said so in front of a bunch of people. He wasn’t afraid of the emotion nor of letting anyone else know about it.

  The magnitude of that—he’d chosen her!—had her heart overflowing so that she could barely breathe, much less speak, but she had to try. “First,” she said, “you’re not the only one who’s made mistakes.”

  She absolutely had his attention. His eyes held her prisoner, his entire body still. “I’m not?”

  She gave a slow shake of her head. “I used what happened as an excuse to run away. And actually, that’s a bigger mistake than yours. Because your mistake showed faith in me, in us. Mine showed a distinct lack of faith. And that’s what makes it so bad because it’s not true. I have faith in you, in us. I was just scared.”

  “Sadie,” he breathed quietly, reaching for her hand to pull her into him. “I get being scared. What we have took us both by surprise, you’re not alone there. But you need to know that what you’ve told me about you, about your past, whatever you haven’t told me about your past . . . none of it could ever change my opinion of you. If anything, what you’ve gone through makes me feel even more for you. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

  She stared up at him, afraid to hope. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to make a bunch more mistakes too. It’s how I’m programmed—”

  “I love how you’re programmed.” He cuddled her into him and she looked over his shoulder at Lollipop who was lying in a toasty, sunny spot, looking like she had no plans to move unless she was physically relocated or until she burst into flames.

  Sadie felt the exact same way being in Caleb’s arms.

  “Do you have any idea what you mean to me?” he asked, sliding a hand to the nape of her neck, thumb extended to nudge up her chin. “Everything,” he said in a heart-stopping voice. “You mean everything to me. I didn’t know how to face the fact that I might have scared you off forever.”

  A not-so-small lump formed in her throat. She’d spent so much time ignoring her feelings for him, and in return it seemed she’d also managed to ignore his feelings for her. She’d convinced herself that this was just a diversion, but it was so much more. She shook her head, marveled at the fact that she had this man in her life. “I can’t believe I almost let the guy I love walk right out of my life.”

  He stilled and pulled back to see her face. “You love me?”

  She froze in shock that she’d said the words, and he smiled. “You do,” he breathed. “You love me.”

  She dropped her forehead to his chest. “Maybe a little.”

  He lifted her off her feet. “You love me.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, terrified, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love you, okay? I never meant to, but I kept feeling all the little broken pieces of my heart give themselves to you. It’s terrifying, Caleb,” she said to his smile. “I’ve never really given my pieces away before, at least not to someone who could protect them and take care of them.”

  He kissed her gently. “I’ve got you, Sadie, I promise you. Give me all your pieces, I can take everything you’ve got.” He kissed her again, long and deep, until she broke off, breathing heavily.

  “We get to have a round of makeup sex now, right?” she asked hopefully.

  “Sadie, this is leading to a lot more than just a round of makeup sex,” he said, voice thrillingly rough.

  Her heart hitched. “Two rounds of makeup sex?”

  He smiled. “More.”

  She bit her lower lip and stared at him, taking in the affection and teasing in his gaze. And love. So much love. She was never going to get tired of that. “As much makeup sex as I want?”

  “Yes,” he said on a sexy laugh. “But tell me that you want more from me than just makeup sex.”

  “I do,” she said very seriously now, sliding her fingers into his hair to pull his head down to hers. “I want it all.”

  Epilogue

  A few weeks later

  The wedding reception was in full swing. Ten minutes ago, Sadie had stood at the edge of the dance floor watching Clara and Greg as they slow danced in each other’s arms. Her mom had come up to her and they’d watched together.

  “You look very nice tonight.”

  Sadie had turned to look at her mom in surprise.

  Then she’d felt Caleb come up behind her and his arms slid around her as he leaned in and nipped at her ear. Her entire body had quivered, and the next thing she knew, they’d taken a time-out from the wedding.

  Now, with his fingers still digging into her hips, he held her tightly to him. When they could finally breathe without gasping, he said, “I knew we’d end up here someday.”

  “Naked and sweaty in the back of your Audi?”

  He laughed. “Yes, but I was referring to something else.” He stroked the damp hair from her face while from not too far away, the music of the reception got louder. “Do you want one of these, Sadie?”

  “An Audi?”

  He grinned. “A wedding reception. But I’d be happy to throw in whatever car you want.”

  Her heart was beginning to pound in her chest again as she searched his gaze, which was serious in spite of the warm smile on his mouth. “Did you just ask me if I want to get married?”

  “Might be fun,” he said.

  “Are you insane?”

  He smiled. “Obviously.” He pulled a small black velvet box from a pocket and held it out to her. “But I don’t see why that should stop us.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Oh my God.” Her fingers, acting independently from her brain, took the black box and opened it, and then she was staring down at a gorgeous white—and be still her heart, also black—diamond ring.

  Caleb slowly slid it on her finger. “Feel like a good fit?”

  She stared at him. “You feel like a perfect fit.”

  With a smile, he kissed her tenderly. “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes.” The minute she said the word, a sense of warmth slid over her. Warmth, and the hope she’d held at bay. “You realize you should be worried,” she said to his goofy smile.

  “I’m the opposite of worried. I’m more at ease and happier than I’ve ever been.” He pulled her into him, wrapping her up tight against him so that she could feel the steady beat of his heart. Hers was flopping all over the place, but his calm infused her and settled her down.

  After a few minutes, he stirred first. “Did I ever tell you I knew that very first night when Lollipop adopted us that you’d be mine?”

  She pulled back to give him a baleful stare. “Yours?” she asked.

  He kissed her again. “Don’t worry. I’m yours too. In fact, I’ve been yours since before that night.”

  “But I was so bitchy to you before that night.”

  “Only before?” He smiled when she rolled her eyes. He cupped her face. “I knew,” he said with quiet certainty.

  It took her a while to find her voice thanks to the emotion that clogged her throat. Because she hadn’t known. She hadn’t dared to even hope they’d end up here, and to be honest, she was still shocked that they were. “Really?” she breathed as his lips traveled along her jaw toward her mouth. “You always knew?”

  “Always, Sadie,” he said. “It’s always been you.”

  Her eyes filled. “And it’s always going to be you.”