Page 71 of The Veteran
“I was hoping you’d think so.” Kade gently took my hands in his, his tone even more serious than usual. “I want you to move in with me—at least while you heal.”
“You do?” Some people might have been shocked by the statement, but before I could even think it through, joy was buzzing within me, and my intuition said that was everything I needed to know.
“Yeah.” He released my hands and brushed the hair off my forehead, his fingers continuing to trace a path down the side of my cheek. “I love you, and I want you close. I’d like to hold you every night, and for you to fill our home with color. Will you give it a chance?”
I rested my head against his chest and breathed in his clean masculine scent. “I would love that.”
“Good.” Tension eased from him. I hadn’t even realized how nervous he’d been. “Let me show you the rest of the house.”
He led me down a hall, off which came two bedrooms and a large exercise room with plenty of space for me to set up my yoga gear. A Kade-sized bathtub took pride of place in the bathroom, and more photos of Tina, Audrey, and a man I assumed must be Kade’s father were displayed on the walls.
“Where is your dad these days?” I asked.
He paused beside a photograph of a teenage Kade with his father’s arm around him and, for a moment, I felt like I could see into his soul. “He died in a car crash.”
“I’m sorry.” I wound my uninjured arm around his waist and nestled closer.
“It was a long time ago.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t miss him.”
“True.” He stared at the photograph for a few more seconds, then turned away and guided me back to the living room. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable on the sofa while I cook dinner?”
“I can help,” I said.
He kissed me gently. “Let me look after you, okay?”
Something softened inside me. “Okay.”
As I settled on the sofa and watched him prepare dinner, a wave of déjà vu hit me. I felt like I’d sat in this same place and done the same thing a dozen times before. I smiled to myself and silently thanked the universe for bringing me to exactly where I was supposed to be.
KADE
After dinner, we retreated to my bedroom and lay naked in each other’s arms. There was nothing sexual about it, considering the day we’d had, but it was nice to be close to Sage. To feel her skin against me and know she was safe and well. I rested my hand over her heart and imagined I could feel the steady beat, reminding me I hadn’t lost her. I kissed her cheek and carefully tucked her against the side of my body.
“So, want to go to dinner tomorrow night?” I asked.
She tilted her face toward me, her expression curious. “I’d love to.”
“Good, because I just realized we’ve never been on an actual date. Almost all the time we’ve spent together has been under stressful circumstances, and I can’t wait to get to know what you’re like when people aren’t trying to kidnap you.”
She laughed. “I’m much the same. Maybe a little less stabby.”
“Only maybe?”
She snuggled closer. “I guess you’ll have to keep me around to find out.”
My heart warmed. “I’ll keep you for as long as you’ll have me.”
We drifted into silence, and before I knew it, I had my arms full of sleeping woman. I could honestly say I’d never been more content in my life.
29
SAGE - THREE WEEKS LATER
Kade and I stood in the living room of my parent’s house. Both the front and back doors were open, allowing a breeze to flow through. The place was empty. Over the past week, after the police had once again cleared out, Willow, Kade, and I had removed everything that was here. I’d struggled at first. It had felt like I was saying goodbye to the person I used to be and to the life I’d had with my parents, but it needed to be done. We’d donated what we could and gotten rid of the rest. Now, all that was left was for me to release the last of my emotional ties so the demolition team could start.
“Are you sure you want to do it now?” Kade asked. “There’s no rush.”