She raised a brow, kind of liking the sound of that, but Gage was trying to see things from her perspective.

“I understand now,” he said. “I want to be with you. Stay with you. I want to be a part of your world—that’s all I’ve wanted this whole time. But I got scared about losing my purpose.”

She faced him and looked deep into those dark eyes. He was being honest, and like it or not, she had to return the favor.

“Baby, I know what your purpose is,” she said. “And I’m never going to keep you from it. You’re here until you get called again because you need to help people. You need to save them.”

“That’s just it,” he said. “I can save people from here.”

She swallowed. “What do you mean?”

“East offered me a permanent training position as head of S&R in Beaufort. That little girl’s parents? The team I trained saved them. And I can’t explain it, but the pride I felt seeing them fulfill the same purpose I’ve held on to…it showed me what I really need to do. I can save more people by training recruits than I ever could on my own. And maybe, by sticking around, you can save me, too.”

She closed her eyes, unable to hold back a swell of tears. “What about if they need you for some emergency?”

“I’ll still go out on calls if there’s an emergency, but day-to-day, I’ll be right here. Doing my best to be the man who deserves your love.”

Her heart was going to explode with joy. She was still crying, but a smile burst onto her face. “Doesn’t excuse you being late to my restaurant’s anniversary.”

He laughed as he reached into his pants pocket. “I deserve that. But I have a good excuse.”

“I know, thank you for the crab cakes.”

“I don’t mean the crab cakes.” He pulled a small box from his pocket—

And the world around her paused.

He knelt on his good knee and winced a little.

“Gage, you’re going to hurt yourself!” She went down to her knees, too. “What the hell are you doing?”

He smiled. “Well, I’m trying to propose to you, so if you could stand back up, that’d sure help me out a lot.”

Her eyes went wide, and he popped the box open, revealing a dazzling diamond ring.

“Will you let me be yours forever?”

If he’d even suggested this kind of commitment when he first came back to town, she’d have gladly sent him into the mountains and made sure no one ever found him. But now she knew what life was like without him, and the hope that he could be hers now and forever was too good to ever let go.

“Yes!” She grinned and kissed him hard with everything she had. “I love you.”

“I love you, sweetheart.” He tugged her closer. “And I hope you like the sight of this face, because you’re going to be seeing a lot of it. You’ll never miss me again. I’m going to be so close to you you’ll be sick of me. You’ll be begging for me to go on a mission.”

“Can’t wait.” She smiled and held on to the man who owned her heart and her future.

Epilogue

“I must admit these are the best damn crab cakes I’ve ever had,” Gage said. And they were. Better than anything he’d ever made.

Trays of appetizers circulated around the restaurant, and he adjusted his tie and got a little closer to the beautiful blonde standing by the bar in a sexy fitted white dress made of lace and silk.

She flashed him a smile. They were surrounded by people raving about the occasion. All Gage could do was pull up a spot at the corner of the bar and stare down the sexiest woman he’d ever seen.

“Why thank you,” she said. “I made them myself.”

He raised a brow and drank his beer. “That right? Well you must have many talents.”

She shrugged, and the delicate strap of her dress fell down her shoulder. Gage’s gaze fixated on it—he wanted nothing more than to rip it off and take her hard. Right there. Right now.

“I have some talents,” she said. “But most of them don’t take place in the kitchen.”

She was teasing him, and he was game. Leaning in, he whispered, “Well I’d like to see some of these talents.”

“Why, sir. I’ll have you know you’re hitting on a married woman.”

Gage smiled and looked her up and down. “Well your husband is a lucky son of a bitch then.”

“He’s pretty romantic,” she admitted.

“And how long have you been married?”

“About an hour.”

He nodded. “You know, if you sneak off with me, tell me about some of these talents of yours, I promise to make it worth your while.”

She tapped her chin and glanced at the ceiling. He followed her stare—she was looking at the indoor balcony above. “Well, it’d be better to demonstrate than a visual. Although keeping eye contact is key.”

His cock stirred as he pictured that eye contact while she was on her knees before him, taking his cock deep into her throat.

“Well, I’m a fair player, sweetheart. All about reciprocation.”

“Oh? You have talents too?”

He nodded. “Yes, I do. You lead the way to a quiet corner and I’d be happy to show you.”

She eyed him for a moment. Then the ring on his left hand.

“I see you’re married, too. What would your wife say about all these naughty things you’re alluding to?”

“Oh, she doesn’t have patience for me alluding to anything. I have to put up or shut up.”

“Sounds like a smart woman.”

“She is.”

“Well, either that or she just can’t keep her hands off you.”

“I have to admit, I can’t keep my hands off her either.”

She turned and walked off without another word. He shot to his feet and followed her. Keeping her lace train in sight, he wound around the back, to the private stairwell—

He grabbed her hand, spun her around, pinned her against the wall, and crashed his mouth down on hers.

She smiled and kissed him back. “We didn’t even make it upstairs this time,” she breathed as she tugged on his tux.

“I’m surprised we made it out of the public eye.” He lifted her dress.

She wrapped her arms around him. This was right where he needed to be. Home, in Chloe’s arms. Because she was the fantasy and the reality, and he wanted equal helpings of both.

“We have to make it quick.” She fumbled his pants open. “People will notice we’re missing, being the bride and groom and all.”

“You know how I feel about quickies.” He positioned his cock at her core and growled. “No panties? Careful or I may assume you were luring me this whole time, sweetheart.”

“I kind of was,” she whispered against his mouth.

Which was fine by him. He’d be happy to be lured by her anytime, because she’d always bring him back home.

He thrust inside of her, instantly wrapped up in his own personal fantasy. And he couldn’t be happier.

He kissed her neck. “I love you, Chloe.”

“I love you, too.”

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to my editor Stephen “Thunder” Morgan for all your awesome hard work! Thank you Heather, Katie, Curtis, Liz, Debbie, and the entire Entangled Brazen team. Thank you Jill for being an incredible agent. Thank you to my friends and family.

About the Author

National and international bestselling author Joya Ryan is the author of the Shattered series, which includes Break Me Slowly, Possess Me Slowly, and Capture Me Slowly. She has also written the Sweet Torment series, which includes Breathe You In and Only You. Passionate about both cooking and dancing (despite not being too skilled at the latter), she loves spending time at home. Along with her husband and her two sons, she resides in California.