by Mia Dymond
Casey forced himself to move beside Annessa, hugging her tiny warm body close. Neither of them spoke for several seconds. Finally, he took a deep breath and a big chance.
“Stay,” he whispered against the top of her head.
She tightened in his arms and he braced himself for her quick departure. Instead, she trembled against him.
He frowned and eased her back to look into her face, tears streaming from her big, beautiful, normally-sparkling eyes. He suddenly felt as if he’d been sucker punched.
“Ness?”
“If I stay, I have to trust you will too.” Her bottom lip trembled. “I can’t take it, Casey. I just can’t.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’ve heard it before, remember?”
“That was seven years ago, baby. Things were different.”
She sat up and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Maybe to you.” She gave him a watery smile. “You broke my heart. At least this time I brought it on myself.”
He fought himself to keep from wrapping his arms around her and threatening to never ever let go. That might fix things for a little while but he knew eventually she’d escape. They’d had this argument before and he had no choice but to accept her decision. Even if it tore him in two.
“You owe me,” he reminded her.
Her brow wrinkled.
“One pink vibrator.”
She released a short laugh and a smile separated her beautiful lips, still swollen from his earlier assault. “I’ll get one.”
“You’d rather use it alone?”
Tears gathered again in the corners of her eyes and he knew that answering his question would only hurt both of them.
“I do have handcuffs,” he told her before she answered.
“I miss you already.”
Her declaration and light giggle soothed his wounded heart as he eased her to lie down and pulled her back against his aching chest. He then spoke the only words he could at that moment. “I love you, Annessa.”
She gave a sleepy sigh and relaxed into him. “I love you too, Casey.”
***
Sunlight speared his eyeballs the next morning when Casey opened his eyes and rolled over to find the bed empty beside him. Sonuvabitch, his heart hurt. He lifted his wrist and squinted at his watch, knowing Annessa had probably been gone for hours. Seven o’clock a.m. He exhaled a hard breath. She hadn’t wasted any time and obviously she’d meant every word when she said she didn’t trust him.
He sat up, swung his feet over the side of the bed to the floor, and cradled his head in his hands. If only he could turn back time. Anger and regret pushed blood through his veins at the speed of light until his ears rung with the force. The obnoxious jingle of his cell phone was probably the one thing that saved him from exploding. Damn. He knew before looking at the caller ID it would be Travis.
“What the hell did you do to my sister?”
Casey pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes closed. “She left me this time.”
He didn’t know if the several seconds silence over the line was good or bad.
“Karma’s a bitch, man. You gonna let her leave?”
“It’s what she wants. If I’m lucky, she’ll still call.”
“You realize you’re to blame for this whole mess, right?”
Casey opened one eye and squeezed the phone in his grip. He accepted total responsibility for Annessa’s broken heart but that didn’t prevent the sucker punch from his best friend’s accusation. “Huh?”
“You’ve spoiled her rotten, McIntyre. Gave her everything she ever wanted. Maybe it’s time you put your foot down and told her no.”
Casey paused to mull Travis’ advice, both suspicious and impressed by the other man’s insight. Neither one of them ever denied Annessa but something told him his friend’s epiphany was a little too convenient. “Since when did you get so smart?”
Travis chuckled. “Since Vanessa called me ten minutes ago.”
“On her honeymoon?”
“Yeah and Dane is gonna kick my ass if you don’t fix this.”
“She’s probably long gone, Travis.”
“You have time if you get your sorry ass in gear. Her flight doesn’t leave Atlanta until noon.”
“She gave you her itinerary?”
Travis snorted. “Hardly. She wouldn’t tell me anything and Van wouldn’t budge. Luckily, Ramano checked the manifest.”
Casey tucked the phone in the crook of his neck, grabbed his pants from the floor and stood to drag them on. “Thanks, man. Do I need to avoid you for the next couple days?”
“Not this time. Just make it right or we’ll both make you suffer. After Vanessa gets done with you, of course.”
“Of course,” he mumbled as he disconnected.
***
Annessa sat in the airport lounge, half-heartedly flipping through the magazine she bought for the flight. She’d been such a fool to believe her hair-brained decision to leave Casey would work. She counted on the heartache and pain she’d felt for so many years to keep her focused. Instead, Casey healed those aches and pains with his gentle love and patience. Once he explained things to her, the wall around her heart cracked. She sighed. More like crumbled.
Annessa slammed the magazine closed and tossed it to her lap. Enough regret. Yes, Casey loved her and she loved him, but they were different people now. Distance was the one thing they knew best.
There was just one thing that stopped her from being comfortable in her decision. Casey had sacrificed his whole life for her. The time he should have been chasing women and raising hell, he spent with her. Taking care of her, keeping her safe when she got out of control, solving her problems. Sure, he’d done the same for her sister, just not to the same extent. She had spoken the truth when she’d labeled herself the evil twin.
“I’m just a spoiled brat,” she mumbled.
“Yes, you are.”
Annessa froze at the sound of a voice beside her, not surprised that while she’d been lost in self pity, she didn’t notice she had company. Very slowly, she moved her gaze to the seat next to her and into the eyes of the last person she expected to see.
“Casey?”
His trademark grin made her heart skitter. “You’ve forgotten me already?”
“Why are you here?”
“I should turn you over my knee or haul you out of here over my shoulder.”
She swallowed hard. “I couldn’t say good-bye.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Yes, I did.” She huffed. “I don’t want to argue.”
He stretched his legs in front of him, crossed his ankles, and then leaned against the back of the chair. “So we won’t.”
She nodded. “You came to say good bye?”
“Nope.”
“I won’t stay, Casey.”
“I know.”
“So what are you doing here?” she hissed, her patience thin.
“I’m coming with you.”
“What?” She fought the urge to stomp her feet and scream at the top of her lungs. Did he not hear anything she said? “No!”
“Stop.” His quiet tone held a definite warning, one she knew from experience not to challenge. “You’ve had your turn, Annessa, for twelve years. I’ve always done what you wanted. Now it’s about what I want.” He paused and she fought tears from falling. “If you won’t stay with me, I’ll come with you.”
“What about your job?”
He shrugged. “Now that you’re gone, there’s not much criminal activity in Seaside Point.”
His gentle teasing only made her heart pound faster. “You’ll hate Los Angeles.”
“Impossible.”
“You—”
“Annessa.” He unfolded his arms and legs and turned to cup her chin in his palm. “I won’t let you go without me.”
Her resistance broke. No matter what, she couldn’t fight her feelings any longer. “I don’t want to,” she whispered.
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“See now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” His thumb stroked her cheek in a gentle massage.
“You’re tattooed on my heart anyway,” she teased. “I hear it’s painful to remove.”
Casey gave a deep, husky laugh and buried her deep in his embrace. Deep in the confines of everlasting love and trust, where she belonged. She didn’t care if she ever came out.
“That tattoo isn’t going anywhere, babe.”
EPILOGUE
“You sorry son-of-a—”
Travis stood in the doorway a few feet behind Verity with his jaw hanging open and resisted the urge to shake his head like a wet dog. Both of them had been sleeping like the dead when her cell phone rang and his brain was still a little fuzzy, but did she really say what he thought he heard? As long as he’d known her, she never lost her cool and those particular words had never slipped past her soft, plump, glossy lips. He folded his arms across his bare chest and braced himself on one hip against the wall. Maybe all the champagne they drank last night had loosened her lips.
“I warned you to leave me the hell alone!”
Okay, nix the alcohol theory. Although she kept her voice low, the venom injected into her tone told him she was very much sober and totally pissed off. And that concerned him.
“Who gave you this number?”
Someone had brass balls. Her fingernails tapped the phone like the rapid fire of a machine gun. Her shoulders heaved from the force of her breathing while the fist of her free hand opened and closed. He got the feeling someone would’ve been passed out cold from the force of her punch had they knocked on the door rather than calling.
“Listen here, you—” He winced at another colorful adjective. “If you even think about contacting me again, I swear on my great-grandmother’s grave, you will regret it.”
Travis didn’t even have time to react before she whirled around and hurled the cell phone right at him. As the hard plastic nailed him in the left temple, his last coherent thought left his brain.
Damn, this is gonna hurt.
* * *
Other books by Mia Dymond:
Leather, Lace and Rock-Roll
(Book 1 of the SEALS, Inc. series)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/87362
Brains before Beauty, that’s Rachel Newberry’s motto, especially when her quiet, orderly life is interrupted by international rock star, Jaydon Hawke. And true to her word, brains take center stage when she discovers Hawke has a lot more on his mind than beautiful music. Targeted by a madman, Rachel puts her trust in Hawke, a move that may cost both their lives
Outspoken Angel
(Book 2 of the SEALS, Inc. series)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/90312
Handbags, stilettos, and spa dates – not retired SEAL Max Sterling’s usual m.o. Until Cameron Tremaine. Duty bound, Max tolerates her sass and smart mouth until she pushes too far. Cameron doesn’t need a bald, bossy bodyguard, thank you very much. Especially one oh, so delectable as Max. Except, when someone decides to silence her for good, Cameron realizes bold and brassy go hand in hand.
Freaky By Nature
(Book 3 of the SEALS, Inc. series)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/97541
Brett Steele, PI didn’t realize there was a politically correct term for stripping until he met Holly London. Initially drawn to her talent, he soon learns there is much more to the “sensual dance” instructor than he thought. Holly has a secret that may change her life forever. When the atmosphere warns her she is the target of a madman, she must expose the secret and trust Brett to stay alive.
Tightly Wound
(Book 4 of the SEALS, Inc. series)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/107217
Claire Steele has dodged shadows her whole life and uses psychic talent to chase evil in the recesses of her mind. Lt. “Shadow” Windsor walks friendship’s fine line, patiently waiting for Claire to accept his love. Until sinister forces threaten her life. Caught between love and death, Claire and Shadow must combine both talent and skill to survive.
Never Cry Uncle
www.smashwords.com/books/view/115187
Often a dead-end job is so … dead. When Allison and Lucy find out their boss pocketed bonus money, blackmail seems the perfect revenge. Until the plan backfires and they become prime suspects. Out of desperation, Allison hires Luke Owens, PI, who takes the case only to be distracted by her sass. In a zany twist of events, the couple must risk their hearts and lives to catch the real killer.
Playing with Fire
(Book 1 of the Primrose, Minnesota series)
www.smashwords.com/books/view/123319
Liberty doesn’t come cheap. In fact, she costs $200 an hour. Dr. Liberty Prescott is trained to heal. Problem is, she can’t heal herself. Fire Inspector Shane Hartwell fights demons in the dark. Desperate to end his torture, he seeks Liberty’s help. As attraction sparks between them, an arsonist burns out of control and evidence points straight to Liberty. Against his heart’s denial, Shane accuses her until new evidence emerges. Now with his heart in his hands, can he reclaim hers?
***
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Table of Contents
Title Page
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EPILOGUE