by Cynthia Eden
“I love you,” she told him again. She kissed him and held tight and knew that, one day, they would have a family. They’d have vanilla ice cream, brownies, and a field of sunflowers. They’d also have laughter. Security.
Love.
Always, love.
Epilogue
“Dex, what in the hell are you doing here?” Eric frowned at the man who’d just entered his office. “You know the building is closed. How did you even get inside?”
“Seriously?” Dex lifted his brows. “It’s me. Your best friend.”
“You are not my best friend. Why do you keep saying things like that? We barely know each other.”
“Semantics.” Dex strolled across the office and threw his body into the chair across from Eric’s desk. “I have a problem.”
“You seem to always have problems.” Eric flattened his hands on the surface of the desk.
“Yes, but, this time, it’s different.” He blew out a long breath. “You see, I need a fiancée.”
Eric waited. There was no punchline. No laughter. “Um, you do realize that Wilde isn’t a dating service, don’t you?”
“Of course, I realize that.”
“Then why would you come to me for a—”
“She wouldn’t really be my fiancée. It would be a cover. I need an agent who can handle herself under some extremely dangerous circumstances. And an agent who just happens to be able to act as if she is completely and utterly obsessed with me.” He shrugged. “Shouldn’t be too hard to fake that obsession. I am pretty awesome.”
“You’re insane.” Eric pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re making my head ache.”
“Dude, you need to learn to manage your stress better.”
Eric sent him a glare. “You are my stress.”
“Hurtful.”
“Truthful.”
Dex just stared back at him. “If it helps, I already have a candidate in mind. That can speed things along for you.”
“Why can’t you use one of your own CIA operatives for this? Don’t you have a whole group of spies who could do this job for you?”
“I think one of your agents would be better suited for this mission. I need someone unaffiliated with the agency, if you know what I mean.”
He knew Dex was working one of his off-the-books cases. “Who do you have in mind?”
Dex offered him a warm, charming smile. One that immediately had Eric’s back tensing. “Who?” Eric demanded.
“I think Lacey Amari would be wonderful for the job.”
Eric shot to his feet. “Hell, no.”
Now Dex jumped up, too. “Why not?”
“Because you’re not risking Lacey!” Because she’s family. “Because she doesn’t even like you. You did not leave the best impression on the woman. There is no way that she’d ever agree to go undercover as your fiancée!” Oh, no. He’d said the wrong thing.
A sly expression stole across Dex’s face. “Is that all it would take? Her agreement?”
“Uh…hold on…”
But Dex had turned away. “Got it. If Lacey says yes, then it is game on.” He tossed a wave over his shoulder. “Great talk, buddy. Kiss the wife for me, would you? I’ll definitely come by for dinner one night soon.”
“I didn’t invite you for dinner,” Eric muttered.
The door closed behind Dex.
Eric slowly sat back down. He didn’t have anything to worry about. No way would Lacey agree to be Dex’s pretend fiancée for a mission. No way.
His eyes squeezed closed. “This is going to be bad.”
The End
Want to read another Cynthia Eden book?
Pretend engagement. Real danger… Real love? SAY I DO.
Say I Do
She hates him.
Dexter Ryan is smug. Arrogant. Manipulative. And he is also…Lacey Amari’s new partner. Well, her partner on one case. A case she doesn’t even want to take, but when Dex—CIA super operative and all around puppet-master—basically blackmails her, she has no choice. Then he asks her the big question…
Will you marry me?
The proposal isn’t real. It’s just an undercover assignment. Dex needs Lacey to be his fake fiancée for a case. Not exactly her dream job. But, she’ll do it. He wants her to pretend to be head over heels in love with him, he wants her help on a dangerous investigation in a remote ski lodge, and he…wants her?
Their desire isn’t pretend.
Dex doesn’t work well with others and handling a case with a partner in close proximity—as in 24/7 close—isn’t his normal style. He’s pulled Lacey into the investigation because she is smart and resourceful, and maybe because he knows a secret about her that could prove to be very useful to him. After all, Dex uses people all the time. It’s his thing. Yet the more he is around her, the idea of using Lacey suddenly doesn’t seem like such a good plan. But getting her into his bed? Stellar idea.
He wants her, but so do the bad guys.
The attraction between Dex and Lacey burns red-hot, hot enough to melt the snow around them. Except, just as he planned, Lacey’s presence draws in the enemy. Now the bad guys are after her, and Dex has to stick even closer to her. He’s playing the role of the obsessed lover, only it’s not just a role. Because for the first time in his life, Dex is falling hard. He’s losing his control.
He’s lied. He’s cheated. He’s about to give up his heart.
When Lacey finds out the secret he’s known, her rage and pain break his heart. Dex has to find a way to make things up to her, and he has to stop the enemies who are closing in. Nothing he can’t handle. Maybe. Dex is a master multi-tasker—most days, anyway. Dex will use every trick in his very large arsenal to win this case. Lacey melted the ice around what the whole world knows is Dex’s very, very cold heart, and Dex will fight like hell to protect her and to prove to her that even master spies can fall in love.
Author’s note: Dex loves playing games. Some would even say he enjoys playing with other people’s lives, but this time…it is Dex’s life on the line. His life and his heart. The longer his pretend engagement to Lacey lasts, the longer Dex finds himself longing for the real deal. Prepare for lies, tricks, dangerous enemies, and romance hot enough to melt some heavy snow…Dex’s story will burn like fire and things will get WILDE.
Learn more about Say I Do.
A Note From the Author
Thank you for reading CHASE AFTER ME.
I had such a great time revisiting the world of the Wilde team. I hope you enjoyed Chase’s story! The Wilde books have been such a pleasure to write, and I am happy to say that another one will be coming your way. You’ll get to learn all of Lacey’s secrets in SAY I DO, and you’ll see master spy Dex take a very big fall.
If you have time, please consider leaving a review of CHASE AFTER ME. Reviews help readers to discover new books—and authors certainly appreciate them!
If you’d like to stay updated on my releases and sales, please join my newsletter list.
I’m also active on social media. You can find me on Instagram or Facebook.
Again, thank you for reading CHASE AFTER ME.
Best,
Cynthia Eden
cynthiaeden.com
About The Author
Cynthia Eden is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
More Information
cynthiaeden.com
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Her Other Works
Wilde Ways
Protecting Piper (Wilde Ways, Book 1)
Guarding Gwen (Wilde Ways, Book 2)
Before Ben (Wilde Ways, Book 3)
The Heart You Break (Wilde Ways, Book 4)
Fighting For Her (Wilde Ways, Book 5)
Ghost Of A Chance
(Wilde Ways, Book 6)
Crossing The Line (Wilde Ways, Book 7)
Counting On Cole (Wilde Ways, Book 8)
Dark Sins
Don’t Trust A Killer (Dark Sins, Book 1)
Don’t Love A Liar (Dark Sins, Book 2)
Dark Obsession Series
Watch Me (Dark Obsession, Book 1)
Want Me (Dark Obsession, Book 2)
Need Me (Dark Obsession, Book 3)
Beware Of Me (Dark Obsession, Book 4)
Only For Me (Dark Obsession, Books 1 to 4)
Mine Series
Mine To Take (Mine, Book 1)
Mine To Keep (Mine, Book 2)
Mine To Hold (Mine, Book 3)
Mine To Crave (Mine, Book 4)
Mine To Have (Mine, Book 5)
Mine To Protect (Mine, Book 6)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 1 (Mine, Books 1-3)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 2 (Mine, Books 4-6)
Lazarus Rising
Never Let Go (Book One, Lazarus Rising)
Keep Me Close (Book Two, Lazarus Rising)
Stay With Me (Book Three, Lazarus Rising)
Run To Me (Book Four, Lazarus Rising)
Lie Close To Me (Book Five, Lazarus Rising)
Hold On Tight (Book Six, Lazarus Rising)
Lazarus Rising Volume One (Books 1 to 3)
Lazarus Rising Volume Two (Books 4 to 6)
Bad Things
The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things, Book 1)
On The Prowl (Bad Things, Book 2)
Undead Or Alive (Bad Things, Book 3)
Broken Angel (Bad Things, Book 4)
Heart Of Stone (Bad Things, Book 5)
Tempted By Fate (Bad Things, Book 6)
Wicked And Wild (Bad Things, Book 7)
Saint Or Sinner (Bad Things, Book 8)
Bad Things Volume One (Bad Things, Books 1 to 3)
Bad Things Volume Two (Bad Things, Books 4 to 6)
Bite Series
Forbidden Bite (Bite Book 1)
Mating Bite (Bite Book 2)
Blood and Moonlight Series
Bite The Dust (Blood and Moonlight, Book 1)
Better Off Undead (Blood and Moonlight, Book 2)
Bitter Blood (Blood and Moonlight, Book 3)
Blood and Moonlight (The Complete Series)
Purgatory Series
The Wolf Within (Purgatory, Book 1)
Marked By The Vampire (Purgatory, Book 2)
Charming The Beast (Purgatory, Book 3)
Deal with the Devil (Purgatory, Book 4)
The Beasts Inside (Purgatory, Books 1 to 4)
Bound Series
Bound By Blood (Bound Book 1)
Bound In Darkness (Bound Book 2)
Bound In Sin (Bound Book 3)
Bound By The Night (Bound Book 4)
Forever Bound (Bound, Books 1 to 4)
Bound in Death (Bound Book 5)
Boxed Sets
Lazarus Rising Volume One (Books 1 to 3)
Lazarus Rising Volume Two (Books 4 to 6)
Bad Things Volume One (Bad Things, Books 1 to 3)
Bad Things Volume Two (Bad Things, Books 4 to 6)
Blood and Moonlight (The Complete Series)
Only For Me (Dark Obsession, Books 1 to 4)
The Beasts Inside (Purgatory, Books 1 to 4)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 1 (Mine, Books 1-3)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 2 (Mine, Books 4-6)
Forever Bound (Bound, Books 1 to 4)
Naughty Or Nice
Cynthia Eden has written many other works. Check out her full book list.