“I wanted you to have each other forever. That part didn’t make me laugh. I cried. I cried because I wouldn’t be there to see it. I cried because I wouldn’t finally have the two people I love most in the world together again with me—just like it used to be. I’m sure sorry I’m missin’ that, y’all.
“But wherever I am, I want you two blind asshats to know this—I love you both more than I loved some of my very own family members.
“So I hope you jackasses found each other. I hope it was a hard road, too. You owe me for ten years of my life I lost listenin’ to your whinin’. I don’t know which of you I hope won, because if this went the way I laid bets with Sanjeev, who won won’t matter. You’re now a couple, and you’re gonna have that big weddin’ you were supposed to have ten years ago to seal the deal, and Call Girls is rightfully both of yours—the big house, too.
“Hang on to what you have. Live. Really, really live. Be happy. Laugh. Smile. Argue. Make up. But do it. Don’t let the past keep you from anything.
“And last, know that I love you more than my spleen, Dixie-Cup. I’d do anything for you. This time, I did the thing I knew was right for you. Caine. Caine is right for you, and you’re right for him.
“Go make babies. Call one of ’em Landon, okay?
“As for me, well, I’ll see ya when I see ya. I love you both, even from all the way up here.”
The DVD clicked off, and Dixie buried her face in Caine’s chest, tears streaming from her eyes, leaving the silence of Landon gone forever, weighing heavy in the room.
Caine cleared his throat, the muscles clenched and straining. “You’ve had this the whole time, Sanjeev?”
Sanjeev’s eyes met Caine’s, earnest and soft. “I have. I had two, actually. The other, the one where you two don’t figure this whole thing out shall be burned promptly. On that note, I did as the man who rescued me so many years ago asked. One hundred lifetimes could never repay that debt—or do justice to the love and gratitude I felt for him.”
Dixie let a breath escape her lips, shuddering on its way out. She wiped the tears from her eyes and rose, breaking her silence by pointing a finger at Sanjeev. “You are the master at keeping secrets, pal. I bow to you.”
Sanjeev gave them a small smile. “I’ve also mastered the art of texting. I’m rather proud of that.”
“It was you?” Caine asked.
“I was only the messenger. Landon was the author. He wrote them all out before he passed and left them for me to send to you both.”
Dixie shook her head and grinned. “Was there anything he didn’t think of? Bet he’s feeling pretty pleased with himself right now.”
Sanjeev nodded with another smile. “Oh, he was pleased long before now. I was laughing at you. Silly, lovesick fools. Oh, the moping and carrying on from the two of you is enough to make even the happiest of people seek a painful death.”
They all laughed at that as Caine rose, too, sticking his hand out at Sanjeev to shake it and slap him on the back. “So, I guess this means you’ll stay on here at the big house? Keep running things for us?”
“Surely you jest if you think I’d leave all of this and Mona and Lisa in the hands of the two of you?” he said on a chuckle. “The big house would fall to ashes, and Mona and Lisa would starve for all the attention you’d give them while you’re sequestered in that bedroom up there. Now we’re off, aren’t we, precious beasts?” he said, looking down at Mona and Lisa who sat at perfect attention. “Come, furry friends, there’s celebratory kibble to be had!”
Sanjeev left them, the dogs following his every step in a rustle of toenails against the marble floor.
Caine held his arms open, and Dixie went to them, slipping her hands under his biceps and curling into him. “I miss him so much. It aches, you know?”
Caine nodded against the top of her head. “I do know. I miss him every day.”
At that very second, both of their phones chirped an incoming text.
They each fumbled in their pockets to pull their phones out, sharing a gasp of laughter.
“Sanjeev! Knock it off!” Caine yelled toward the kitchen.
“Last one, I promise!” Sanjeev yelled back, making them both laugh.
Caine held up his phone just as Dixie did so they could read each other’s message.
Have you started making those babies yet? Your ovaries will dry up if you don’t make with the haste, Dixie-Cup, and Caine, your sperm will turn to dust if you both don’t get a move on. The big bed awaits you...
Love you both more than Bobby Flay.
Always, my friends,
Landon
Caine took Dixie in his arms, nuzzling her cheek with his lips, stirring that familiar ache deep inside her. “So how do you feel about making babies?”
She gave him a flirtatious smile. “Oh, I dunno. Do you think you’re worthy?”
Caine shot her a smile before planting a hard kiss on her lips, one that made her moan in anticipation. Then he let her go and began to back away, pushing open the double doors to Landon’s study and taking off up the stairs, “Argh, matey! Last one to the big bed be unworthy!” he said in Captain Jack Sparrow’s voice.
Dixie chased after him, racing up the wide staircase, giggling like a schoolgirl. Whatever would happen, it would happen with Caine.
She stopped short of the bedroom’s door and looked up at the ceiling, closing her eyes and summoning a picture of the last time she’d seen Landon—dapper, healthy, plowing through life and telling her all about it over her favorite wine. “I love you more than I love my own spleen, Landon Wells. Thank you, friend, thank you,” she whispered, blowing a kiss into the palm of her hand and shooting it upward.
Placing her fingers on the partially opened door, Dixie walked right through, a smile on her face—and this time, she was going to keep walking—toward Caine.
Toward the love she’d waited a lifetime to find her way back to.
Toward whatever their kind of forever meant.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460331170
TALK DIRTY TO ME
Copyright © 2014 by Dakota Cassidy
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