The uncertainty in his expression as he met her gaze and awaited her response confused and warmed her heart.
Not giving her time to respond, he continued, "I asked Anita for her blessing back when you were in the hospital, but I wanted to give you time to heal before asking you to think about turning this page in our story."
Savannah reached up and pulled him into her arms until the hearts on her sticky chest devoured the dragon tat on his. "Earlier tonight, I told you I wasn't ready for happily ever after. But you've shown me there is no obstacle that can ever destroy or overcome what we feel for each other, unless we let it. I promise you, I won't do anything to allow that to happen."
She sealed their union with a kiss.
Epilogue
Cassie López squirmed in her seat. She tried to follow Kitty's latest plan to seduce Adam, but the last thing she wanted to talk about was sex. On top of that, Luke Denton kept watching her. She'd glanced at him across the room a couple of times, where he stood talking with Adam, but both times had found him scrutinizing her.
She shifted on the uncomfortable chair again. The tiny bar in Aspen Corners had opened especially so that they could hang out. They'd brought Angelina back from Denver and she'd arranged with her friend Ricco to have a private party, just the five of them. Well, until Marc had shown up an hour or so ago. He and Angelina had retreated to a booth in the back.
Being in a bar again stressed her out enough—the smell of stale beer assaulting her senses when she walked inside. She'd scanned the room quickly and had been relieved there was no pool table.
But Luke's focused gaze was disconcerting, to say the least. Not quite a leer, but very intense.
Oh, no! Luke and Adam were coming this way. Luke held a beer bottle. She shuddered.
I need to get out of here!
"Mind if we join you, girls?"
Without waiting for an answer—which for her would have been "yes, I mind"—Adam set his bottle of water on the table. Kitty looked up at him with an emotion akin to adoration. She couldn't believe her friend had succumbed to the man's charms so completely and in such a short time. In college, she'd never even looked at guys.
Cassie had been the wild one, dragging her to the clubs. Kitty would rather be singing in them, than drinking. Perhaps if she'd been more like Kitty…
Cassie blinked and looked at Adam, who certainly hadn't charmed her. Ever since he'd interrupted their annual cleansing ceremony on his deck and in his hot tub, she'd been upset about the way he'd treated Kitty. The man had a possessive streak a mile wide and seemed to have Kitty under his thumb.
If he ever did anything to hurt her friend, Cassie would make sure he paid. Kitty was like a sister to her—a sister of the soul. They'd probably been together in many lifetimes. In her heart, Cassie knew Kitty had been sent to her this time to help her through the attack in the bar during the break between junior and senior years.
She probably should call her friend by her given name, Karla, now that she was married and about to become a mother, but she'd always be Kitty to her.
Adam took a seat next to Kitty at the square table for four, and Luke sat closer to Cassie. She sat back in her chair, putting distance between herself and both men. Adam gently rubbed Kitty's belly, as if to greet his baby, too.
The way they were always touching each other reminded her of her brother Eduardo and his wife, or Papá and Mamá.
She ached to see them sometimes, but she couldn't bring herself to go home to Peru—ever. Colorado was her home now. Eduardo was due to make his annual visit, but her sister-in-law, Susana, wanted to stay home in Peru with their three kids. Last year, he'd brought the whole family. She'd miss her nephews and niece this year, too.
In their last Skype call, he'd hinted there might be a fourth before the year was over.
Kitty's eyes grew round. "Someone kicked." She grinned at Adam, who looked as if he'd been poleaxed. Kitty turned toward Cassie and Luke, "There's always a lot more activity in there whenever Adam is touching or talking to my belly. They…" Her friend stopped herself and amended, "He or she—it's just easier to say they, because we don't want to know the sex…"
Adam leaned closer to her ear. "Take a breath, Kitten." She did and calmed down.
Cassie must have missed something, but she was distracted by Luke holding the beer bottle up to his lips. She turned away and took a sip of her margarita on the rocks.
"So, Cassie, what are you working on now?"
She nearly choked on her drink.
Luke leaned toward her and patted her hand. "You okay, darlin'?"
She snatched her hand away and coughed. "I'm fine. Went down the wrong way."
"As I was saying, any big projects we can look forward to? Exhibits?"
She'd nearly died when he'd shown up at a gallery showing in Denver last fall. The man knew art, though. It was the only thing they'd ever have in common.
"Actually, I've spent the winter preparing to work in a new media—fiber art." Cassie relaxed. Talking about her latest loves and art calmed her nerves a bit. "I adopted a small herd of alpacas last fall. They've come through the harsh winter really well. Probably reminds them of their roots in South America.
Her cabin was located at over 12,000 feet in elevation, similar to the Andes peaks near where she'd grown up. "I should be able to begin harvesting the fleece in another week or two if the temperatures stay warm like this."
"I'd love to see your llamas sometime. Maybe I can help with the harvest."
No man would ever invade her sanctuary. She didn't want that negativity there. That's why she'd had to come down the mountain to see Kitty, because he wouldn't let her go over the rutted road to get to her isolated place. Not without him, at least, after what happened the last trip Kitty made over the pass.
Cassie glared at him. She needed to divest Luke of the notion that he'd ever see her llamas, as he called them. "They're alpacas, not llamas. And I can manage them myself." Belatedly, she added, "But thanks for the offer."
Seeming to take the hint, he looked at Adam. "How about a round of pool? You and Karla taking on Cassie and me?"
Cassie's hand began to shake. She'd surveyed the bar the minute she'd entered. There hadn't been a pool table.
Adam's voice sounded as if he was speaking through a tunnel, distorted by the blood rushing in her ears. "Sounds…good…to…me."
Someone's hands were on her back and arm, making her throat close up even more. Luke.
Get your hands off me.
She pushed him away and retreated closer to Kitty, who reached out for her and squeezed her upper arm. "Deep breath, honey. You're safe."
Kitty directed her next words to Luke. "No, thanks. We don't play pool."
"Since when, Kitten?" Adam asked. "We just played over at…"
Cassie didn't miss Kitty's glare at Adam. "Not anymore. My…belly gets in the way."
They communicated something silently because Adam looked at Cassie, and nodded. "Completely forgot."
The last thing she wanted was his pity, but she hadn't let Kitty or Angelina tell anyone about what had happened back then. She just wanted to bury it and forget it.
Cassie needed out of here. She scooted the chair back and stood. "I'll be heading home now. I don't want to be out too late; it'll be dark soon."
Luke stood, as well. "There were some avalanche warnings out at the passes after last night's snowfall." He pulled out his phone. "Let me check my app before you head out."
"No, really! I'll be fine. I know what to watch for."
Ignoring her, Luke pulled out his phone. After a moment, he reported, "No roads closed up that way." He cast a worried glance at her. "Why don't I follow you home, darlin'?"
"No!" Don't panic, Cassie. Just get the hell out of here. "I said, I'm fine." Her hands grew clammy. She hadn't let her guard down around a man in a very long time. She wouldn't start now.
Knowing she might not see Kitty for a while, she hated leaving so abruptly, but her frien
d would understand. Adam stood and helped Kitty to her feet. "It's been great seeing you, Kitty. Good luck with the CD. I know you're going to top the indie charts. Maybe when I have my next gallery showing, we can play your music in the background and sell some of them there."
Kitty laughed. "I hope it doesn't jangle the nerves of your art patrons, but thanks. That would be fun."
Kitty hugged her. The baby kicked against Cassie's abdomen. "Oh! I almost forgot. Good luck with the baby, too. I'll come up to see you when I can."
Cassie looked up at Adam. He had his arm around Kitty, who seemed to melt into his body.
Their friendship was going to be further strained when Kitty became a mother and her interests and focus changed.
A deep sadness came over her. Cassie would never know the life of wife and mother. But maybe she could live vicariously through Kitty, who was glowing at the prospect of motherhood in just over two months.
Cassie wasn't jealous. She loved the solitary life she'd chosen to live up on her mountain, well, most of the time. The four alpacas had helped her get through this past winter with a little less loneliness, though. She couldn't wait to get home to see how her babies were doing. Graciela seemed nearly ready to drop her cria, although the owner she'd bought her from had said she wasn't due until early June. Cassie knew she wouldn't have to offer much assistance, but she didn't want to miss the happy event, either.
She waved at Marc and Angelina, who probably didn't notice because they were deep in conversation.
Cassie stepped out into the wind and took a deep breath. Then another.
Freedom.
She relaxed for the first time since Luke had mentioned playing pool and walked to her SUV parked on a side street. A glance up at the mountain helped relax her further.
Home.
Soon she'd be in her haven. Nothing evil could invade her sanctuary. She sent positive energy and vibrations out every morning and every evening to prevent it.
The sun was setting as she made it through the pass and turned onto her rutted road. The huge chasms in the dirt road kept sightseers and interlopers away. She knew her four-wheel drive would manage fine. She glanced up at Iron Horse Peak and noticed a particularly dangerous-looking ledge of snow hanging near the crest of the mountaintop. Careful to take it slow, not wanting to make a noise that might send it tumbling toward her, she maneuvered around the mountainside. When she'd gotten beyond where an avalanche could impede her getting home, she relaxed her grip on the steering wheel. At least, if the snowpack gave way in early May like this, she wouldn't be stranded for months like she had been the second year she'd lived up here.
As she came around the last bend in the road, her cabin loomed in front of her. She'd left the porch light on. Inviting.
The vintage log structure had been modified to accommodate her art studio, providing more light than the old cabin had offered originally, while remaining authentic.
Home.
She opened the door and got out. The slamming of the door resulted in a cacophony of welcoming hums and clucks from her precious babies in the barn. She smiled. They'd made life up here much less lonely—
The thundering roar of tumbling snow invaded her thoughts, and she looked up in time to watch the snowpack hurtle toward the roadway and the valley below. There weren't any cabins in its path, and it would be extremely unlikely anyone would hike or camp here, given all of the recent warnings
So, Cassie watched in awe, appreciating the raw power of nature. Someday, she was going to capture the beauty of an avalanche on canvas.
When the air grew silent again, she trudged through last night's snowfall toward the front door. Good thing she'd stocked up. It would take a couple weeks for that amount of snow to melt. She had a small plow for her SUV, but she wasn't in any hurry to visit civilization again. She preferred to be with her alpacas and her art, far removed from regular human contact, which was…stressful.
Dusk had fallen by the time she'd gotten her supplies inside, fed the alpacas, and got back to work on the sketch for the fiber piece she planned to make from the first harvesting of their fleece. The wind had begun to pick up; it felt like more snow.
Her cell phone jarred her from her work some time later. Glancing at the clock, she saw that nearly an hour had passed. Caller ID showed Kitty's name. What could she want so soon?
"Hey, Kitty. What's up?"
"Are you okay? Marc said there was an avalanche up there."
"Obviously, I'm fine. I just made it through before the snowpack came down."
There was an awkward pause before Kitty continued. "Um, is Luke with you?"
"Luke? Why on earth would Luke be with me? I left him there with you"
"Oh, God, no!"
Cassie was bombarded by the impact of a wave of negative energy in the universe's aether. She knew with disturbing certainty her safe world was about to be invaded.
"Cassie, he followed you."
"Why? I told him I didn't need anyone."
"He just wanted to make sure you made it home safely. Adam agreed. You know how Doms are."
She couldn't suppress the aggravation in her voice. "No, Kitty, I don't." And she didn't want to know. What little Kitty had told her about the kinky stuff she and Adam were into only reinforced for Cassie that machismo men would always try to subjugate women.
Although Karla didn't seem subjugated. She seemed very happy and fulfilled.
"But I didn't see anyone following me." Not that she'd looked. "He had to see the conditions were ripe for an avalanche before venturing that far around the mountain. The man works in search-and-rescue, for heaven's sake."
Kitty's muffled voice was speaking with someone else now. "He's not there."
Adam's voice came through loud and clear next. "Marc, let's go!"
"Kitty. Kitty?"
"Sorry. Adam and Marc are going to go search for him."
"Why don't you just call his phone? He's probably beyond Fairplay by now on his way home."
"We tried that first. He's not answering."
Kitty sounded really worried. "Look, if it'll make you feel better, I'll go out, too, and see if I can see any sign of him."
"Is it safe?"
"Yeah, the ledge was gone after the snowpack broke loose."
"Would you? I'd feel better."
Only for you, Kitty, would I go out on a night like this looking for a man.
But, if she could put her friend's mind at rest, she could do this. "I'll call you back in a few." She ended the call and sat on the cedar chest, pulling on her boots. She grabbed her parka and a flashlight from the hook in the mudroom as she went out the door.
The flashlight illuminated the tracks she'd made to and from where she parked her SUV. She started the engine and turned the vehicle around to head back the quarter-mile, or however far she could get before the road became blocked.
What if she found him? What would she do with him? No one was going to get out of here anytime soon. The thought of being trapped here with him sent her heart jumping into her throat, and she swallowed to try and relieve the sensation of obstruction.
What if she didn't find him? If he really had followed her home, he could have been right in the middle of the treacherous snow's path. She shuddered, but not from the cold. Luke seemed like a nice man, even if he did look at her the wrong way. She didn't want to see him hurt—or worse.
Fear caused her to drive a little faster until she reached the place where the snow had settled too deeply across the road. There weren't any trees above the roadway because of the altitude, so the snow was absent any debris. She didn't see any vehicles or people, either.
Casting the beam of the light down the side of the mountain, she looked for anything out of the ordinary, other than a mountain of snow.
"Luke! Can you hear me?"
The wind howled, carrying her words into the valley, but there was no other sound.
She panned the light slowly down the mound of snow. White and more white. Sur
ely she'd see if something out of the ordinary—
The beam flashed against something shiny, not a natural feature. She moved the light back until she saw it again—something gray amidst the white snow. Her heart stuttered once, twice, then thudded to life again. A truck's hood was embedded in the snow, the side of the truck, near the extended-cab passenger door, was wrapped around a spruce tree, which had withstood the force of the avalanche. Apparently, the snowslide had clipped the back of the vehicle, because there hadn't been time for him to turn around.
She needed to get down there and make sure he was okay.
Cassie sent positive vibrations out into the universe, attaching Luke's name to them. Please let Luke Denton be all right. She slid down the slope, coming to a thud against the back panel of the truck, then crawled her way to the door. She peered in and saw Luke slumped toward the passenger seat, still wearing his seatbelt.
She sent out healing vibrations this time, as she tried to pry open the door, but the snow was wedged against the lower third of the door, and the wheel wells were completely covered with snow. She set the flashlight down on a nearby mound of snow to light the area. He'd been here over an hour. The night wasn't frigid, but if he'd gone into shock…
Cassie frantically clawed at the snow, thankful it hadn't settled to a sheet of ice yet, as it would overnight. Her arms ached and the tips of her fingers were numb by the time she'd cleared enough snow to open the door. She picked up the flashlight and light illuminated the cab of the truck.
Reaching in, she touched his denim shirt sleeve. Still warm. Please don't let him be dead. "Luke! Can you hear me?"
He moaned and, in a whoosh, she let out the breath she'd been holding. She whispered, "Thank you, goddess."
Cassie raised her voice again. "Luke, open your eyes. It's Cassie."
He groaned. "Hell, woman. Let me sleep. No more dreams, damn it."
At least he was talking, although he wasn't making any sense. This was no dream; it was a freaking nightmare.
* * *
Damián rolled the throttle, and the rented Harley roared to life as they pulled out of the gate at Camp Pendleton. He'd proudly introduced Savannah to some of his old buddies who'd just returned from their umpteenth deployment. Showing off his beautiful girl had been great, but the day wasn't over yet.
Nobody's Perfect Page 49