by Kadie Scott
Max, whoever he was, lifted an unimpressed eyebrow. “Get a room later. We’re on an op. Bad guys to take down and all that.”
Drew turned back to her with regret shining from his eyes and kissed her on the tip of her nose. “I have to go.”
“You don’t say,” she drawled.
Drew chuckled as he backed away. “Can I see you later?”
Cassie couldn’t have held back her sassy smile if she wanted to, pure joy bursting from inside her. “My place, or yours?”
Epilogue
“What about this one?” Drew held up a wriggling puppy with pale tan fur except for black around its snout. The tiny thing fit in his palm, but was determined to wiggle right out of his grasp. Drew had to quickly lower his hand so it didn’t tumble to the ground.
Cassie sat on the grass beside him, the sun shining through the trees and dappling her pale hair. She’d just come from a grueling interview with the FBI, and the puppy was her reward. As soon as the case had been wrapped up tighter than a drum, she’d put in her application—with Drew’s full support and personal recommendation. They joked about her putting him out of job, but actually, they made a damn good team.
She giggled—a sound that went straight to his heart, as well as other parts of him—as the little black puppy she held squiggled up around her neck, chewing at the waterfall of pale hair it snuggled under. “I love them all.”
Drew shook his head. “One dog.”
Cassie pouted. “We have plenty of room in your apartment.”
Pleasure that she’d agreed to move in slid through him for the thousandth time. They’d finished unpacking all her things, and had made love in every room in the place. Cassie said that was her preferred method to make her feel at home in her new digs, and Drew was more than happy to oblige.
Now they were at the pound. He’d been keeping a close eye out for Cairn Terriers at animal shelters all over New York since Cassie insisted on no breeders. As soon as these babies popped up in his search, he’d hustled Cassie right out the door.
She’d protested all the way to the animal shelter until she’d taken one look at the puppies and had dropped to her knees and picked one up.
“I like this one,” she said, holding out the black one to him. “He’s got your hair.” She put him down between them and the puppy tripped, face planting then hopping right back up. “And he’s awkward like you,” she teased.
“Gee, thanks.”
“You know I think that’s your most adorable trait.”
Drew rolled his eyes, but scooped the puppy up and cuddled the little fella to his chest. The dog yipped and strained to lick his chin.
Just like had happened the day Cassie burst into his life—or technically he into hers—he was a goner the second he gazed into the tiny creature’s trusting brown eyes.
“I think he’s the perfect new addition to our family.”
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Acknowledgments
As always, I have a ton of thanks that I owe to a wide support network of fantastic folks.
To the readers, those who’ve followed me across genres and those new to me, thanks for the support, and hugs, and interest, and being awesome. And especially for reading my books! I hope you fell in love with Cassie and Drew as much as I did. Of course, a lot of me went into this one because I spent 10 years as a nerdy data analyst myself. That made this a blast to write. Don’t miss Max’s story up next, and, if you have a free sec, please think about leaving a review! I love to connect with my readers, so I hope you’ll drop a line and say “Howdy” on any of my social media!
To my fabulous editor, Heather Howland. This was our first project together (hopefully of many to come). You were an inspiration and a joy to work with throughout. I learned a ton working with you. Thank you for gifting me with this adorable story! Also, much gratitude to the entire Entangled team as well.
To my writing partner Nicole Flockton, thank you for your support and help, all those Skype sessions to brainstorm, asking all the right questions, and for directing me to the Lovestruck call for writers.
To my Mom, who might be the only person to read every single thing I’ve written since I was eight years old, thank you for the edits and especially for the love.
To my support team of beta readers, critique partners, writing buddies, reviewers, RWA chapters, friends, and family (you know who you are). You’re the best and make my days brighter being part of them.
Finally, a huge THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to my amazing husband and kids, who support (and even encourage) this obsession of mine. Even those weeks (okay, months) where I disappear into my head. Because of you, I get to live my dream.
About the Author
Award-winning contemporary romance author Kadie Scott attempted to find a practical career by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
No matter the genre, she loves to write witty, feisty heroines, sexy heroes who deserve them, and a cast of lovable characters to surround them (and maybe get their own stories). She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero, her husband, and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.
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