by Zara Keane
“I’ll need to see a doctor, but I’ll live.” Cash shoved her behind him, just as the sound of sirens in the distance reached them.
Halpern reached into his jacket pocket. Just as the police cars screeched to a halt on either side of them, he produced a live grenade.
“Aw, shit,” Cash swore. “Hit the deck, Mindy. I got this.”
He aimed his gun at David Halpern and shot the man in the arm. The grenade rolled onto the ground. To Mindy’s horror, Cash sprinted across the road, picked up the grenade, and hurled it into the distance seconds before it exploded.
One Week Later
“ARE you sure you’re ready to be discharged?”
Seeing Mindy’s beautiful blue eyes staring up at him filled with love was an experience Cash would never tire of. During the six days of his hospital stay, Mindy had been a constant visitor. Instead of rehashing the details of what had happened at the cottage, they’d focused on reconnecting and getting to know one another all over again. He’d never thought he’d be grateful for a life-threatening injury, but the aftermath of his surgery had meant spending quality time with the woman he loved, and realizing he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, however they swung it.
After Cash had put the last of his belongings into his case, he enveloped Mindy into a hug. “Honey, the doctors wouldn’t have said I could leave if they didn’t think I was ready.”
“I know,” she said, snuggling against his chest, “but it was a serious injury. I don’t want you collapsing again.”
He ruffled her hair and dropped a kiss onto her forehead. “Hey, at least I waited to faint until after I threw the grenade away from three full gas tanks.”
“Ugh.” Mindy shuddered. “Don’t remind me. I never want to experience anything like that ever again. What do you think will happen to David Halpern?”
Cash drew her closer, wishing he could banish all of her bad memories. “I’m not sure. Inspector Tobin is pushing for a trial, but Halpern’s still under psychiatric evaluation. Regardless of what they decide, he won’t be roaming the streets for a very long time, if ever.”
“I’m sorry it took such a tragic course of events to bring us back together, but I can’t regret the outcome. I don’t want to lose you again, Cash.”
He laughed. “You’ll be sick of me by the time you’re finished shooting Warrior’s Creed.”
“I seriously doubt that.” Her forehead creased. “You won’t be in Ireland the whole time, unfortunately.”
“Ah, but the doctors say I’ll need a few weeks to recuperate. What better way to spend it than with the woman I love? And once I go home, it won’t be too long before you’re back in America.”
“True.” Mindy fiddled with her bare ring finger, a situation Cash intended to rectify. “You can be my bodyguard by day, sex slave by night.”
He roared with laughter. “I’m not sure I’m up to either job at the moment.”
She slid her hand underneath the hem of his T-shirt. “I’m sure we can improvise. I prefer the idea of sharing my room with my sex slave rather than with my ex-husband.”
“Yeah,” he said, grabbing her hand and dropping a kiss onto her bare ring finger. “Assuming you’re not ready to strangle me after a few weeks of cohabitation, we should fix the ‘ex’ part.”
Mindy’s eyes widened. Her expression of hopeful joy wasn’t belied by her teasing tone. “Are you asking me to marry you, Cash Kincaid?”
“I already asked you to marry me, Mindy Mann,” he said solemnly, “and we both took vows. Somehow along the way, we forgot why we fell in love with one another. That’s not a mistake I intend to repeat. If we commit to one another again, it’s a forever thing.”
She scrunched up her nose and started to laugh. “Twice and Forever…a role I’ll happily play for life.”
“I’m a terrible actor, but that’s a role I know I can manage.” Cash put his arm around her shoulders and wheeled his case out of the hospital room. “Come on, honey. Time to reset the clock and start Day One of the rest of our lives.”
EPILOGUE
Two Months Later
Clonmore Castle Hotel, Ballybeg
The scent of freshly cut flowers wafted through the hotel reception room, aided by the soft evening breeze that blew in through the open windows. The wedding speeches were over, and the band had struck up an Eighties dance tune that was guaranteed to lure guests onto the dance floor.
Mindy took Cash’s arm and snuggled close, relishing the warmth of his hard torso and the spicy smell of his aftershave. From their vantage point at the head table, they had a perfect view of the dance floor. Mindy gave with a happy sigh when the bride twirled past in the arms of her handsome new husband. “Jill makes a beautiful bride. I’m delighted Liam found someone who’s so good with his daughter.”
“Jill’s a keeper all right. But then so are you, Mrs. Kincaid.” Cash took her hand and kissed her ring finger, on which a diamond-encrusted wedding band sparkled. “Are you disappointed we didn’t have a big wedding?”
Mindy shook her head. “We had a big party the first time we got married. I’m glad it was just the two of us last week. It felt right.”
His face split into a grin. “But you have no objection to us having a second honeymoon?”
“Oh, no,” she replied with a laugh. “Whatever about a party, there was no way I was passing on the opportunity to have a romantic week away with you on a remote Irish island. After all the craziness in June, we both deserve a break.”
J.D. Teller—Trident Securities newest recruit—stirred in the seat next to Mindy’s. “Liam told me about what happened. I’m glad it all worked out in the end.”
“Put it this way,” Mindy said, “that’s one real-life drama I’m relieved won’t be renewed for a second season. I swear it was more fantastical than any role I’ve played on TV.”
“I can imagine.” J.D. fiddled with his tie, clearly ill at ease in civilian clothing. “Sure was decent of Liam to sit me at the head table. Wouldn’t have known who to talk to otherwise.”
J.D. had to be a couple of years younger than her, but beneath the grinning bravado, he had the haunted expression of a young man who’d seen too much in his short life and hadn’t yet made his peace with the experiences. Mindy recognized that look—Cash had had it when he came back from that last mission.
“One thing I’ve learned since being in Ireland is that the Irish like to talk,” Cash said. “You wouldn’t lack for conversation wherever you sat.”
For the fourth time—Mindy had kept count—J.D. snuck a glance down the table at the bride’s sister. She nodded toward Naomi. “You should ask her to dance before she gets snapped up by the redhead who’s lumbering toward her.”
J.D.’s gaze switched the redhead in the poorly fitting suit that was making a beeline for Naomi’s chair. “Yeah. I might just do that.”
He leaped to his feet, reminding Mindy of just how tall they guy was. He had to be six-feet-four at least. “Have fun,” she called after him.
J.D. grinned at her over his shoulder, drawing attention to the dimples that softened his otherwise rugged features. “I intend to.” A moment later, he swung Naomi onto the dance floor and was soon showing her and the groom’s six-year-old daughter how to moonwalk. Jill and Liam, the bride and groom, danced beside them, clapping when little Meggie mastered the move.
Cash stroked Mindy’s arm. “Looks like your not-so-subtle matchmaking worked.”
“Weddings invite romance and Naomi’s a pretty girl.” Mindy eyed J.D.’s broad shoulders and tall, muscular frame. “Besides, if I were single—and a few years younger—I’d want to hook up with J.D., too.”
Cash leaned in and his words tickled her neck. “Do I need to be worried?”
“No, silly. You’re the only man for me. I’m just glad fate—even if it was through a crazed lunatic—gave us a second chance.”
“I could have done without the crazed lunatic part, I gotta say,” he said dryly, “but getting
back with you is the best thing that ever happened to me. Do you want to hit the dance floor?”
“I’m thinking about it.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’m also thinking of the sort of dance that we can’t perform in public.”
He leaned in and brushed his lips against her cheek, sending a coil of desire through her body. “If I wasn’t the best man,” he said, his deep voice a sexy rumble in her ear, “I’d suggest we sneak up to our room.”
She giggled. “You can’t abandon your best friend on his wedding day.”
“Technically, it’s their second wedding day. They had a civil ceremony in New York a few months ago.”
“You’re still the best man, even if it’s for the second time. You can’t abandon your post.”
A mewling sound across the wide circular table drew Mindy’s attention away from Cash. Katy, the groom’s sister, cradled her newborn daughter in her arms. Mindy’s heart clenched at the sight of Callee’s tiny hands and perfect rosebud mouth. “She’s adorable.”
Katy met her gaze and smiled. She pointed to the dark circles under her eyes that makeup hadn’t quite managed to hide. “Yes, she is. She’s also loud. And, right now, hungry.”
Katy’s husband, Dex, a sexy Irish underwater archaeologist who’d entertained Mindy over dinner with stories of his exploits, scooped the baby into his arms and dropped a kiss onto her little nose. “I’ll carry Callee up to our room.”
Katy smiled at Mindy. “I’m going to enjoy cuddles with Callee while I nurse her. The rest of the time, she’s either asleep or in her daddy’s arms. Nine weeks old and she’s already got him wrapped around her little finger.”
“I’ll be back to work and into the old routine next week,” Dex said with wink. “I’ve got to squeeze in as many cuddles with my girls as I can.”
After Dex and Katy left the table, Katy gazed wistfully after the baby. “I know we said we’d wait a year or two, but seeing that baby made we wonder what a Baby Cash would look like.”
“Or a Baby Mindy.” Cash ran a fingertip down the back of her dress, making her shiver with need. “And we never said anything about waiting. You were worried about not fitting into your costumes for the next season of Warrior’s Creed.”
She glanced up at him and read the mixture of hope and desire in his eyes. Her breath caught. “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
“I want a baby with you, Mindy. You know that. But I’m happy to wait until you’re ready to start a family. Doesn’t mean we can’t get in a little practice between now and then.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Screw my costumes. We’ll figure out a workaround.”
Cash gestured to her empty champagne glass. “You sure that’s not just the champagne talking, honey?”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life,” she whispered, and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “I like the idea of an Irish made baby. This is the country that brought us back together after all. I can’t think of a more wonderful souvenir.”
Cash looked over at Jill and Liam, now slow dancing to a romantic song and totally wrapped up in each other. “I don’t think Liam needs his best man for the next hour or so.”
Mindy drew a fingertip across his cheek, noting as his eyes darkened with desire. “Our honeymoon doesn’t officially start until tomorrow, but we could get a head start on the baby making part.”
With a wolfish grin, Cash grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Mrs. Kincaid, that sounds like an excellent plan.”
—THE END—
•Thanks for reading Bodyguard by Day, Ex-Husband by Night. I hope you enjoyed Mindy and Cash’s story.
* * *
•If you haven’t read the first book in the Ballybeg Bad Boys series, Her Treasure Hunter Ex, you can get it for FREE on all major ebook stores.
* * *
•The Ballybeg Bad Boys series continues with J.D. and Naomi’s story in The Navy SEAL’s Accidental Wife. This novella will be first published as part of a multi author action-adventure romance boxed set called Romancing the Alpha 2. The set is currently available for pre-order at the amazing price of $0.99.
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•To keep up with my new releases, free stories, contests, and fun, sign up for my newsletter. Love and Blarney will be available for you to read for FREE when you confirm your subscription. http://zarakeane.com/newsletter
•I also have an active reader group, The Ballybeg Belles, where I chat, share snippets of upcoming stories, and host members only giveaways. I hope to join you for a virtual pint very soon!
•You can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or via email at [email protected]. I love hearing from readers!
Coming 12 July 2016
HOT NEW action-adventure romance super bundle. Spice up your summer with 9 never-before-published action-adventure romance stories by USA Today and NYT bestselling authors. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend! Sexy Navy SEALs, treasure hunters, mercenaries, and more.
Zoe York — FALL QUIET
Anne Marsh — XANDER
Zara Keane — THE NAVY SEAL’S ACCIDENTAL WIFE
Leigh James — ESCORTING THE ASSASSIN
Kat Cantrell — RESCUING HER SEAL
Anna Hackett — UNEXPLORED
Lyn Brittan — THE PROTECTOR OF AMBRA
Sadie Haller — HER WILD DOM
Lydia Rowan — ULTIMATE ENGAGEMENT
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ALSO BY ZARA KEANE
BALLYBEG SERIES
Love and Shenanigans
Love and Blarney
Love and Leprechauns
Love and Mistletoe
Love and Shamrocks
BALLYBEG BAD BOYS
Her Treasure Hunter Ex
The Rock Star’s Secret Baby
The Navy SEAL’s Holiday Fling
Bodyguard by Day, Ex-Husband by Night
The Navy SEAL’s Accidental Wife (July 2016)
TRISKELION TEAM (DUBLIN MAFIA)
Final Target
Kiss Shot (Summer 2016)
ABOUT ZARA KEANE
USA Today bestselling author Zara Keane grew up in Dublin, Ireland, but spent her summers in a small town very similar to the fictitious Ballybeg.
She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing or wrestling small people, she drinks far too much coffee, and tries—with occasional success—to resist the siren call of Swiss chocolate.
@zara_keane
zarakeaneauthor
zarakeane.com
[email protected]
BODYGUARD BY DAY, EX-HUSBAND BY NIGHT
Copyright © 2016 by Sarah Tanner
Published 2016 by Beaverstone Press GmbH (LLC)
Cover design © Croco Designs
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-3-906245-36-2