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Could he beg her to forget who she was, all she could do with her choices, cradle her close and help her heal, have hundreds of more fun experiences, struggle and laugh and lift together? No. She was meant for much more than this simple cowboy and backwoods valley. He knew it. If only she hadn’t said the words and broken him.
She peered at him. “Thank you.”
He rubbed at his jaw, clinging to his hat with his left hand.
Then she launched herself at him. Cade was stunned but easily caught her and held her close. He savored each moment, knowing it was their last.
Pulling away, her eyes looked suspiciously bright. “Thank you, cowboy. You have given me my freedom and life back.”
That was good. She deserved to be free, happy, to live her life. He didn’t think it was fair that she called him cowboy. She’d never be his sweetheart, and he had to figure out how to deal with that.
“You’re welcome,” was all he managed.
She paused, as if waiting for him to do or say more. He had nothing.
Finally, she gave him a regretful smile, turned, and walked back to Clint and Quaid. He nodded to the men and knew he couldn’t watch her drive away. He lifted a hand to the group. Jacey waved back. Clint and Quaid tilted their chins to him. Then he rushed into his front door and through his great room area. There were fresh baked goods on the counter, and he could only imagine how stocked his fridge was. Millie must have come in here and cleaned and straightened up whatever damage Catherine’s men had done as they searched for Jacey.
Cade stormed up to his master suite and noticed immediately her suitcase was gone, all the girly stuff disappeared. He slammed the bathroom door behind him and hurried to strip his clothes off, drop them in the hamper, and climb in the shower.
Jacey was gone. Jacqueline Oliver now occupied her beautiful face and body. His sweetheart, his Jacey, was no more.
Resting his head on the shower wall, he let the tears come.
Gone. She was gone.
He wanted Jacey and he needed her and he thought he might even love her. She didn’t choose him, want him, or need him. No way would she ever come back.
Finally climbing out of the shower, he dressed in a comfortable T-shirt and joggers. He had to try to sleep and shut his mind down for a few minutes. His future loomed like a dark hole full of pain and loneliness. This hurt a million times worse than Sheryl dumping him, and losing Jacey had nothing to do with injured pride.
Opening the bathroom door, he heard voices floating through the master from downstairs. Who was down there? Friend or foe? The FBI had confiscated his weapons as evidence. He walked quietly into his closet, grabbed a 1911, and checked that it was loaded. He didn’t even have the phone Clint had given them. Did Jacey still have it? He should’ve programmed his number into it for her.
He crept out of his room and peered over the banister down to the living area, gripping the 1911. Jacey sat curled up on his couch, focused on the television. He heard Jake say to Melanie, “So I can kiss you anytime I want to.”
His stomach pitched happily. Was it possible? Had she stayed?
He shoved the gun into his waistband and pounded down the stairs.
Jacey looked up at him, sweet and beautiful and a little spicy. She pushed pause on the show, stood, and smiled at him. She appeared confident, but she was shaking like an Aspen leaf in the fall.
“You … stayed?” he asked. For him?
She swallowed and said, “I choose you, Cade Miller. I only said otherwise to save your life.”
He could only stare at her. He’d hoped that was the case, but hadn’t dared let himself go there and be in even more pain. Was his Jacey still his?
“Quaid told me it was time I started choosing what I wanted. And I know exactly what I want.”
His fingers tingled. Did this mean what he was dreaming about? Jacey was choosing him? Could it be possible?
“Please forgive and forget what I said in the loft.”
“Gladly.”
She smiled but was still shaking. “I choose you, Cade.”
“Jacey, you don’t know what that means to me.”
“I do, but my stomach is churning and I am terrified that you aren’t going to choose me back.” She blinked quickly, her mouth clamped closed but her breath rushing too fast through her nose. She was terrified, standing here bravely and laying herself wide open. He’d been so consumed with her not choosing him, he hadn’t realized that his high-class, self-assured, wealthy and famous Jacey was vulnerable in this moment, and just as scared as he was.
