Page 22 of Rescuing Sadie

“And I love them. But I hate this. Hate.”

“Think of it this way,” Chase said. “If Jonathan hadn’t made a move, we might not’ve known he was here already. We might’ve gotten even more complacent and he might’ve had a chance to snatch you right out from under my nose. So Sean and Ian coming down here means that this will end sooner rather than later. I have no doubt they’ll be a huge help in capturing that asshole.”

“Yeah.”

“They will.”

“I know.”

“Why don’t you sound happy about that?” Chase asked.

Sadie bit her lip as she looked into Chase’s brown eyes. He’d been hurt because of her. Because of what she’d done. Oh, she knew Jonathan had been the one to pull the trigger today, but he was there because of her actions. He was determined to punish her for tricking him when they were in that bedroom at Bexar.

If Jonathan got his hands on her again, she knew he’d kill her.

Her feelings for Chase were complicated, but no matter how many times they butted heads, she respected him…liked him. More than liked him. Wanted him.

Taking a deep breath and trying to be brave, she said, “Because once Jonathan is captured, I’ll have to go back to Dallas. Back to my life.”

Chase slowly moved his hand and speared his fingers into her hair until he was palming her head. He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “If you think I’m going to let you go home and not see you again, you’re wrong.”

Sadie blinked. She knew she was leaning into his hand but couldn’t stop herself. “Really?”

“Really. You heard me when I told you that you’re mine, didn’t you?”

Her hopes rose and she nodded. “I thought maybe you were just caught up in the moment or something.” Then she held her breath as Chase leaned toward her. She kept her eyes on his, not willing to close them and miss a second of her first kiss with the man she was falling in love with.

She licked her lips in anticipation of his kiss…

But before their lips met, the door opened. “Is she awake yet— Oh…sorry,” Rayne said, not sounding sorry at all. “We’re downstairs waiting on you guys. Annie’s about to burst with curiosity. She wants to examine your wound, Chase. Just a friendly warning. And Sadie, us ladies want to know more about the hot guys who work for McKay-Taggart.”

“Jeez, sis, you’re practically married,” Chase said with a groan.

“But I’m not dead. I’m allowed to look at good-looking men! Now come on. Quit sucking face and come downstairs and join the rest of us.” And with that, Rayne shut the door.

Sadie bit her lip and looked up at Chase. “Guess we better go before she sics Annie on us.”

Chase ran his thumb over her glistening lips as he said, “We’re staying over here tonight. Fletch and Emily already went over to the apartment and got our stuff. We’ll eat, then we’ll talk about Jonathan and the school. Then we’ll finish what we didn’t get to start a second ago.”

Sadie knew she was blushing but nodded anyway. She didn’t want to tell him about Jonathan, but she needed to before she got in over her head. Which was a joke, because she already felt in over her head with Chase. But she needed to see his reaction to what she’d done, and he needed to know why Jonathan was so determined to get to her. If Chase still wanted to be with her after he knew everything, it would be that much better.

“That work for you?” Chase asked. She’d obviously taken too long to answer.

“Yeah, Chase. That works for me.”

“I’ll say it now and I’ll say it again later if you need to hear it. In fact, I’ll keep saying it until you believe me. Whatever happened doesn’t make a damn bit of difference to me. It kept you alive and it kept you safe. So you don’t need to be concerned about how I’m going to react when you tell me whatever horrible thing you think you’ve done. I can guarantee you it’s not going to change the way I feel about you. It’s not going to make me want you less.”

Sadie stared at him.

“That’s right, Sparky. I want you. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you. I shouldn’t have waited in the first place, but I figured we’d have time. Which was stupid. I know better than anyone how fleeting life can be. I watched an entire squad of good men, some of the best I’ve known, die in an instant. I don’t ever want to have any regrets, and having something happen to you before I can make you mine would definitely make me regret not speaking up. I’m just hoping you’ll give me a chance to show you that I can be the man for you.”

Sadie swallowed and opened her mouth to spill her guts. To tell him she’d wanted him the first time she saw him as well. That she would give up all her worldly possessions if he gave her the chance to show him that she could be the woman for him.

But the door to the room opened before she could say anything and little Annie entered.

“Come on,” she whined. “We can’t start eating without you guys and I’m starrrrrving! I’m gonna die if I don’t get a hotdog in the next thirty seconds!”

Chase kept his hand on Sadie’s face for a beat before leaning forward and kissing her forehead gently. Then he stood and held out his hand, his good one, for Sadie. She slid off the mattress and timidly placed her hand in his. After what he’d said, she felt shy for some reason.