*
Danny woke to the smell of Chloe’s hair and he hated his mind for playing tricks on him. It took several minutes more before he realized it wasn’t a trick. Chloe was in bed with him, spooned up next to him, her back to his chest.
How she’d gotten here should have been his first question, but he was so damned relieved he didn’t care.
When John, Bulletproof, had hauled him back to the ranch house, Amelia had applied first aid to a few scrapes, and they’d dropped him into the guest room to sleep until he had his energy back. He’d been too weak to ask for food and too afraid to ask for an update on Chloe.
He breathed her in, a new appetite stirring, but not knowing anything about her arrival, he didn’t want to wake her.
Her hips wriggled slightly against his erection and she sighed. “Is all of you this awake?” she asked.
“Pretty much.” He nuzzled her ear. “When did you arrive?”
“Yesterday.” She turned over, facing him, her brown eyes full of affection, concern and the first spark of temper. “First, I love you.”
His heart stuttered in his chest.
“Second, you’re a jerk for that dying-man call.”
She pressed a finger to his lips when he tried to defend himself.
“Third, we found the lab. John told me what you did.”
“Did they get Messenger?” he wondered.
“No,” she murmured. “They dealt him a hard blow, but he escaped with three of his men. The others are in FBI custody.”
“Thanks to you.”
“My connections at least,” she said.
He bumped her nose, stole a quick kiss. She smelled like sunshine on a summer day and it felt almost too wonderful to believe she was here, safe with him. “Is there a four?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Good.” He smoothed her hair behind her ear. “The only point that really matters is love. I called because I didn’t want you to ever doubt what you mean to me.”
“You understand that works both ways?”
“I do now.” He kissed her, long and deep, until they were both breathless. “Be my forever, Chloe. I can’t offer you anything like a normal life. I can only offer me, as is, until UI is out of commission. Is that enough?”
Tears glistened in her eyes as she traced his lips with her fingertip. “Turns out you, Danny Connolly, are exactly what I want. Forever.”
He’d never heard sweeter words.
Epilogue
Amelia turned a slow circle in the room that would soon be the nursery. The light was perfect, pouring in through the new windows. With the soft sage on the walls and the furniture assembled this room would be everything she’d never known she wanted for her baby.
“What’s that look for?” John asked as he draped a folding table with a protective cloth.
She smiled at him. Her hero and husband, soon to be father. “It’s for you,” she said as emotions swamped her. “Without you, I’d never have any of the things I didn’t know I couldn’t live without.”
He crossed to her, the sunlight through the window casting him in a glow that matched her warm mood. He tipped up her face for his kiss and she leaned in as far as her growing belly allowed, laughing a little when the baby shifted between them.
“Considering why and how we met,” John said, “I still call it a miracle you stuck around.”
“You’re stuck with me for life,” she said, sliding an arm around his lean waist. “Deal with it.”
“I will.” He said it like a promise and sealed the vow with a kiss on her head. “Are you sure you want to help with the painting?”
“Yes.” She bounced a little on her toes. “Give me a roller and stand back.” He could do it twice as fast without her and the belly in the way, but he understood her need to dig in and create a happy place for their baby.
She got tired sooner than she wanted to admit and scooted back to watch John work. “It’s home,” she said quietly as he finished the wall she’d started. “Tell me you feel it too.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m fine.”
He carefully set aside the roller and sat down next to her. “You’re perfect,” he said, brushing his nose to hers. “Wherever we are together, the three of us, that’s home.” He stroked a warm palm over the curve of her belly.
“It wasn’t easy letting Scott and Ben do the heavy lifting, was it?”
“No,” he admitted. He stretched out on the floor, lacing his fingers behind his head. “But Ben reminded me my job is protecting this place, keeping it safe for you, the baby, him, and any others we can get out.”
“Years ago you were only a story to me,” she said, her mind going back to those first mysterious days in Boston. She trailed her hand over his chest. Under his T-shirt were countless scars, seen and unseen. “I’m sorry.”
He trapped her hand under his, the steady heart beat pulsing under her hand, the heat flowing from him into her. She didn’t realize she’d started to cry until his propped himself up and brushed the tear from her cheek.
“You made me more than I knew I could be,” he said softly, his lips feathering across her ear. “Amelia, you hauled me back to the land of the living. I never would’ve found my way on my own.”
She didn’t believe it. John could do whatever he set his mind to. Enhanced or not, caught up in Messenger’s missions and ultimatums, he’d never lost his inherent humanity. He’d done plenty of things that might be considered awful when taken out of context. She knew he’d only done what was necessary to survive and she was thankful.
“I can’t imagine loving anyone as much as I love you,” she mused.
“Same goes, sweetheart.”
“We’re on the right track and we have even more excellent help now that Chloe is on board full time.” She couldn’t wait to see what else the former FBI agent found once she started turning over rocks on the government side of the equation. “Someday we’ll know who Messenger is and then we can put UI in our past forever.”
“From your lips…” John stole another kiss, then popped to his feet and helped her up as well. “Let’s go find a snack and watch the sunset.”
He knew her too well, she thought, lacing her fingers through his. “You’re my hero.”
“Same goes, my love. Same goes.”
* * *
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If you’ve enjoyed this story, be sure to pick up Montana SEAL by Elle James, the story of Hank Patterson’s return to Eagle Rock and the exciting story that got me hooked on the Brotherhood Protectors series!
Curious about John and Amelia and how they teamed up against UI and Messenger? You can read their thrilling adventure in Bulletproof.
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About Regan Black
Regan Black, a USA Today and internationally bestselling author, writes award-winning, action-packed romances featuring kick-butt heroines and the sexy heroes who fall in love with them. Raised in the Midwest and California, she and her family, along with their adopted greyhound and two arrogant cats now reside in the South Carolina Low country where the rich blend of legend, romance, and history fuels her imagination.
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Also by Regan Black
Unknown Identities Series
Bulletproof
Double Vision
Sandman
Death-Trap Date
Unknown Identities - Brotherhood Protectors crossover novellas:
Moving Target
al
Off The Radar
Escape Club Heroes Series
Escape Club, prequel
Safe In His Sight
A Stranger She Can Trust
Escape Club: Justice, novella
Escape Club: Sabotage, novella
Protecting Her Secret Son
Braving The Heat (July 2018)
More Romantic Suspense
Killer Colton Christmas
Colton P.I. Protector
Runaway Secret
Romantic Suspense written with Debra Webb
Against The Wall
Too Far Gone
Nothing to Lose
The Hunk Next Door
Heart of a Hero
To Honor and To Protect
Her Undercover Defender
Gunning For The Groom
Heavy-Artillery Husband
Investigating Christmas
Marriage Confidential
Reluctant Hero
Knight Traveler Series, paranormal romance
Heart of Time, prequel
Timeless Vision
An Heirloom Amber, novella
Timeless Changes
The Memory Key, novella
Timeless Light
Matchmaker Series, paranormal romance
The Matchmaker’s Mark
The Matchmaker’s Curse
The Bodyguard’s Vow
Original Brotherhood Protectors Series
By Elle james
Brotherhood Protector Series
Montana SEAL (#1)
Bride Protector SEAL (#2)
Montana D-Force (#3)
Cowboy D-Force (#4)
Montana Ranger (#5)
Montana Dog Soldier (#6)
Montana SEAL Daddy (#7)
Montana Ranger’s Wedding Vow (#8)
Montana SEAL Undercover Daddy (#9)
Montana SEAL Friendly Fire (#10)
Montana SEAL’s Bride (#11) TBD
Montana Rescue
Hot SEAL, Salty Dog
About Elle James
ELLE JAMES also writing as MYLA JACKSON is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of books including cowboys, intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edges of their seats. With over eighty works in a variety of sub-genres and lengths she has published with Harlequin, Samhain, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington, Cleis Press, and Avon. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, snow skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories. Learn more about Elle James at www.ellejames.com
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