Epilogue
Gemma sat on the balcony outside Dallas’s apartment. A pretty wall made of stained cedar enclosed the sides, ensuring privacy from the neighbors. The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the city in a pinkish glow. The screen door opened and Dallas stepped outside.
“There you are,” she said, turning to look over her shoulder.
He bent and kissed her lips. “Sorry, I had to grab a few last-minute things. Everyone should be here soon.”
She crossed one knee over the other and accepted the drink Dallas passed her. “Did you remember the feta?”
He settled into the chair beside her. “’Course. It was on the list this time.”
She snickered. Domestic life had come fast and hard. Never in a million years had she pictured Dallas being the type of boyfriend who’d cook for his brothers, run last-minute errands, and remember her favorite bottle of wine.
But he was.
His dark, intimidating demeanor was still there but no longer visible to her. But that didn’t matter. At one point she’d been mega turned on by his callous exterior. Now, everything about him turned her on.
It’d been three months since their hellish days in Ecuador. Three months since she’d quit the CIA and three months since she’d almost been burned alive.
The process of getting out of Ecuador was a blur in her mind. Maybe it was shock, maybe her senses had been numbed by the over-the-counter meds she’d been popping for the burns on her feet, but she barely remembered getting on the private plane Cole had arranged.
The scar on her thigh from the bullet graze back in Cali and the blotchy scars on the tops of her feet and ankles were the only reminders that the nightmare had even happened. Calling her mom had been a nightmare on its own. Carla and Joe had been sick with worry—Gemma’s face had been all over the news in the States—but she’d quickly stifled their concerns by telling them her passport had been stolen.
Charlene hadn’t been pleased about her backing out of the agreement, but given that the CIA had basically left her for dead in the club, and what Silas had done to her, she had more than enough grounds to tell them where to go.
Life was drastically different now. No more keeping people at a distance. No more jetting off to random locations. No more hiding who she was. Since returning to Seattle, she’d gained more than just a best friend and lover. She’d also gained three girlfriends—Lexi, Tess, and Camryn—and three maybe-one-day brothers-in-law. Lexi was four months pregnant, and the joy of helping plan for a new baby was exciting for the whole family.
Dallas had insisted they both take a six-month hiatus from the pressure of careers and deciding what to do with their time, and it’d been the best decision she’d ever made. While she still had a lot of time to pick a life path, she was leaning toward online work.
Dallas’s career was still up in the air, and she wasn’t going to push the issue. As long as he didn’t continue with illegal operations, she was happy.
She took a sip of her chardonnay and the dry, almost-fruity taste filled her mouth. “Did Cole confirm?” She kept her tone even, but she already knew the answer.
Dallas took a sip of his wine as well then rested his glass on the armrest of his chair, the stem nestled in his fist. “He’s not coming.” He turned his attention to the view of the city. No remorse touched his voice.
“I’m not surprised. He misses most get-togethers you or your other brothers arrange.”
Dallas lifted a shoulder and looked at her. “It’s just the way he is, babe. Cole doesn’t get close.”
“But you’re his family.”
“Yes, and I’ll always be his family. He doesn’t do well in these cozy situations. He... he likes to be alone.”
“That’s sad.”
Dallas’s expression turned soft. “What would make it sad is if I expected more from him than he can give. Cole cares—he just doesn’t know how to show it. He even has a soft spot for you, Lexi, and Tess. But family hangouts aren’t his scene. He’s there when we need him and that’s what matters.”
“Like if someone’s dying, right?” She tried to bite back the sharp note to her voice, but it came out too quickly.
Dallas leaned forward and set his glass on the tabletop with a sharp clank. He caught her free hand in his, his gaze earnest. “Babe, please. Accept Cole for who he is. Don’t hold him to standards he isn’t capable of meeting.”
She nodded slowly. “You’re right. Sorry.”
He kissed her knuckles. “Don’t be. I love that you want us all together. Maybe one day he’ll come around. But it’ll be in his own time.”
She took another drink and lowered her glass. A smile tugged at her lips. “Do you think I went too far with the card game last time?”
Dallas let out a hoot of laughter. “Jesus, that was painful. Even Nash and Dare were out of their comfort zones. And yeah, I’m sure that’s why he hasn’t come over since.”
Gemma covered her face with her hand and laughed. “Lexi thought it was hilarious.”
“Lexi would. She enjoys ribbing Cole.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Let’s just have a good night and not worry about Cole.”
She stood and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. His stubble was rough and scratchy beneath her palm. She pulled away and stared into the hazel eyes that held the key to her soul. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather spend my time with than you.”
He caught her hips and pulled her down on his lap. Her pink sundress hiked up on her thighs at the movement, and Dallas’s hand immediately rested between her legs. “Let’s call the whole damn night off. Whose stupid idea was this anyway?”
She chuckled and pinched his chin. “Yours.” She pressed her lips to his, but he quickly deepened the kiss, sinking his tongue into the cavern of her mouth.
“Goddamn, I love you,” he said against her lips.
“Mmm. I love you too.”
His fingers found her panties.
She squirmed. “Dallas. Don’t you dare. They’ll be here—”
Ding dong!
Dallas let out a ferocious growl. Gemma leaped from his lap, unable to stop the bubbles of laughter from escaping her lips. She opened the screen door to enter the house, but Dallas’s hands were on her ass, snatching up the material and reaching under.
“Dallas,” she hissed, as she crossed the apartment and approached the front door.
He pressed his hand to the wood before she could open it. “We’re going to make this an early night. Got it?” His voice was low, barely above a whisper. Heat emanated from his stare and desire made his pupils dilate.
Her cheeks flamed with need. “You bet your ass.”
He kissed her lips, and lust pulsed inside her. Months ago, she would have balked at the idea of living with Dallas, sharing this kind of space and time. Now, she couldn’t get enough of him. Those days in Ecuador had fused them together.
Had created a bond that couldn’t be broken.
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