Epilogue
“Thank you again for hosting this, Maya.”
“My pleasure. I’m just happy we got to do this.
” Maya beamed, standing next to Jack and Andrea in his crowded house.
Andrea recognized a few of the neighbors, but it seemed like there might be people from others here.
All eager to meet Jack and hear how he convinced Andrea to move to Vegas with him.
Andrea didn’t miss the sad look in Maya’s eyes when she’d told her, but as soon as Maya learned she was moving to Vegas to be with Jack, she had become overjoyed.
It was a terrifying thought, moving again, but it was no longer because she was hiding from her sister’s assailants but to start her new life. She had called WITSEC and got her real name back. No more hiding. Just living.
“Me too,” Jack agreed, his arm wrapped tightly around Andrea’s waist, not wanting to go too far away. She had become his buffer to protect him from all the grabby older ladies.
“Though I hate that it’s more a going away party than housewarming.” Maya’s mouth turned down in a frown. “It’s a shame your company closed down.” Maya tsked sadly.
“Yeah, bankrupt, but an old employer back in Vegas took me on,” Jack lied smoothly. Andrea hadn’t heard what his excuse was until now but just nodded along in agreement. She supposed he needed some reason to put the house back on the market so quickly.
“And you’re taking Andrea with you?”
“I’m not taking. She agreed.”
“And what are you going to do there?”
“I haven’t fully decided yet. I want to get a feel for the place before settling on anything.”
“Good for you, dear. People tend to just rush into things and regret it. You’re still young, and there’s plenty of time to find the career for you.”
“I’m thinking something in charity.” She had enjoyed working for the charity here. Maybe she could convince Mrs. Donnelly, who was in charge of it, to give her a letter of recommendation.
“That’s wonderful, dear.” Maya beamed until something caught her eye. “Oh, Mrs. Castor is waving me down. Looks like a kitchen emergency. I better go see to it.”
“Okay.” Andrea watched Maya hobble into the kitchen.
“Are you sure you want to leave all this behind?” Jack asked, leaning over to whisper in her ear. Though it probably wasn’t necessary. Most of the people here were deaf.
“One hundred percent,” Andrea agreed quickly. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind.
Jack’s eyes heated, turning into two blue gems as he lowered his head to take her lips in a slow, sensual kiss.
“How much longer is this party?” Andrea asked, finally pulling back after a moment to fan herself.
“Too long, but maybe we can sneak away. I doubt anyone would hear your screams.”
Andrea’s breathing turned ragged at his suggestion. Have sex in a house full of old deaf people. “You’re terrible.”
“You love it.” He smiled and started pulling her down the hallway. Jack closed the bedroom door behind them, and suddenly the rest of the world faded away until it was just them.
“I love you.” It felt odd to say it at first, but now she said it several times a day.
Jack’s hands framed her face as he stared lovingly at her. “And I love you. I’m so glad Nick gave me the assignment to watch you.”
“Me too. Should we send him a fruit basket to say thanks?” It seemed cheesy, but she felt she owed the man some kind of thanks for bringing this man into her life.
Jack’s face pulled into a grimace. “He might send me to Timbuktu as punishment.”
“We can’t have that.” She knew she couldn’t keep him by her side all the time, but she wasn’t ready to share him with his teammates just yet.
“No, too cold, and I’d miss you too much. Besides, he got the drive, the phone, and the prisoners. He doesn’t need any other thanks.”
Alright, so no thank you card for making her the happiest woman alive. “And you got the girl.”
Jack grinned as his hands lowered to her shirt-covered breasts. She was glad she didn’t have to wear the low-cut shirts anymore. At least, she didn’t in public. The only man she wanted ogling her breasts was Jack. “That I did. I’d say I got the better end of the deal.”
“You did indeed.”