Chapter 35
TWO WEEKS LATER
The late afternoon sun painted the LSI Montana compound in shades of gold and amber, the familiar sight of home more beautiful than any luxury spa could ever hope to achieve.
Sadie stood on the deck of Logan and Vivian’s house, watching as her chosen family gathered for what Vivian had dubbed Sadie’s “clean bill of health celebration.” In truth, it was really an excuse to eat too much barbecue and remind themselves why they’d all chosen this life together.
The medical tests had finally confirmed what she’d known in her heart for days.
Dr. Selinski’s experimental compounds had been completely purged from her system, leaving no lasting damage beyond memories that would fade with time.
The FBI doctor who’d kept up with her through her doctor in Montana had marveled at her recovery, attributing it to excellent physical conditioning.
He’d also commented positively on her superior emotional support system.
Superior emotional support system. She smiled at the clinical phrase that could never adequately describe the love and loyalty of the people now scattered across Logan’s property.
“Sadie!” Evie’s voice rang out across the deck as Sisco and Lenore’s daughter raced toward her with the boundless energy of a six-year-old who’d been declared cancer-free and was determined to make up for lost time. “Mama said you were really sick, but you look fine to me!”
Sadie knelt to catch the little girl in a fierce hug, breathing in the scent of sunshine and innocence that made everything else seem manageable. “I’m all better now, sweetheart. The doctors said I’m as healthy as a horse.”
“Horses are really healthy,” Evie agreed solemnly, then brightened with sudden inspiration. “Daddy said you had to sit in mud like a pig! Did you oink?”
The question sent laughter rippling through the adults within earshot, and Sadie felt her cheeks warm with amusement. “I didn’t oink, but I definitely felt ridiculous. Mud is for mud pies and pigpens.”
“I like mud,” Evie declared with the confidence of someone who’d never met a mess she didn’t want to explore. “We could make mud pies together sometime!”
Sadie ruffled the little girl’s hair as she stood. “Maybe we could make regular pies instead? The kind you actually eat?”
From across the deck, Logan’s deep laugh carried over the conversations as he maneuvered carefully with his son balanced against his shoulder.
The sight of their formidable leader transformed into a doting father never failed to amuse her and the others, though none of them were brave enough to comment on how easily the infant could reduce him to nonsensical cooing.
“Speaking of mud,” Cory called out from his position at the grill, his voice carrying the kind of mischief that usually preceded embarrassing stories. “Did Sadie ever tell you all about the volcanic ash treatment? Because apparently that’s a thing rich people pay thousands of dollars for.”
“Don’t,” Sadie warned, but her smile took any real threat out of the word. “I refuse to relive that particular humiliation for your entertainment.”
“But it’s such good entertainment,” Frazier added, his usually serious demeanor softened by his smile. “Timothy missed all the good stories while he was getting his appendix removed.”
Timothy, fully recovered from his emergency surgery, raised his own beer in mock salute. “I feel like I missed the adventure of a lifetime. Next time someone needs to go undercover at a luxury spa, I’m volunteering.”
“Next time,” Todd said, his arm sliding around Sadie’s waist with the casual possessiveness that still sent butterflies dancing through her stomach, “we’re going somewhere with normal room service and hot tubs that are only filled with water.”
The easy moment of being surrounded by friends who’d become family, held securely against the side of the man she loved, listening to gentle teasing that spoke to shared experiences and mutual affection, felt like the answer to prayers she’d never quite known how to voice.
Mary wheeled herself closer to their group, her expression soft. “I think what we all learned from this experience is that Sadie is one serious badass, not only behind a computer but also in the field.”
“Hear, hear!” a chorus called from around the deck, punctuated by the clinking of beer bottles and the laughter that made even the most traumatic experiences bearable when shared with the right people.
As the evening wound down, Sadie looked around.
Casper maintained his usual quiet observation post near the railing.
Dalton, Cory, and Timothy argued good-naturedly about grilling techniques.
Landon and Noel shared a soft conversation with Logan and Vivian, and Sadie noticed Noel’s hand resting on her stomach.
She wondered if a new baby announcement might happen soon.
Mia and Lenore were chatting with Justice, while Devlin, Sisco, and Tyler were nearby.
The others were sitting around a firepit, reminiscing about past missions.
She smiled at the easy camaraderie and unconditional acceptance that made LSIMT more than just a workplace, and her heart squeezed with gratitude. Then she felt Todd’s hand tighten slightly on her hip.
“Ready to get out of here?” he asked quietly, his voice carrying undertones that made her pulse quicken with anticipation.
The thought of time alone with Todd, of finally exploring what they’d both been too frightened to reach for, sent heat spiraling through her chest. He’d refused to do more than kiss until she had been medically cleared.
“Where did you have in mind?” she asked, smiling at the gleam in his eyes that suggested he’d already made plans.
His slow and devastating smile carried promises that made her remember exactly why one night with him had been impossible to forget. “I thought we might revisit a certain hotel in town. See if the structural integrity of their beds has improved since we last visited.”
Heat flooded her cheeks as memories of their first night together came rushing back.
The desperate hunger, the perfect compatibility, and the way he’d made her feel beautiful and desired and worthy of tenderness.
The prospect of experiencing that connection again made her breath catch with anticipation.
“That sounds like an excellent plan,” she managed, her voice slightly husky with desire that she no longer had to hide.
They made their excuses to the group with the kind of transparent explanations that fooled no one and amused everyone. Vivian’s knowing smile and Logan’s approving nod suggested their relationship had been anticipated and welcomed by the people whose opinions mattered most.
The drive to town passed in comfortable silence, punctuated by stolen glances and the electric tension that had been building between them for a long time.
When Todd pulled into the parking lot of the same hotel where their story had begun, Sadie felt like she was coming full circle by returning to the place where she’d first discovered what it felt like to be completely seen and accepted by another person.
The hotel room was exactly as she remembered, with its generic furniture, bland decor, and a bed that had once seemed like the center of the universe when shared with the right person.
But as Todd closed the door behind them and turned to face her with eyes dark with desire and suppressed longing, the surroundings transformed into something special.
“I’ve thought about this moment every day since that morning when I was stupid enough to call you a mistake,” he said, his voice rough with emotion as he crossed the small space between them. “Thought about how it would feel to hold you again, to touch you without pretending it meant nothing.”
Sadie’s response was to reach for him, her hands fisting in his shirt as she pulled him down for a kiss that tasted of homecoming and new beginnings.
The familiar heat exploded between them, but now it was tempered by deeper emotions acknowledged, trust rebuilt, and future possibilities that stretched endlessly before them.
The kiss started with fire and quickly morphed into fireworks, both taking and giving.
Noses bumped as their heads moved to find the perfect melding of lips.
When they finally broke apart, breathing hard, his forehead rested against hers with the tenderness she remembered from their first night together.
“I love you, Sadie Hargrove. I’ve loved you since that first night, and I’ll love you for the rest of my life if you’ll let me. ”
“I love you, too,” she whispered, the words carrying the weight of everything she’d been too frightened to acknowledge. “I’ve been yours since that first night, even when we were both too scared to admit it.”
His hands went to his shirt, and he pulled it over his head in a sweeping movement before tossing it to the chair next to the bed. She licked her lips and grinned.
He chuckled as his fingers reached for the hem of her shirt.
By the time they were naked and made it to the bed, their clothes were on the chair, tangled together.
He climbed over her, holding his weight with his forearms, his gaze never leaving hers.
His hands cupped her face. “You are beautiful. Crazy brave. Smarter than anyone I know. I am so fucking lucky.”
A tear slid from her eyes, dripping down to the pillow.
Swallowing deeply, she said, “I came to Montana to discover who I was after my mom died. Finding you was a bonus I never expected. Being with you now makes me feel like I know I’m where I’m supposed to be and with the person I’m supposed to be with. ”