Chapter 111

Andrew flashed her another one of those shit-eater grins of his. His gaze darted to Nolan. “But I didn’t leave you alone, now did I? That was the genius of the plan. Even you have to admit it was a nice touch.”

Nolan heard a commotion from the far end of the airport, and glancing in that direction he could see some of the airport security guards rushing in their direction.

Candace must have seen them, too, because she asked quickly, “Why, Andrew? You’re a smart guy. You could have done anything. Why be a thief?”

“It’s what I do, sis. It’s what I’m good at.”

And then the security guards were there. Nolan quickly turned Candace into his chest so she wouldn’t have to see them arrest her brother. He moved her away quickly. Whatever was going to happen, J.D. would handle it.

When they were far enough from the fray for privacy, she pulled herself from his arms and said, “I can’t believe you were going to let him go!” Her tone was accusatory.

“I can’t believe you ruined my big sacrifice.”

She frowned. “What were you thinking?”

He could only shrug. “I wasn’t thinking. When it came to it, I just couldn’t arrest your brother. I think he knew I wouldn’t be able to. In the end, he didn’t play just you. He played me, too.”

“He couldn’t possibly have known that,” she protested.

He gazed down at her and cupped her face in his hands. “Maybe he knew both of us better than we knew ourselves.”

Nolan draped an arm around her shoulder and guided her toward the airport exit. “Let’s get out of here before things get messy.”

“But Andrew,” she sputtered. “The diamonds.”

Something in Nolan's chest seemed to tighten at her indignation. “J.D.

can handle it.” Even as he said the words, more security guards were rushing through the terminal toward the gate. “Unless you want to spend the next twelve hours here while this all gets sorted out. Or would you rather go back to the house where you can tell me all about which of my qualities you love best?”

“Hey.” She playfully bumped his shoulder with hers as he guided her toward the door. “What about all of my qualities that you love?”

He stopped just short of the door and turned her to face him. “Fearlessness.” He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her soundly. “And generosity.” He kissed her again. “And bravery.” And again. “And your willingness to be pressured into a hasty marriage.”

She pulled back before he could kiss her yet another time. “A hasty marriage?”

“I'm not waiting anymore to have you in my life, Candace. I'm not letting you go again. I want to be with you.”

She looked back toward the gate where her brother was being detained. “Don’t you want to know what happens?”

“I already know what happens, baby. I get the girl.”

__________

If anyone had asked her the week before, she would have sworn it was impossible to be so sublimely happy. Especially given that her brother was currently being returned to Quinley in the custody of half a dozen of Nolan's best men. Upon landing he’d be handed over to the stone-faced FBI Agent Ryan, who would handle things from there.

That, she was trying not to think about. Which was easier than it should have been since she and Nolan had been making love pretty much nonstop since they’d returned to the house alone. She’d slept some. They’d eaten a light lunch from the food scavenged from the pantry and deep freeze. Then they’d made love again.

There were a thousand things she wanted to ask him about. But for now, she was content to luxuriate in Nolan's company. She lay on the bed on her belly, arms folded around a pillow, waiting for him to return from a trip to the kitchen for more sustenance. She’d almost drifted off when she heard his footsteps entering the room. As she felt him sit on the bed, she rolled over, pulling the sheet to her chest as she propped herself up on her elbows.

He held a fisted hand out a foot or so above her belly and slowly opened his fingers, so what he held in his palm trickled out. It took her a moment to realize that what had landed on her belly was a stream of diamonds. The stones sparkled in the mid-afternoon light slanting through the window.

“Nolan!” she squawked in protest. “What on earth?”

He laughed at her response. “Baby, I plan to shower you with diamonds.”

She plucked the stones from the sheet, worried she might miss one. “Well, I don't think you should do that literally.” She cupped the stones in her hand and extended it to him.

He folded her hand closed over the stones and met her gaze, his expression suddenly serious. “I need you to know how much I love you, Candace. You should know that I plan to and will always keep my promises to you. Every one of them.”

She read the truth of his words in his eyes. He was with her to stay. She’d never be alone again. She got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around him. “I’ll keep you to that.”

Later, as she once again lay in Nolan's arms, though the last thing she wanted to talk about was her brother—again—she still had to ask, “About what Nolan said back there…”

“About you not being alone?”

“Yes. Do you think he wanted us to be together?”

It didn’t matter. Not really. She had Nolan and that was what was important. But somehow this business with Andrew might be a little easier to bear if he’d never intended for her to be all alone. Nolan ran a hand over her hair, a motion filled with tenderness and love. She felt him nod.

“I’d like to think he did.” he said.

“Me, too.”

_________

Nick stared out the window of his home, not really seeing anything.

He fisted his fingers inside his pants pockets, his hands feeling a little empty without the ever-present glass tumblers that had been in them since the sidewalk confrontation with Michelle.