Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2) by Karen Renee (summer reads .TXT) 📕

“What the hell for?”

“A way to say thank you for taking out Craddick.”

He guffawed. “Now that’s a first. Uh, can I bring a woman?”

I snorted. “That was random, but, sure. Why the hell not?”

“What’s for dinner?”

Now he sounded like the Clint I was used to. “Well, we haven’t—”

“Beef Wellington,” Cassie called out loudly.

I glared at her. “Woman, we don’t—”

“I’ll get the ingredients... it’s the least I can do since he saved my life, Gabe.”

She might have said more, but Clint’s words pulled my attention from her.

“Oh yeah. Definitely better be Beef Wellington. That’s right up my girl Raegan’s alley. Time?”

I glared at Cassie while calculating how long Beef Wellington might take. “Let’s say seven.”

“We’ll be there, man. Lookin’ forward to it, but just to say, you didn’t need to do this.”

“Killing someone isn’t easy, Clint, so it’s the least we can do. We’ll see you soon. And we’re at Cassie’s.”

“Later.”

I put my cell on the counter and turned to Cassie. “Guess we better hit the store, woman. Not so sure a beef tenderloin will be easy to come by in October.”

She gave me a stern look. “I’m a ‘trust fund girl,’ remember, Gabe? I can afford to pay for it even if it isn’t on sale.”

“Okay, moneybags. Let’s hit it because Clint’s bringing a woman with him.”

“Really?” she asked, her eyes alight.

“Yes, but don’t get excited. Something in his voice sounded off.”

She smiled, but it held a hint of trepidation. “Should we invite Brock and Cecilia?”

“We could, but I’d rather not. Besides, he’s getting a ton of work these days, and he wants to spend all his time with Cecilia.”

EpilogueAre You Crazy?

Cassie

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER...

With a deep breath, I relaxed.

Gazing down, the curious blue eyes of a newborn held me rapt. Gently, I stroked the soft smooth cheek of baby Gabriella Brocklyn Sullivan. Maybe it was my imagination, but I could swear she leaned into my touch and her little lips tipped up.

“Gotta say, I love her first name,” Gabe said as he propped a hip on the arm of the chair in which I sat.

I looked up at him, but he had his eyes on Rainey, who was laying on a couch. The look on Gabe’s face told me he had something inappropriate to say next, but my eyes darted back to the bundle in my arms. Kaylee had told me not to hold the baby because I’d end up pregnant next, but she was unduly superstitious like that. After being shot almost a year ago, I got on the pill and took it religiously, so I knew just holding a baby would not make me pregnant. Though, getting baby fever was a definite risk.

Little Gabby’s body heat was impressive, considering she weighed in at eight pounds and two ounces. I smiled at her, and she closed her eyes.

“Did you submit the forms yet?” Gabe asked, then he added, “I don’t think anyone’s gonna go easy on that middle name you selected. ‘Brocklyn,’ really? How about Brook?”

“Gabe, do not antagonize your sister-in-law or your brother,” I chided.

Rainey smiled at me. “Better be careful, Cassie. You’ll want one of your own, you keep looking at her like that.”

I smiled up at her. “No. All good things in good time. Besides, I like the idea of babysitting her for you much better. Then we can give her back to you before she encroaches on our sleep too much.”

Gabe looked down at me and chuckled. “You are a total nerd, but I love it.”

“Tell me we never do shit like that,” Vamp said to Rainey.

“Shut up, it’s cute. And your brother deserves that. Actually, no. Cassie deserves that, for sure.”

“More like they deserve each other,” he muttered.

I looked up at Vamp when he said that. “Listen, mister. I was at your wedding. You’re just like your brother here, which is really to say, you’re all just like your father. And that is a damn good thing. Or I don’t think Rainey, me, or Cecilia would love you guys like we do.”

“Did I hear you say my sons are just like me?” Warren asked, as he entered the living room.

I smiled up at him. “I did. And I’m glad they are.”

Gabe leaned toward me to whisper in my ear. “My dad loves you, Cassie, no need to kiss up.”

Before I could turn to him, a flash went off and I realized Warren had taken our picture. Shaking my head, I asked, “What did you do that for?”

Warren smiled devilishly at me. “To remind you both what you look like holding a bundle of joy. You need to get started on that for your father, Cassie. He deserves the happiness only a grandchild brings.”

I chuckled and the jostling of my body startled Gabriella. When she started to fuss, Warren held his hands out for her.

“Let me hold my granddaughter. Haven’t seen  her angel eyes in—”

“An hour,” Vamp muttered.

Warren looked to him. “An hour too long, my son.”

WE LEFT RAINEY AND Vamp’s beach bungalow at four in the afternoon. As long as there were no accidents along the way, we would get back to Gabe’s place at seven in the evening. I had given up my lease shortly after the new year because Brock and Cecilia had moved into their own apartment. To my slight surprise, Gabe and I lived together really well.

I looked up when Gabe passed the turn off for J. Turner Butler, the thoroughfare which would get us to the Interstate. Before I could question him, he grabbed my hand and moved it to his thigh.

“Um, what are we doing Gabe?”

His lips tipped up. “Taking the long way home.”

I looked to his profile. “But, why?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Why not?”

“Well,” I started.

“No, Cassie. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”

I took in a deep breath to argue, but he squeezed my hand. “Please, baby.”

When he put it like that, I settled back in my seat and watched as A1A went from four-lanes down