Page 107 of Honor ’N’ Duty

“Oh God.” Her heart ached from thinking about all the horrible outcomes Kade might be facing. None of them good. It had already been decided that no charges would be filed against her, but Kade’s situation was significantly more dire. He was an agent of the U.S. government and, as such, would be held to a much higher standard. “How can you be so sure? Deck said that when the Special Agent-in-Charge shows up on site, it either meant something very good happened, or something very bad.”

“What they should do,” Jamie said, “is give him a medal. He might have broken a few rules… Well, okay. A lot of rules. But he not only got evidence to charge Colon with more drug money laundering charges, but the guy confessed to murder.”

Right. Murder. Josh’s murder.

“What if they don’t give him a medal?” Along with desperation, now guilt had begun to eat away at her. “He stole that ledger, then put his life in jeopardy for me and Rosa. You all did.”

She fingered the strap of her bag, realizing just how much Kade and his friends had put on the line for her. Their careers and their very lives. “I said some horrible things to him.” Things she could never take back and wished that she could.

“I know. I was there.”

She took a deep, unsteady breath, desperately trying not to lose control of her emotions. “I accused him of putting his job—honor and duty—before family. Then he went above and beyond to prove that for him, family does come first and always will.”

Even then, she’d loved him. She didn’t know when the full realization hit her, but there it was. She was crazy in love with Kade. But was it too late?

Jamie touched her shoulder, drawing her back to reality. “You and Rosa can stay at the shack for as long as you need to.”

“Thanks, but we need to go home and start cleaning up the mess.” Her side of the duplex was still in chaos.

“Maybe you and Rosa will be moving out soon.” The way Jamie said it was more of a question.

“What do you mean?”

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll be moving somewhere else.” He hitched his head toward the stairs. “Talk to him. Tell him how you feel. Things might not be as dire as you think they are.”

Kade and his friends now stood on the top step, deep in conversation. The gray suit he wore made his shoulders seem even broader. A crisp white dress shirt contrasted with his dark-blue tie and tanned face.

Slowly, he turned, and a huge lump formed in her throat. The love she could have had with him might very well now be forever beyond her reach.

“It’s time.” Jamie got out of the SUV and came around to her side just as she opened the door and stepped onto the curb.

Instead of her usual brightly colored sundresses, she’d managed a quick shopping expedition at one of the local malls in Manasquan. Kade’s eyes lingered on her face before lowering to take in her conservative green sheath.

Emotionally, his clean-shaven face was a blank mask, revealing nothing, though the intensity of his stare made her body heat as if she were standing in the middle of the Sahara Desert. She could have imagined it, but for a moment she could swear there was unabashed longing in his eyes. Just as quickly, it was gone.

The sweet memories they’d made that night on the beach were ones she would cherish until the day she died. Getting back to her life without him would be difficult, but she could do it. Getting her veterinary degree would keep her busy. But there would never be another man for her like Kade. He was her true love, the kind books were written about.

If only she hadn’t thrown that once-in-a-lifetime love away.

…

Beautiful.

Maybe one day his heart would stop pounding whenever he so much as looked at Laia Velez. Today wasn’t the day.

The way that emerald-green dress hugged her waist and hips reminded him of just how stunning she was. Inside and out. And of her naked body beneath him as they’d made love under the stars.

A cell phone blared, tearing him out of his pathetic reverie.

“Decker.” Deck’s brows lowered as he listened to whatever the caller was saying.

The rest of Kade’s friends stood nearby, scrolling through emails and text messages.

Kade took the stairs and met Laia and Jamie on the curb. A gust caught her hair, whipping it in front of her face. He’d been about to lift his hand to tuck it behind her ear but stopped. He’d never touch her again. Whatever they had was over before it had even truly begun.

“Laia.”

“Kade.”