Cara rode to the Business Jet Center in Oakland with Lex and Rizzo. Loki whined from his cat carrier on the floor. Traffic was lighter than she’d expected on the Bay Bridge. “It won’t be long, Your Highness.”
The words made her cat cry louder, but that gave her something else to focus on other than her broken heart and bare ring finger. She’d packed her things from the apartment quickly, leaving only Loki’s scratching post and litter box. Those, along with cat food, she could purchase in Portland after Laurel Matthews, Brett’s wife, picked up Cara at the airport.
Thanks to pawning the engagement ring, she had a nice nest egg. She patted her purse, full of cash and a deposit slip from her checking account where she’d put the rest of the money. Now, she could start over. Well, once she figured out how and where to do that.
Lex parked. He carried her luggage.
Rizzo held onto the cat carrier. “Are you sure you want to leave town?”
“I have nowhere else to go.” Admitting that brought a rush of hurt. “But a customer of mine is an investment advisor and author who lives in Portland. His best friend, Henry, has a guest house where Loki and I can stay while I search for a job. One of Brett’s clients happens to be on his way home to Portland in his family’s company jet so I’m flying with him.”
Lex laughed. “Sounds like some good friends to have.”
Cara straightened, because she might be down to only a few people she could call friends, but they were going out of their way to help her and Loki. “Yes.”
Rizzo exhaled loudly. “If you need us…”
“There won’t be more threats.” Caitlin’s fans would be too busy pouring over wedding photos and videos. “Besides, no one will know where I am.”
“Still. Call. Anytime.” Rizzo handed her a business card. “Someone monitors that number twenty-four hours a day. They’ll put you through to one of us.”
“Thanks.” She tucked the card into her purse. “I hope I never find myself in this situation, but if I do, I know the team to call.”
Both men beamed, their steps taking on more of a swagger.
That brought a much-needed smile to her face.
A quick stop at an information desk, and they were out on the tarmac heading toward a shiny jet with Guyer Gear painted on the side. The sounds of planes taking off filled the air. Soon, that would be her.
She tried not to think about leaving San Francisco. Putting the memories of the past two weeks, and the last three years, behind her was for the best. Someday she might be able to look back without being torn apart, but she doubted that would be anytime soon.
A man in his mid-to-late twenties came down the jet’s short staircase. He seemed to be favoring his right leg. “Cara, right?”
She nodded.
“I’m Ryland Guyer.”
His brown hair fell to his shoulders in a casual style, and his eyes were a clear blue. He had the face of a model and the body of an athlete. Not that anyone could compare to Brody.
Cara blew out a breath before shaking his hand. “Thanks for letting me hitch a ride.”
“The more, the merrier.” Ryland laughed. “Always happy to help out a friend of Laurel and Brett’s.”
“Well, it’s much appreciated.”
He looked at Lex and Rizzo. “Are you guys coming with us?”
Lex shifted his weight between his feet. “No, we’re just seeing Cara off.”
Funny, but Lex sounded almost nervous. A way she’d never seen him act before. Not even at the hospital with Slayter.
Rizzo nodded. He started to speak and then stopped himself. “Take good care of her and Loki.”
“Will do.” Ryland went to grab her suitcase, but Lex stopped him.
“I’ll load it into the baggage compartment.” After he did, Lex faced Ryland. “You need to heal so you can be on the slopes next season.”
Ryland’s smile appeared forced. “I’m working to make that happen.”
“Slopes?” Cara asked.
“I ski,” Ryland said.
“I’m not much into sports,” she admitted.
“Ryland won two medals in Sochi,” Lex blurted. “Sorry. Both runs were amazing, but you almost won the last one.”
Guess the bodyguard was a big ski fan. That was cute.
“You would have killed it at PyeongChang if…” Rizzo’s voice faded.
“If I hadn’t been injured during that World Cup race at St. Moritz and had to miss the Winter Games last year.” Ryland didn’t appear embarrassed, more resigned. “But I’ll be racing again next season.”
The other men nodded.
Ryland motioned to the plane. “Let’s get you and Loki settled in the cabin. The pilot and flight attendant will be here shortly, then we’ll be off.”
Off to the Pacific Northwest. A place she’d never visited, but it would be her new home. At least temporarily.
She hugged Lex and then Rizzo. “Thanks again for everything.”
Rizzo handed over Loki. “The pleasure was ours, Cara.”
At the doorway to the jet, she glanced over her shoulder. Neither man had moved.
She waved and stepped inside. The interior screamed wealth with its taupe leather captain seats and coordinating carpet and walls, but she supposed that was who purchased private jets. It was a different world from hers, but she was grateful for the ride and the generosity of Brett’s friends.
Cara set the cat carrier underneath one of the seats. “Nice plane.”
“It comes in handy,” Ryland joked. “You can sit wherever you want. It’s a short flight.”
“Thanks.”
Footsteps sounded outside on the staircase. “Wait.”
Recognizing Brody’s voice, she froze.
Ryland stood in front of her as if trying to protect her.
Brody entered the jet, filling the space with his larger-than-life presence.
Her heart slammed against her rib cage. She took a step back.
What was he doing here?
Loki cried from his cat carrier, meowing as if caught in a trap and desperate to escape.
“Cara.” Brody sounded breathless. His face was flushed. He came closer until Ryland stopped him. “Thank goodness I found you.”
“Why?” She had to force the question from her dry throat. “You’re marrying Caitlin.”
He took a step forward, but Ryland blocked his way. “Give us a minute, please.”
“It’s up to Cara.” Standing his ground, Ryland glanced over his shoulder. “Do you want to talk to this guy?”
She might have met Ryland only a few minutes ago, but even injured and not knowing what was happening, he wanted to protect her. Brett had a good friend. Not trusting her voice, she nodded.
“I’ll wait on the tarmac.” Ryland eyed Brody suspiciously. “Yell if you need me, Cara.”
Another nod.
Ryland exited the plane.
“Where are you going?” Brody’s voice was deep, rich, and washed over her like melted chocolate, but she saw a hint of fear in his gaze.
No, she had to be mistaken. He had nothing to be afraid of.
She raised her chin. “Away.”
Cara had made her decision. The best one for her peace of mind and the safety of her heart. Getting far, far away from him had worked once. It would again.
“We need to talk.”
“You have Caitlin for that. You two are the perfect couple and will make wonderful blockbuster movies together.” Cara sounded shrill. She needed to lower her voice. “What more could you want?”
“I don’t want Caitlin or any of that stuff.” The jet was nice, but not that large. He cut the distance between them with a couple of steps. “I want you. I want to be with you. I want to have babies with you. I want to grow old with you.”
Cara’s breath stilled. That wasn’t what she expected to hear. “I saw you hesitate at the Bay View House. You were trying to decide between Caitlin and me. Making the decision wasn’t automatic. You had to think about it.”
He didn’t answer, but his sheepish expression told her everything she needed to know.
Nothing had changed between them. Nothing would ever change. “You need to leave. I have things to do and—”
“Cara.”
“What?”
“I hesitated because Caitlin showing up was the last thing I expected to happen. I was confused, frustrated, you name it.”
“Why?”
“Because she was ruining our time together.” He reached out and held Cara’s hand. “Your sister did exactly what you said she would do—put herself first—but she won’t be pulling that with us again.”
Cara didn’t understand why he sounded so serious. “It was a fake wedding rehearsal.”
“Today wasn’t only our fake wedding rehearsal.” Brody pulled out a royal blue ring box. “It’s the day I wanted to ask you to be part of my life. For real.”
A soft gasp escaped her lips. Anything else she wanted to say lodged in her throat. She wanted to believe him, surrender to the sudden joy bubbling in her heart, but she was wary. Okay, scared. She didn’t know what to think. Did he mean the words or was he acting, saying what he thought should be said, not what he felt?
Shaking, she covered her mouth with her hands. “I don’t know what to say. For so long, it’s been you and Caitlin.”
“That was for show. Pretend. Being with you has always been real. When we were younger and now. You…you’re the only one for me.”
Cara forced herself to breathe.
His gaze remained locked on hers. “But I couldn’t see that until—”
“I was out of Caitlin’s shadow,” Cara finished for him.
“Your sister casts a big one.” Brody squeezed Cara’s hand. “When you left the Bay View House, I wanted to go after you, but Caitlin and her cronies stopped me. I literally dragged her with me. She admitted to using her anxiety to get her way all these years.”
Cara should have been more surprised, upset even, but this was so typical of her sister.
Brody swallowed. “By the time I got away from her, you were gone.”
“Lex and Rizzo gave me a ride.”
“Not straight back to the apartment. I was waiting. When you didn’t show up, I returned to the Bay View House. And then I had to find a jewelry store.”
“Jackson must have liked that.”
“I ditched him after the second store. He was slowing me down.” Brody’s gaze remained locked on hers. “I love you. I was planning to ask if you wanted to date me when the pretending stopped, but that’s not enough. I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you.”
She struggled not to cave like a house of cards. He was saying all the right words. “But Caitlin and your career.”
“You, Cara O’Neal, are the only woman for me. I just needed to open my eyes and listen to my heart. I love you. You’re what matters. Nothing else.”
Loki meowed from his crate.
“Except for that spoiled, fat cat of yours. He matters, too.” Brody smiled. “We belong together. You’re smarter than I am. You figured that out first, but I was too stupid to realize it. Now that I do, I won’t let you get away from me again.”
Doubts disappeared. Wariness hit the road. Her heart soared. The conviction in his voice made her believe. Brody wasn’t acting. He meant what he’d said.
“I don’t want to go anywhere unless it’s with you. I was too scared to tell you how I felt. Too scared you wouldn’t feel the same. But I won’t ever make that mistake again.” She knew what she wanted, had always wanted, but she’d been too afraid to go for it. Not any longer. “I love you, Brody Simmons. I always have, even when I told myself I didn’t.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her on the lips. He stole her breath the way he’d stolen her heart. His lips moved over hers with a hunger that lit a fire inside her. She loved this man, and he loved her. They could figure out the details later. For now, she wanted to kiss him, soak up his warmth and the way he tasted.
Her arms wrapped around his neck. She arched against him, her fingers in his hair.
Heat pulsed through her veins, driving a need for more.
She lowered one of her hands to his back. The muscles under her palm spoke of his physical strength, but the man was tender and kind. The pressure against her lips decreased. Slowly, he drew the kiss to an end.
“Consider this an intermission.” His smoldering gaze sent his hotness level off the chart. “Sariah needs to know if there will be a wedding at the Bay View House tomorrow.”
Huh? Cara’s breathing was ragged. Her brain was fuzzy from the kisses. She must have misunderstood him. “Say what?”
He opened the ring box. A sparkling solitaire gleamed against the blue velvet. Smaller diamonds were inlaid in a filigree, platinum setting. The ring was perfect.
Brody got down on one knee. “Marry me, Cara O’Neal. For real this time. Forever.”
She covered her mouth with her hands. “I…”
“Is that a yes?”
Unable to speak, she nodded.
“Thank you.” He rose and kissed her again. Hard and fast. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Her lips tingled. “So what do we do now?”
“I’ll call Sariah and tell her we’ll be getting married, but not yet.”
Cara was confused. “Why wait?”
“So you can have the wedding of your dreams.”
“Marrying you is my dream come true.” Her heart sighed. “I love our picnic theme, and my dress is to die for. But if you’d rather wait—”
“I’d rather say I do right now, but I can hold off until tomorrow.”
Cara didn’t think she could be any happier than she was at this moment. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you.” He cupped her face in his hand. “But we’d better get off this plane and find a place to stay tonight so we can let Loki out of his crate. Poor guy is miserable.”
She brushed her lips across his before staring at the ring on her finger. “I wonder how different being really engaged feels from being fake engaged.”
“You have less than twenty-four hours to find out.”
“That should be long enough.” Then she would be walking down the aisle in her beautiful wedding dress. Someday had arrived. She was getting her happily ever after.
She’d take it. And Brody.
For better, for worse.
For always. Forever.