Resisting Her Rebel Hero (14 page)

Cassidy froze and when he continued to breathe heavily she pushed away from him and lifted her gaze past the muscle twitching in his jaw. “That you what, Sam?”

His mouth twisted into a half-smile but his eyes glowed with an emotion Cassidy was too afraid to interpret.

“I was on a collision course with disaster. I blamed myself for living when my friends died. And when my chute failed I thought,
It’s nothing more than you deserve.
But you rescued me, Doc, and even though I hurt you...didn’t
deserve
you...I suddenly couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing you again. That I hadn’t told you.” He inhaled shakily. “My mind was suddenly clear, like I was finally seeing the world for the first time. I sent up a prayer and yanked that damn clip.

“For a couple seconds nothing happened...and then...and then it deployed.” He gave a ragged laugh and lifted his hands to cup her face. “Other than seeing your beautiful smile,” he told her softly, “it was the most welcome sight I’ve ever seen.”

“
Oh,
” was all Cassidy could manage, her voice low and raw.

“I love you Cassidy,” he said solemnly. “Tell me it’s not too late. Tell me I didn’t dream those words. Tell me you didn’t rescue me...my heart...only to break it.”

“Oh,
Sam
,” Cassidy said again, too overwhelmed to think past the jumble of emotions rioting through her. “You’re...sure?”

“That I love you? Dead sure—”

“
Don’t say that
,” she burst out, placing a hand over his mouth. He paled, looking appalled. “Don’t say that I love you?”

She let out a little giggle. “No,” she said, smiling, leaning in to replace her hand with her mouth in a soft, sweet kiss. “You can say
that
as often as you like. In fact, you need to say it again.”

Inhaling shakily, he thrust his fingers into her hair, his gaze falling to her mouth. “I love you,” he groaned, his lips dropping to brush against hers. “God, you have no idea how much I love you.”

Dizzy with happiness and wanting nothing more than to sink into his kiss, she throatily ordered, “Kiss me, then.” But he pulled back, grinning at her growl of frustration.

He shook his head. “Not until you tell me.”

“Tell you what?” she demanded huskily, leaning forward to catch his sculpted bottom lip between her teeth. She gave it a punishing nip and wriggled her bottom against him.
God, she’d missed this
. His scent, his touch and the taste of him in her mouth.

“Aw, c’mon, babe,” he groaned, pulling back to scowl at her. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”

Her mouth dropped open.
“Babe?”

He gave her a hard shake.
“Dammit
, Cassidy,” he growled. “I’m dying here. Rescue me, Doc...
please
.”

Palming his tense face, Cassidy stared into his deep gold eyes, all humor abruptly disappearing. “I love you, Samuel Kellan,” she murmured, her eyes soft on his before she caught at his mouth, and clung, like she’d never let go. “Don’t you know? Don’t you
know
yet how much I love you?”

A beautiful smile bloomed across his dark face and the next thing Cassidy found herself lying flat with his body, huge and heavy, pressing her into the cold floor. And before she could squeak out a protest, he slid a hand up her thigh to cup her bottom and pull her against him.

She thought he murmured, “
Thank God,
” and the next thing his mouth opened over hers in a kiss so hot and wet and
hungry
she nearly combusted.

Clutching at him, she sent her hands racing over his wide shoulders and back, down his arms, reveling in the solid feel of him beneath her palms. Her eyes drifted closed in delight and she gave herself over to his hunger.

For long moments Sam’s mouth ravished hers as though he was starving for the taste of her, like he’d gone years instead of just weeks without her. She hummed her own hunger deep in her throat and marveled at the lights exploding behind her eyelids.

By the time they came up for air, she was gasping, dizzy with a pleasure she’d found only with him, and frustrated that they were still fully dressed. More than anything she wanted to feel the heated slide of skin against damp skin.

It was a few moments before she was able to open her eyes, only to discover a circle of curious, grinning faces peering down at them. Clutching Sam, she gave a startled squeak and felt her eyes widen as she recognized the young deputies who’d given her the thumbs-up earlier. Then the sheriff’s face appeared overhead and then another...Sam’s
sister?

Oh, my God
.

A hot blush rose in her cheeks. “
Sam
,” she squeaked, ducking her face into his throat.

“Yeah,” he said in her hair, his voice strangely tight. “I know.”

“Do you two need a room?” Hannah Kellan asked mildly, and laughter burst around them.

Sam stiffened, finally realizing they weren’t alone. “What we need,” Sam growled dryly, “is some privacy.”

A moment later he rolled off Cassidy and drew her to her feet in one smooth move. He yanked her back when she made a move to bolt and tucked her against his side. He shook his head at their captive audience.

Hannah propped her shoulder against the open doorway and folded her arms beneath her breasts. “Well?” she asked cheekily, her elegant dark brow lifted in a way Cassidy recognized as pure Sam.

“Well, what?” he demanded, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

“Did she or didn’t she?” Ruben demanded impatiently, and Cassidy nearly giggled at the way everyone’s gaze jumped from one person to another in a ridiculous parody of a tennis match.

“I haven’t asked her yet.”

Hannah snickered and to Cassidy’s embarrassment said, “What, too busy shoving your tongue down her throat?”

Sam growled threateningly and everyone laughed. “I’ll be shoving you all out the door if you don’t give us some space,” he told her. “
Jeez
, can’t a guy propose without the whole damn zoo turning up?”

Cassidy’s head whipped up. “P-propose?” she squeaked.

His gaze turned possessive but to Cassidy’s amazement he flushed. “Of course. What did you think I meant?” he demanded with a scowl.

“Well...I—”

His voice dropped. “You rescued me, Cassidy. You saved me when I didn’t realize until it was almost too late. I love you. You’re everything I want, everything I didn’t realize I was looking for.”

Cassidy’s eyes misted and the buzzing in her ears almost blocked out the snickers of “
Aaaaww, isn’t that sweet?
” coming from Sam’s siblings.

“But...but what about your job?”

“I told you I quit.”

“I don’t know,” she said slowly, ignoring the sharply inhaled breaths around them.

Sam froze and panic flashed across his face. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“You haven’t asked me yet,” she reminded him gently, and reached up to kiss the corner of his mouth when he gusted out a relieved breath.

Turning her in his arms, he wrapped a hand around her neck and pressed his thumb beneath her chin, lifting her face to his.

“Cassidy Maureen Mahoney, will you rescue me one last time?”

Tears filled her eyes and her breath hitched in her throat.

“Oh, Sam—”

“Will you marry me?” he continued in a voice deep and clear and filled with emotion. “And spend the next sixty years loving me as much as I love you? Will you raise a family with me here in Crescent Lake and work by my side at the hospital, keeping the nosy locals healthy? Especially people who don’t know when the hell to take a hint.”

Her breath hitched. “Oh,” she sighed, staring up at him with damp eyes until he couldn’t stand the suspense.

“Say something, babe,” he whispered pleadingly. “You’re making me look bad in front of everyone.”

She giggled and a sudden hush fell as every ear strained for her answer. “Yes...” she whispered into the hushed silence, and wild emotion burst into Sam’s eyes.

“Yes?”

“Yes,” Cassidy said a little louder. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” And when he gave a whoop she put up a hand. “But....” He stilled, the panic on his face priceless. His mouth dropped open and there was a smattering of snickers. “But?” He looked suddenly nervous and wary. “But what? I have to give up a kidney? Done. My family? With pleasure.”

Cassidy’s mouth curled in a private smile. “I want to know all your secrets.”

“All of them?” And when her eyes narrowed he said quickly, “They’re yours.”

“Great. Now, what’s the J for?”

He blinked. “Huh?”

“In your name,” she explained, curling her arms around his neck and burying her hands in his thick, silky hair. She watched as a slow, sexy smile bloomed. He leaned closer to whisper in her ear and Cassidy pulled back, wild color blossoming in her cheeks. “I don’t think so.” She giggled. Sam sighed then tried again and when he finally pulled back, he let his brow rise questioningly.

Cassidy rose on her toes to seal the promise with a kiss. “Samuel James Kellan, nothing would make me happier than being your wife.”

A deafening cheer rose to fill Crescent Lake’s jail cells. Sam ignored the loud congratulations and celebratory backslaps to wrap his arms around the woman who’d rescued him from a life of nightmares.

“I love you, Doc Honey. What do you say we find someplace more private?”

A smile lit her face with love and anticipation and she blushed adorably. “I know just the place, Major Hotstuff.”

He grinned. “Lead the way,
babe
.”

And she took his hand.

* * * * *