The Elite: The Complete Series of Boomer and Player (With Bonus) (64 page)

My heart swelled like a balloon, overwhelmed with the flurry of emotions the nurse’s statement kicked up inside my chest. “Do you want me to wake her? I know she wants to see you…”

I shook my head. There was nothing more in the world that I wanted than to see her eyes and talk to her. Maybe even say something stupid and make her laugh. But it would have been the selfish choice, and I was done taking that road.

It had already cost me too much.

“No, but thank you.”

She nodded and gave me a soft, motherly smile, before turning and leaving the room. I watched Gemma sleep and somewhere along the way, I drifted back to sleep myself.

* * * *

The next time I woke up, the cast of characters had changed significantly. This time, Gemma was joined by Agent Montgomery and Gary with the FAA.

“Aw, shucks guys, you didn’t have to throw me a party,” I muttered, giving the two stern looking men my best smile.

Gemma sighed. “Aaron, I tried to tell them to leave you alone, but—”

“It’s okay, baby. I want to know what’s going on.”

She nodded and came around to take a seat on the edge of the bed. I gave her my hand and then turned my attention to the two men as the hovered near the foot of my bed. “All right, guys, spill.”

Agent Montgomery began, after a quick glance with Gary, “First of all, while we are happy you’ll make a great recovery, we do need to let you know O’Keefe will not. He and Mr. Giovanni were both killed in the ambush. The rest is up to the FBI.”

“Wow, I didn’t—” My heart ached. Because of O’Keefe’s greed—more people had to die.

“I’m not sure how this helps right now…” Gemma muttered.

“Wait,” I interjected before she could get too fierce in her defense of me, although I had a feeling she was angry with me for my actions. “In hind sight, it was a completely moronic and selfish move. But, I got so caught up in O’Keefe’s bragging and threats—I just wanted him to suffer. But I’m sorry someone else had to die.”

The two men seemed surprised, and exchanged another quick glance. Gary cleared his throat. “We’ve concluded our investigation and the museum is cleared to reopen for business as soon as you’re able. All of the evidence we retrieved has been turned over to the FBI who will be in charge of Mr. O’Keefe’s estate.”

“Thank you,” I replied, nodding at him. We may not have always seen eye to eye, but I was thankful he’d always listened, and while he was gruff, he had never been rude or derogatory to me, even when I’d been running my mouth like a spoiled teenager. “I appreciate your help. Hell, without your findings, I’d probably still be blaming myself for everything that happened that night…” Even as I said it, the emotions of the crash came back. The intensity had faded with time, but there was a small part of me that knew I would always carry some kernel of guilt over Talia’s death.

Gemma squeezed my hand.

Agent Montgomery gave us both a curt nod. “We wish you the best and will be in touch if further assistance is needed.”

Gemma waved as the two men turned and left the room. Once the door was closed, she lay back against the sliver of bed not occupied by my body and tucked her head against my shoulder. She let out a long sigh, vocalizing the way I felt as I watched them leave.

“All right, I guess it’s your turn now,” I said to her, mentally bracing for a reaming.

“My turn for what?”

“To rip me a new asshole about how stupid I was for showing O’Keefe the wire and going rogue.”

“Honestly? I probably would have done the same thing.”

I chuckled, surprised at her reply. “You really are perfect, aren’t you?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Far from it, but I do have a bit of a temper. I don’t know…maybe you’ve noticed?”

“Nah.” I shook my head and then dropped a kiss to the side of her head, breathing in the gentle floral scent of her shampoo.

“So, what now?” Gemma asked, propping her chin on my chest and turning her eyes up towards mine.

“Well, first thing on my to-do list is to get out of this place once and for all.”

“Good. Solid plan.”

I laughed. “Be straight with me. How long am I gonna be stuck in here?”

“That really depends…”

“On?”

She grinned. “On whether or not you’re going to behave yourself once you’re released. You’d already set the record of stitch popping from the first time you were in here. Now you have over twice as many stitches. I’m not sure I trust you to go home. At least not unsupervised.”

“You volunteering for the job?” I asked, twisting my fingertips through a stray strand of hair that had fallen from her loose ponytail.

“Ha! Lord knows I can’t keep you in line.”

“I think you can…”

She laughed softly. “We’ll see. It’ll probably be at least a few more days.”

I groaned. “Got any ideas for keeping me entertained?” I asked, a wicked grin tugging the corners of my mouth up.

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s out of the question for a long, long time.”

“Damn. That’s gonna be pretty near impossible with you looking so smokin’ hot all the time.”

“Oh my God. I think that’s the drugs talking.” She looked down at her outfit to emphasis her point. “I don’t even remember the last time I showered. Between work and being here—”

“Dirty girl,” I drawled.

She pushed my arm but then snuggled back against it.

“Thanks for being here for me, baby. I can’t even say how much it all means to me.” I reached for her hand and held it tightly.

“Of course, Aaron.”

“I’m sorry if I scared you.”

She bit her lip and nodded. My guts twisted at the pain on her face. “I thought you were gone…when I heard the shots fired…I broke loose from the other agents. I punched one in the face actually…”

“You did?”

She nodded. There wasn’t even a hint of pride in her expression. “I had to get to you. To see you. And then…there was so much blood everywhere and you were unresponsive—I thought you’d been shot. It was like one of those movie moments. Everything in slo-mo, but my mind was racing a thousand miles a minute—I couldn’t think at all.”

I kissed the side of her face again, wishing I could erase the terrible memory from her mind. “I’m so sorry, baby. I promise I’ll never do anything like that again.”

She nodded and a tear slid down her cheek.

I tipped her chin up and swiped away the stray tear. “Marry me, Gemma.”

She smiled softly. But shook her head.

“What? Why not?”

She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to my brow. “Because right now, you’re high on pain meds. You don’t know what you’re saying. Call me old fashioned, but when I get proposed to, I want it to be when the man I love is lucid.”

“Gemma, I swear—”

She placed a finger on my lips to silence me. “Ask me again in a week.”

I tried to argue, but she kept her finger firmly in place.

Resigned, I nodded my agreement and she replaced her finger with her lips, sweeping a sweet kiss over mine, before she turned to leave.

As soon as her footsteps faded from the room, I closed my eyes and began plotting the real proposal that she deserved.

She might roll her eyes and think I was kidding, but I’d find a way to show her that she was wrong.

I’d made up my mind.

* * * *

“Are you ready to head back? You don’t want to push yourself too hard your first time out,” Gemma said, glancing behind us to see our progress. She’d accompanied me for my first outing to the beach since being released from the hospital.

Even the short distance we’d covered had me huffing and puffing like I’d run a fuckin’ marathon. Her suggestion to turn back was tempting, but I pushed on. “Just a little farther,” I insisted, tugging lightly on her arm to get her attention.

“Okay…”

We walked in silence—well, plodded, would be a more accurate description—and when I abruptly stopped in the sand, Gemma turned to face me. “Are you all right? Do you feel dizzy?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine, Gemma, you gotta stop fussing. I just wanted to get to this spot.”

She looked around, as though trying to place the significance. We were standing in the middle of the beach, halfway between the surf and the waves, where the sand was packed down and easier for walking.

“I like the view of the bluff from here,” I offered, jutting my chin over her shoulder. She turned again and stood by my side.

The fog was clearing away as the late morning sun made its arrival, but it still clung to the sides of the bluff, casting an almost ethereal air around the place. From our spot on the sand, the museum wasn’t visible, but my father’s house was there, on the edge, looking down on us.

“It’s beautiful. I bet you’re happy things are back up and running,” Gemma commented.

We’d been able to get the museum up and running, and although the official re-launch party was still in the works, it was starting to look like it wouldn’t even be necessary. Thanks to the coverage of O’Keefe’s death and deceit, business had kicked into high gear with very little effort. Everyone wanted to come and see the museum and talk to the person who caught him red handed.

I didn’t mind, as long as they paid for their tickets at the door just like everyone else.

“It’ll be nice to get back to normal,” I agreed. “Although, there is one change I’m gonna make—a big one.…”

“What’s that?” Gemma asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

“Well, after everything that’s happened, I’m thinking I need to change my name.”

“Oh really?” A grin tugged at her lips. “Why’s that?”

I took a deep breath and then dropped to one knee, right there in the sand. Gemma’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, Aaron!”

“Gemma Henderson, you are the most beautiful woman in the world, inside and out. I never thought I’d be doing this—like really, what is going on here?” She laughed as I dropped a dramatic look down at myself, kneeling in the sand. “But it feels right. I don’t want to be Player anymore. I only want to be with you. That is, if you’ll have me.”

Before she could reply, I pulled a small Tiffany blue box from the pocket of my favorite leather jacket and popped it open to reveal the rather stunning, vintage inspired diamond ring perched inside.

“Gemma, will you marry me?”

My breath hitched in my chest, waiting that split second for her reply, thinking back to her rejection in the hospital, but it was a quick lived panic attack, as a heartbeat later, she was nodding and squealing. “Yes!”

Grinning like a fool, I took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger just like in the movies and then—with some assistance—got back up and took her into my arms. With her hair whipping around us in the breezy sea air, we sealed the deal with one helluva kiss.

“So, I guess it’s game over then?” Gemma asked, laughing.

“Oh, baby, I got plenty of games we can play.”

Six Months Later…

“Well, shit! How in the hell did Aaron “The Player” Rosen beat
me
to the jewelry store?”

I grinned at Boomer’s reaction. It was perfect. Just as I’d expected.

“Damn. I better step it up, or Holly’s gonna be after me with a frying pan,” he continued with a laugh.

“She’d probably just sic Hunter on your ass,” I quipped, leaning back in the weather worn Adirondack chair overlooking the ocean below. “How is that rascal anyway? Chewed his way through Germany yet?’

Boomer laughed. “He’s all right. Still chewing, but Princess keeps him in line. Seriously though, I’m so happy for you. And Gemma too, although her and I should probably have a little talk before she goes picking out a dress. I need to make sure she’s got the full story on you.”

I twisted at the sound of the back door sliding open. Gemma stepped out, her body showcased to perfection in a sexy turquoise bikini I’d picked out for her a few weekends ago when we’d gone shopping in town. My mouth watered at the sight of her and the tent that popped up in my shorts let me know I needed to cut the call with Boomer short.

“Hey baby, Boomer wants to set up a meeting with you so he can make sure you know what you’re getting into, before the big day,” I called over to her.

On the other end of the phone, Jack laughed in my ear.

“Tell him thank you for his concern, but that I already know all your dirty little secrets, and I’m confident I can handle anything you throw my way,” she tossed back with a sassy smile. She winked at me before she slid on her oversized shades.

“You hear that, Boomer? She thinks she’s got me all figured out,” I said, smiling at Gemma.

He just chuckled. “I can’t wait to get a front row seat for this.”

“Well, I was planning on asking you to be my best man, but that’s a little hard to do when you’re on a different fuckin’ continent.”

“Not so fast, Player. You just might be in luck,” he replied. I could almost hear the smile coming through the phone. “We’re gonna be stateside this summer and if all goes according to plan, we’ll be staying.”

“What?” I jerked upright in my chair. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Holly doesn’t know yet. I don’t want to get her hopes up until I know for sure, but I have a big meeting with the powers that be and they might be pulling me back early. So, instead of a month in August, we may be moving back permanently.”

“Wow! That’d be amazing!” I looked over at Gemma, my eyes following the lines of her long legs as she reclined back in her seat. She turned her head at my exclamation and I could see the arch of her brow over her dark shades. “Hey baby, what would you say to an August wedding?”

The smile she gave me was all the answer I needed.

“She’s on board. So you two get your asses back stateside and we’ll have a summer showdown. The war of the weddings.”

Boomer laughed. “I swear—I’m tempted to call you on video chat just to make sure I’m actually talking to Aaron Rosen.”

“It’s me, man. I promise.” I laughed and dropped my head back against the polished wood frame of the chair. “Would it make you feel better if I said I was mostly excited about the open bar and the chance to look badass in a suit?”