It was nearly four in the morning before Jade cut him loose. The U.S. Attorney had more than a few questions for him, and a JAG lawyer came in to represent him alongside Arizona. Apparently the investigation had been moving apace, but his forty-eight hour disappearance merited more than just a slap on the wrist.

While the medical review board still had his file in front of them and technically Angel was on leave, he had to answer a lot of questions regarding his choices. Angel answered them all, leaving everyone else’s names out of it. It didn’t matter what happened to him, if he went down for this—fine it was on his head. The guys were keeping Katie safe and that was important.

Still, he was a knotted muscle when he walked out of the station and down to where Mickey waited with the car. Arizona had left a couple of hours earlier, at his insistence.

“Your fiancée is a eagle,” he said, bumping his fist to the other man’s shoulder.

“Yes she is, c’mon. I’ll give you a ride and fill you in.” Mickey gave him the rundown on what the team had learned about Nash Guiness, and the fact the FBI was now involved. They were closing the jaws on Nash and his whole grass-roots group of whackjobs. The more he spoke, the more Angel shook his head.

They wanted America’s attention at home, rather than overseas. Well, they were about to have America’s boot thrust up their asses. As much as he wanted to be apart of the beat down, he had a better place to be.

At the hotel, Mickey handed him a keycard. “You sure you want to go up there? She may be ready to wash her hands of all of us when this is over.”

“Maybe, and if she wants me gone, all she has to do is say the word.” Two thoughts had driven him since the explosion—avenging his sister and finding the woman he’d saved. Meeting Katie hadn’t changed either thought, except he wanted to be where she was. He wanted to know she was safe.

“Stay alive,” was Mickey’s only advice. Leaving the car, Angel entered the lobby. At this time of morning, even Times Square was quiet. In a few hours, the city would rouse and get back to work. They did that here, the transformation so swift it could take a stranger’s breath away.

It didn’t matter how often he visited the place, he never got used to it. He tracked the guy near the elevator keeping watch and nodded to him. Jammer was on the top floor, leaning against the wall with a perfect view of her room and the elevators.

Pausing, he extended his hand to the man and said, “Thanks.” Nothing said he had to involve himself, but the Delta Force operative hadn’t hesitated when they’d called him.

“Brother, you need me you only ever have to call.” Jammer answered as he answered Angel’s grip with a firm one of his own.

“Right back at you.” Then he nodded toward the room. “I’m here for the night, so catch some rest.”

Leaving him, Angel headed toward her suite. At the door, he considered knocking them used the keycard instead. If she was asleep, he didn’t want to wake her and if she was awake, he didn’t want to scare her worrying who was at the door.

They’d all had enough of that.

Inside, only one light burned in the sitting area. He threw the security latch she’d left off, and walked quietly toward the open double doors to the bedroom. The sound of voices on the television suggested she might be awake. She glanced up from where she sprawled in the middle of the bed and relief transformed her weary expression.

She rolled off the bed and raced to him. He wasn’t sure what reception he’d get, but her launching into his arms was about the best damn possibility ever. Holding her tight, he carried her back to the bed and sat on the edge.

“I was worried about you,” she said, then leaned back to stare at him. “They didn’t try to arrest you, did they? Cause if I have to go back down there and yell at someone, I will.”

“I believe it.” He marveled at the attitude change, she’d been so scared on the airplane and pretending hard she wasn’t. Her nerves hadn’t abated once on the drive to the police station, and he’d read the worry in her eyes when they’d parted ways. Now, she sat on his lap, hair tumbling loose and in waves, with a fierce gleam in her eyes. Maybe she was still a little too pale for his taste and he hated the shadows beneath her eyes, the woman facing him had ditched flight for fight. “You don’t have to kick anyone’s ass,” he assured her. “We’re good. They just needed to go over every choice I’ve ever made.”

Relief made her sag, and she wrapped her arms around him again. The press of her breasts to his chest gave him other ideas, but he kept his grip loose. No assumptions on his part. He was here to protect her, and that was it.

“I didn’t know if I’d see you again,” she said, then pressed a kiss to his jaw. Dammit, he should have shaved. Hell, he hadn’t even showered in days.

“Wouldn’t let that happen,” he promised her, then eased her away. “I need a to wash up sweetheart, not that I mind holding you or hugging you, but I stink.”

“Okay,” she said, and her smile seemed almost incandescent. “I was exhausted when I got here, but I couldn’t sleep until I knew what was happening. Do you want me to order some food? There’s hotel room coffee, but it’s nasty.”

“No, I’m not hungry.” Too much adrenaline killed his appetite and he didn’t want her opening the door for anyone. “I’ll shower, then we can talk or sleep…”

“…or something else?” Holy hell, had the woman just propositioned him?

Canting his head to the side, he studied her. “You’ve been through a lot, I don’t expect anything.”

“Expectations aren’t about desire,” she said, sounding terrifically wise. “I’m not expecting anything either, but if you feel the desire to kiss me after your shower, I wanted to be perfectly clear, I’m on board with the idea.” As if to prove a point, she leaned in to him and his lips parted, whether in anticipation or shock, Angel wasn’t sure. Then Katie paused, mouth twisting. “Maybe after you brush your teeth.”

The twinkle in her eyes softened the criticism and he tossed her onto the bed with a laugh. “I’ll be right back.”

It was the fastest shower of his life, he barely let the water heat up. The hotel provided a razor, so he gave himself a quick shave while he was at it and per the lady’s request—brushed his teeth.

When he emerged fifteen minutes later, wearing only a towel, he found her sound asleep on the bed, still clad only in the oversized t-shirt and panties. Disappointment weighed against the satisfaction of knowing she was safe and sound—and finally able to sleep.

Turning off the lights, he walked over to the bed and eased the covers over her before settling in next to her. The security bar was on and he wouldn’t sleep deeply, but he’d be right here, in case she needed him.

The next time he opened his eyes, the sun shone behind the curtains and Katie leaned on an elbow looking down at him. The sleep tousled length of her hair fell over one shoulder and tickled his chest.

“Hi,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.

“Hey.” He lifted a hand to run his finger down her cheek. She looked a lot better, and the dark circles beneath her eyes had faded. “Sleep well?”

“Too well, I’m sorry I wasn’t awake when you came out of the shower.”

So was he, but he didn’t need to tell her that. “I was happy you were able to sleep.” Especially after the day she’d had.

“How did you sleep?” She propped herself up one elbow and made no attempt to distance herself.

“Like a log,” he admitted and harder than he had in a long time. Angel had a sneaking suspicion if she hadn’t woken up, he’d still be asleep, too. No need to look at that too closely. A whirring noise filled the quiet, and he glanced at the table next to the bed. At some point, he’d set his cell phone there.

“It started going off a couple of minutes ago,” Katie told him.

Not wanting to invite the rest of the world into their moment, Angel reached for his phone anyway. If something was up, they needed to know.

Three messages lit up the screen. When Katie would have slipped away, he caught her wrist in a light grip. “You don’t have to go anywhere.” Then he released her, but she curled back to his side and settled her palm to his chest. The contact lit a match to a slow burning fuse coiling through his system.

The first message was from Jammer. They were rotating in a couple of other guys, and their photos were included. The second message was from Arizona and Mickey, the ADA wasn’t pressing charges. They still had to wait to hear whether the military was, but the JAG lawyer didn’t think it would be an issue.

The last message was Jacko. We’re on the move. Bounty is erased. Warrants issued for Nash and his friends. Feds are taking point. Stay low until we send the all clear.

His friends, some of the best SEALs he’d ever known, were taking the lead and as much as he wanted to be out there fighting the fight with them. He was exactly where he needed to be.

Where he wanted to be.

“Does that mean it’s over?” Katie asked, tracing her finger against his chest. The path was light enough to tickle, yet he enjoyed it too much to squirm.

“It means they are moving. Life is never over until we’re done. For Moira, it’s done. She’ll have justice. For the others in those shops, they’ll have their justice. For us? It’s about figuring out what’s next.”

The medical review board could bounce him, then it would be a medical discharge from the Navy. After? Flint and Cannon already offered him a job. So maybe he’d go to work for them…

“I don’t know what’s next,” Katie said quietly. “I always thought—I wanted to make it on Broadway, I wanted to make a splash, make people laugh and smile and tap their toes. After all this, that seems pretty flakey.”

“No, not even a little bit.” He caught her hand, then rolled her onto her back so he could lean over her and meet her gaze. The provocative pose had less to do with seduction and everything to do with holding her attention. “Making people laugh? Making them smile? Giving them something to feel is more important than ever right now. We can all cry, we can all scream, and fuck—we’re all pissed off about something. We need the good stuff, too. If you don’t want to do it anymore, if you want to go back to Montana or run away to Canada to become an accountant—do it because it’s what you want. But don’t give up your dream because you think it’s insignificant after all this. Don’t let that son of a bitch make you feel like less or destroy anything you worked for.”

Her eyes widened at his intensity, and maybe he was coming on too strong. But dammit, her life and her choices were the exact reasons he enlisted. People had a right to chase their dreams, and to find joy in a dreary world. He fucking fought to defend it and she as much as anyone deserved everything good she could find in the world.

“You really believe that,” she whispered.

“I do,” he assured her, then brushed his nose to hers. “Do I need to go brush my teeth before I think about kissing you this time?”

She answered him by lifting her head to meet him. The soft, slow massage of her lips against his sent a zing through his system. It was gentle, and sweet, and inviting. When her tongue teased along the seam of his lips, the rigid control he held over himself slipped.

He claimed her mouth, tongues tangling even as he thrust his fingers into her hair. She slid her free leg over his hip and he settled into the cradle of her thighs. The blankets kept them apart, but he feasted on the sweetness of her mouth.

After what seemed a heavenly eternity, she leaned her head into the pillow and studied him with sleepy eyes and a smile on her lips. “I don’t know…”

“About what?” His brain wasn’t making the connection between her words and their meaning.

“Whether you need to brush your teeth, maybe you should kiss me again.” She didn’t have to ask him twice. His erection strained against the blankets and there was no mistaking it. Swooping in, he kissed her. The next few minutes proved a struggle populated by laughter and groans as they wiggled her free of the blankets.

His towel went flying, and he hooked his thumbs into her panties. When her shirt came off, he took some leisurely time to explore her breasts, and curves. Every time he came across a faded bruise, he kissed it. When she found a scar on him, she did the same.

Half-drunk on the feel of her, he worked his way down her body. When he pressed a lingering kiss to the inside of her thigh, she let out a soft cry of pleasure then groaned.

Pausing, he glanced up along her length to find her staring back at him with half-dilated eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Do we have condoms?” The frustration edging the words made him laugh. As tempting as it was to tease her, he was in no shape for that.

“I might have one or four in my bag,” he promised her. “If I don’t,” he resumed his downward trajectory even as he spread her legs. “We have plenty we can do in the meanwhile.” And he could always text one of the guys working protection.

Nuzzling kisses along her leg, he stroked his finger along her labia until he reached her clit. Then she let out a gasp as he applied the slightest pressure. He’d never had a woman come apart in his arms so beautifully, and it was a marvel to watch.

Leaving her on the bed for a moment, he retrieved his duffel the guys had dropped off, dug out a condom, then suited up before returning to her on the bed.

The dazed look in her eyes held him riveted as he eased into her and she welcomed him with open arms and an even sweeter kiss. Finding his rhythm, he rocked into her and between kisses, he clasped her hands so he could roll over. On his back, he marveled at the woman rising above him. The lock of their bodies together was intoxicating, but more was the way she looked at him.

He’d survived a fire to save her and crossed a country to find her.

Angel had never been in love before, but he was starting to think she was the woman for him. The right woman found at what was the worst time and when her second orgasm came crashing down on her, he gathered her close and leapt off to follow her.

Once would never be enough.

Three months later…

“Let’s go!” The stage manager issued the instruction in a controlled whisper. The curtain was down and the lead actors were in front finishing a scene. It was the last one before the closing number on their sold out opening night. Katie took her place in position two. She was the first female principal behind the lead actress, as well as her understudy.

It was her biggest role to date and perhaps her most favorite. They’d worked overtime, four weeks of twelve to fifteen hour days to get the production ready for previews, and tonight they’d opened their doors to a standing room only crowd. The musical had been as hastily written, and Storybook Square was projected to be a top contender at the Tonys.

Every dancer held their position as the curtain swung open. Darkness blanketed them as the lead began to sing about loneliness and how the walls of his world turned to rubble. There were people who were there for him, and he learned about who he was—every step leading him to the woman he loved more than anything else.

When she arrived on the stage, it took everything Katie had to not respond. This song got to her every time and in a moment the audience would learn the secret they’d guarded in every rehearsal. In the darkness, she gazed toward the front row and the man sitting with the cowboy hat on his knee.

Liam “Angel” Knight’s gaze fixed on her as the lead began to move around the stage, and one by one, she and the other dancers came to life. They were all dressed in their parts, and the timing had to be perfect as they danced out who they represented.

From this moment forward, they were those who fell, and left those they loved behind. Every step matching in tempo as the lights came up and then the images began to play as she stepped and twirled to coming home.

Every victim of the Storybook Square bombing shown on the screen, laughing, dancing, and alive. On every turn, she caught Angel’s gaze and the tears in them reflected her own. When he mouthed the words I love you, her heart soared and she led the dancers into the audience. They had brought in the families of the fallen and the men and women who had been first responders.

Dancing around Liam, she winked at him as she offered her hand to his father and the man delighted her as he stood and joined her. They danced with the others, and kept singing. Then as they traded partners, Liam’s father reached for his mother and she flowed into Liam’s arms.

Her angel.

For those who would never come home again, the show would honor them and make sure they were never forgotten.

She’d found the love of her life, and holding his hand, she showed him her stomp and they hooked arms with others. The theater thrummed with life. A life she owed to him. Never again would she shy away from the performance. He fought his war and she fought hers.

Together, they found love.

As the music cut to the last note and Angel dipped her, she knew she was exactly where she belonged.

* * *

I hope you enjoyed Angel and Katie’s story! For Mickey and Arizona’s, check out !