It took far too long for the plane to reach DC, and then it took even longer for the mission debriefing and medical checkups that were a necessary part of operations. Brooke and Amy were taken to a private medical facility that usually evaluated the people HOT brought back. It was an exclusive place, accustomed to the kinds of injuries and psychological issues that hostages could have. Cade was glad that Brooke was being seen there, but she’d been seen there before and she’d still managed to hide the things that had happened to her from the medical professionals on duty.

She’d sworn she was okay this time, and he believed her. But still he worried.

When she’d touched her mouth to his on the plane, he’d groaned and hugged her close. The guys very wisely didn’t comment, though once they were on the ground and Brooke and Amy were taken by ambulance to the medical facility, he’d taken some ribbing.

“Cade and Brooke, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g…,” Mal said. The others took up the ditty and teased him all the way back to HOT HQ. Except for Hacker, he’d noticed. Hacker didn’t say a word.

“Laugh it up, assholes,” Cade had said. “But your day is coming. If you’re lucky.”

“Not me,” Mal declared. The others followed suit. Hacker had turned away and gazed out the window. Cade figured he was just tired. Hell, they were all tired.

Now Cade stood in the shower and let the hot water hit aching muscles. His hip and leg hurt where he’d landed on them when tackling Lopez. There’d be bruising, and he had muscle relaxers if he needed them.

But he didn’t care about his aches and pains so much as he cared about Brooke’s. He was dying to get to her, especially after what they’d said to each other on the plane, but he had to wait. She’d promised to call him when she was done. Her cell phone was gone since Lopez had confiscated it when she’d been taken, but she swore she had his number memorized and she would use a phone at the hospital and call him.

He finished showering, got dressed, and headed for his truck. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he stopped to fish it out and look at it.

Brooke: Hey, handsome. How are you?

His heart throbbed. I’m good. How about you? Where are you? And how did you get a phone?

Brooke: Grace. She got me a new phone. She was waiting for me when I finished. Insisted on bringing me back to her place. Garrett is home.

Oh hell, he hadn’t even realized Alpha Squad was back. He’d been so preoccupied with this mission, and with Brooke, that he hadn’t paid attention.

I want to see you, angel. NOW.

Brooke: And I want to see you, Cade. Come and get me and Max. I need to see you and hold you and get your [eggplant] in my [cat] as soon as possible.

Cade snorted a laugh. Was she really okay? Could it be that easy? Guilt followed hard on the heels of his happiness. He’d told her he loved her. She’d told him she loved him. But he was still who he was, and she was a woman who didn’t like the kind of life he led.

I’m coming.

Brooke: [waggling eyebrow emoji] You will be.

I love you, angel. Crazy love. You know that, right?

She sent back a string of hearts. Yes! I love you too. Which is why I want your [eggplant].

He didn’t think it was as easy as that—they were going to have to talk first—but he hopped in his truck and fired it up. He wasn’t sure what was going to be the hardest—talking with Brooke about what had happened and where they were going or getting through Iceman and Grace and convincing them he was in love with Brooke Sullivan.

For better or worse.

---

Brooke was nervous, and not just because Grace was overly chipper and Garrett looked grumpy. They talked to her like she was made of eggshells, speaking to her like a light breeze would blow her over and she’d shatter. It was annoying.

Cade didn’t talk to her that way. In fact, Cade treated her like she was made of stronger stuff, though he also made sure she was holding up when things got tough. But he gave her the benefit of the doubt, and she appreciated that.

Still, she knew her friends were coming from a place of love and she couldn’t be mad at them for it even if she wanted to scream sometimes.

Max was his usual self, happy to see her, licking and whining and jumping up and down when she walked in the door. She hadn’t wanted to go to Grace and Garrett’s other than to get Max, but of course they’d known what was happening and they’d also known the instant she’d returned. Since Garrett was HOT, he knew where to find her.

They’d been waiting for her when she’d been released from her evaluation. She’d been dehydrated and exhausted but otherwise healthy. She’d demanded information on Amy and been assured that the little girl was well and her parents were with her. Brooke hadn’t wanted to see Bert, so when she’d emerged to find Garrett and Grace waiting, she’d gone with them with very little argument.

They’d stopped so she could get a new phone on the way. Since all her contacts were in the cloud, she’d been able to restore her phone and access her conversations with Cade. She didn’t tell her friends that she’d texted Cade because she didn’t want to hear any arguments against it.

When his truck pulled up a short while later, she knew he’d have to be buzzed into the house by the Secret Service. She’d gotten out easily enough two nights ago because she wasn’t their charge and they weren’t assigned to her. But getting in when you weren’t expected would be a whole other story.

A few minutes passed and no Cade, so Brooke returned to the window to see what was happening—and there were Garrett and Cade, facing each other with fists clenched and red faces. The Secret Service guys didn’t even bother to interfere. They knew better.

Brooke bolted down the hall, ripped open the side entry door and bounded outside to where the men stood.

“What are you doing?” she shouted.

Garrett spun. “Get back inside, Brooke.” He was calm and almost fatherly with her. She wanted to smack him. And kiss him on the cheek for being so sweetly irritating. She knew he still felt guilty for what had happened to her, just as Grace did. That’s why they were so protective. Her family was in California, so Garrett and Grace felt responsible for her. She loved them for that, but it was also suffocating.

“No, Garrett. Let Cade in. I want him here. We can talk like adults inside.”

Garrett frowned. And then he let out a breath. “Fine. Let’s go.”

They went back inside, and Brooke led the way to the TV room where so many football games had happened. Where these men had been friends and had a good time together.

Grace appeared, having gone to take a nap when they’d returned home earlier. She looked refreshed, though she also looked puzzled.

“Oh. Hello, Cade,” she said when she realized he was there too.

“Hi, Grace.”

Brooke marched to his side and twined her fingers in his. Garrett looked to Grace with a huge frown but didn’t say anything. Grace sighed.

“Look, I love you two,” Brooke said. “And I know you’re only looking out for me. You care about me and you care what happens to me. I wasn’t truthful with you about what happened two years ago.” She knew Grace would have told Garrett by now. A muscle in his jaw tensed and she knew it was true. “But I’m going to be fine. And I’m going to be fine because of this man right here.”

Cade squeezed her fingers. “I understand that you two are worried about Brooke,” he said. “But you have nothing to fear from me. I love her. I intend to marry her whenever she’s ready. And if she’s not ready for ten years, well, I’ll marry her then.”

Butterflies beat in her belly. “You want to marry me?”

“When you’re ready.”

“You don’t even know if I have any disgusting habits yet—what if I clip my toenails at the breakfast table? Or wear the same socks for a week?”

He grinned. “Then I’ll make sure we don’t sit at the table for breakfast, and I’ll wash your dirty clothes every day.”

Grace still looked dubious. Garrett looked thoughtful. Brooke let go of Cade and went over to her bestie. She had to stand on tiptoe to kiss her friend’s cheek. Then she took both of Grace’s hands and held them in hers. “You’re emotional right now. Your hormones are going crazy and you love me. But honey, you fell for Garrett in a matter of days. And he fell for you. Now tell me that your hasty romance has ruined your life or that you’re miserable with this man and looking for a way out. Tell me it isn’t working out and you made a mistake. Tell me that, and I’ll tell Cade to go away and I won’t see him again.”

Grace only blinked, her mouth falling slightly open. Garrett was actually grinning when Brooke shot him a glance. He came over and put his arm around Grace, pulled her into his side, and kissed the top of her head.

“Admit it, cupcake,” he said. “You’ve been outmaneuvered. She’s right.”

Grace let out a long breath. “You’re right. We already talked about it, I know, but I wondered if maybe you weren’t infatuated. And I wondered if Cade was really capable of giving you what you deserve.” Her gaze lifted, went to Cade standing nearby. “I think he is, by the way. He’s almost as romantic as Garrett.”

Garrett snorted. “Cupcake, he’s way more romantic than I am. I’m not romantic at all. I just knew you were the one for me and I was going to do whatever it took to let you know. Saint here—well, he seems about as likely to spout poetry as my great-aunt Mary. Which, as you know, happens often and tends to be flowery as shit.”

Brooke stifled a giggle. She’d heard all about Great-aunt Mary. She spoke in Shakespearean sonnets when particularly moved, and she could quote Emily Dickinson and Wordsworth all day long. Grace laughed about the way the woman would launch into sonnets at the Olive Garden whenever they went back to visit Garrett’s family. Apparently the breadsticks there were worthy of great poetry.

“Hey, I don’t spout poetry,” Cade protested. “I mean, I’ll learn if she wants it, but hell, dude, when have you ever heard me say anything poetic?”

Grace laughed suddenly and hugged Brooke. “Congratulations, bestie. I mean it. Clearly if Saint can put up with us, he really does have the patience of a saint. And he deserves you.”

Garrett shook Cade’s hand. “Just kidding with you, man,” Garrett said. “You aren’t bright enough to memorize a poem.”

“Gee, thanks,” Cade replied.

“Okay, so I’m not her dad or anything—and understand she’s still got one of those you’ll have to go through. A fancy doctor out there in California or something, so good luck with that—but I’m obliged to tell you, on behalf of my wife, that if you hurt Brooke or break her heart, I’ll have to beat your ass into a pulp.”

“Roger that,” Cade said.

“Okay, great,” Garrett replied, stepping back with arms wide. “Can we fucking get something to eat now? I’m starving.”