“Yes! Yes, I’ll go out with you.”
“Thank God,” her father rasped.
Caden leaned over and planted his lips on hers, kissing her in such a way that left her breathless. Again. When he released her, she blinked. “What was that for?”
“According to you, kissing is what makes it officially a date, so that’s our second. You just said you’ll go out with me and that will be our third official date because there will be kissing involved.” He shot her a smug smile. “Told you I’d get a third one.”
“You never told me that.”
He frowned. “I didn’t?” His face cleared. “Oh yeah, I told myself I would. So, that’s all that matters.”
Ava let loose the laughter that she’d been choking back. Giggle after giggle pealed from her, and it was from more than just the inane conversation. It was a release of the terror, the gratitude that she’d just lived through a nightmare—and the excitement that Caden wanted to date her. And kiss her.
Yes, she had much to process, but at least she got to do so with the man at her side.
Once everyone was off the boat and she and Caden were encased in the back of a cruiser, she reached for his hand and squeezed. “You saved my life, Caden. Thank you. And, truthfully, I’m looking forward to our third official date.”
He hugged her one more time, then the officer climbed into the driver’s seat and they headed to the hospital, following the ambulance carrying her father.
Away from death and destruction and toward a future filled with hope and love.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
SIX WEEKS LATER
Ava held Caden’s hand as they walked into the hospital and headed for the maternity ward. “How’d the talk with your dad go?”
“Good,” she said. “Really good. He answered a lot of questions I’ve had for years.”
“The biggest one involving the intruder that night when you were fifteen. What’d he say?”
“The man was Maksim Kuznetsov. He’d just learned about his former wife’s and children’s deaths and came to ask my father how he’d let that happen. He went crazy and attacked my father because Dad had promised they’d be safe. And the truth was, Dad had arranged to get them out of Moscow that very week, but the KGB found out and acted. My dad said after I left, Max completely broke down. He sent the man on his way and never heard from him again.” She shook her head as they rounded a corner toward the elevator. “Okay, change of subject. I can’t believe she’s finally here.” Brooke had given birth six hours ago and had texted them to come meet the baby.
Caden smiled. “Asher said Brooke was ready about two months ago.”
“He’s going to be a great dad.”
“He’s already wrapped. That little girl is going to cause many sleepless nights.”
“She’s a newborn. That’s what babies do.”
He laughed. “True. So do sixteen-year-olds, from what I’ve heard.”
They waited for the elevator and he took her hand. “When we leave here, we’ll get the flowers for your mother’s grave, then head over to put them in the vase. Does that work?”
She nodded. “Thank you.” Her mother had passed away four weeks ago, and she, her father, Caden, and Nathan had been at her side. It had been peaceful and fast after they’d received the call that her mother probably had only hours to live. And while Ava missed her terribly, she rested in the promise that since her mother was a believer, she’d see her again one day.
Nathan now knew the truth about his father and Ava and was processing it but, thankfully, seemed to be handling it okay. Like Ava, he was just glad for the miraculous return of the man. He’d shaken his head at the end of the long story. “You realize I can never tell anyone about this. I’d be laughed out of medical school and branded a liar.”
“You’re not mad or hurt or . . . something . . . that we didn’t tell you?” Ava had asked him.
“Are you kidding? No way. I didn’t need that kind of stress.” He’d glanced at his father. “You’re retired now, right?”
“Uh . . . well . . .”
Nathan waved a hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. Let me enjoy my ignorance.”
He’d returned to school and would graduate with honors in December, and Ava had stopped “helicoptering.” As much as possible anyway. He was still her little brother.
“Room 227, right?” Caden asked.
“Yeah.”
They stepped into the elevator, and Caden pulled her into a hug and kissed her, a light peck that spoke of comfort in their relationship. “I just want you to know this has been the best six weeks of my life. Discounting your mother’s death, of course.”
Ava smiled. “I feel the same. And Mom was ready to go. I’m glad she’s not suffering anymore.”
“Any nightmares last night?”
“A few, but I’m certain they’ll get better. Talking to Brooke has helped. What about you?”
“Just the same one.”
That she’d jumped off the deck of the yacht, only to have Nicolai catch her and drown her. She squeezed his fingers. “They’ll pass.”
The doors slid open and they walked down the hall to room 227 to find a crowded room and Brooke sitting in the bed looking radiant. Ava blinked. “You have makeup on. Like you literally could go pose for a family portrait or something.”
Brooke laughed. “I gave birth. I’m not sick.”
Ava shook her head and held out her arms to Asher, who couldn’t seem to take his eyes off his new daughter. The besotted look on his face made her smile.
He hesitated, then passed her to Ava.
“What’s her name?” Caden asked.
Brooke shot a look at Asher, who grinned. “Ashlynn Christine.”
“I love it.”
“The A stands for Ava,” Brooke said, “the S is for Sarah, and the H is for Heather. The Lynn and Christine are just because we like them.”
Ava’s breath caught and she met the eyes of her other two best friends. “I’m so honored.”
Sarah and Heather nodded and swiped tears. Gavin and Travis reached for the tissue box at the same time. Gavin snagged it and passed it to Sarah, who pulled a tissue from it.
The ring on her left hand winked at Ava about the same time Heather saw it. “Hey, what’s that?”
“What?” Sarah asked, her innocent expression not fooling Ava. Or Heather. Heather stepped over to look at Sarah’s hand, then up to meet her gaze. “You didn’t.”
“Well . . .”
“We did,” Gavin said.
“When? Why?” Brooke asked.
Sarah shrugged. “We weren’t sure my dad was going to make it there for a while. So, two days after Caden and Ava managed to escape that psycho, Gavin and I decided we didn’t want to wait anymore. And we got married at my dad’s side.”
Brooke raised her eyebrows at Sarah. “So that’s why you said you postponed the wedding.” She turned those brows on Ava. “I’m impressed. You kept this a secret.”
Ava shrugged. “It was hard, but it wasn’t my news to share.”