Epilogue
Noelle joined the two spies in the Spy Museum for lunch—it seemed so right.
And being back in D.C. seemed right, too. She’d handed the ranch over to Ted. He’d proven himself an adult, and she couldn’t control his behavior anyway.
She placed her soup and sandwich on the table and turned to stack the red tray on top of the others. The edge of her tray hung over the stack, and she didn’t even feel the need to shove it into place.
J.D. hopped up to pull out her chair and kissed her cheek. “Have a seat, darlin’. We were just talking about you.”
Her gaze meandered between J.D. and another Prospero agent from Team Three, Gage Booker. The two men couldn’t be more different, but they both possessed that quality of being on the edge, tightly coiled and ready to spring.
“Do you still have your suspicions of me?” She scooped up a spoonful of soup and blew on it.
J.D.’s whiskey eyes tracked her every movement and darkened as he zeroed in on her lips. “I never suspected you. I was just doing my job.”
Gage raised one brow. “Is that what you call it? Cade may have been overly involved in protecting Jenna, but he had an excuse. They were already married.”
“And we soon will be.” J.D. ran his fingers along her arm, and the electricity she’d felt the first time he’d touched her still sizzled between them.
This time Gage raised both eyebrows. “This is news. Does Jack know?”
“Thanks for the congratulations.” Noelle slurped her soup and then kissed J.D. with her warm lips.
Sliding a hand along the back of her neck, he deepened the kiss.
Gage cleared his throat. “If Jack doesn’t know, I’m sure he’ll find out soon enough the way you two are carrying on.”
J.D. grinned and picked up his sandwich. “Jack doesn’t know yet, but I’m handing the baton off to you, Gage. I understand we got some useful information out of Pia, the woman I dropped outside of the cabin.”
“We sure did. We got a possible lead on one of Zendaris’s houses in South America. We have to confirm a few more pieces of information before we can get the exact location and move in.”
“So, you’re still going after Zendaris even though nobody has the anti-drone plans?” She took a bite of the sandwich J.D. held to her lips.
Gage rolled his eyes. “We’ll go after Zendaris anytime, anywhere. I’m amazed you were clear thinking enough to save that woman for questioning, what with all the other distractions going on.”
“He’s jealous.” J.D. extended his long legs and crossed his arms behind his head. “He was always considered the ladies’ man of the bunch.”
“You’re so full of it.” Gage leveled a finger at Noelle. “Don’t get taken in by that slow Texas drawl, Noelle. But I suppose it’s already too late.”
“Way too late.” She reached for J.D. and squeezed his hand. “It was too late for me the minute he came to my rescue in the parking lot of the grocery store.”
“He did tell you he messed with that truck first so you’d need his help?”
She just squeezed tighter. “I’m so glad he did.”
“Okay, you two are hopeless and kind of annoying.” He pushed back from the table. “I’m going to check out the desserts and you can make goo-goo eyes at each other all you want.”
“Jealous.”
When Gage left the table, J.D. scooted his chair closer to hers and curled an arm around her shoulders. “I thought he’d never leave.”
“He’ll be coming back.” She tilted her chin at Gage surveying the desserts.
“Then I guess I don’t have much time.”
Her heart fluttered. Did he plan on going somewhere before the wedding? After the wedding?
“Time for what?”
“Time to tell you how much I love you and can’t wait to make you mine once and for all.”
The heart flutters didn’t subside, but now happiness instead of nerves fueled them.
“Are you ready?” She threaded her fingers through his. “Are you ready to wake up one day and find all your shirts hung up in the same direction by length and color and occasion?”
“I should be so lucky. My closet’s a mess.”
Her smile wavered. “I’m serious, J.D.”
He kissed her lips to stop her words. “I’m serious, too, Noelle. There’s no other woman in the world for me. And if you start feeling anxious?” His lids fell half-mast over his eyes and a wicked smile curved his lips. “I have ways of releasing tension you can only imagine.”
She took his face in her hands and kissed him long and hard. This man could never make her feel anxious or nervous or guilty—only loved.
And love was the best medicine of all.
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