The Cain Casey Series

Chapter Three

“What’s wrong?” Hayden asked, having chased Emma into the ladies’ restroom and found her leaning on one of the sinks with her head down, crying.

“Nothing, honey. Cain and I just had a painful conversation, and I’m trying to sort it out before we head back. I don’t want you to worry about it.”

“She gets upset sometimes, but you just have to give her time to cool off. You can’t give up so easily.”

“She gets upset with you?”

“Only when I run off and get picked up by some idiot. It’s just a getting-upset-with-you-for-your-own-good kind of thing, as she likes to call it. There’s usually a lecture, but most of the time I learn something, too. It’s not all bad once the grounding part’s over.” He moved closer, as if he wanted to touch her, but stopped just short of that. “You just need to get to know her again, and then you’ll see.”

Emma ran the cold tap and washed her face before looking at Hayden. “Why do you think she’s upset with me?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sorry I gave you a hard time at first.” He grabbed her hand. “I saw you guys today and how you made her smile. I want Mom to be happy.”

“Do you want me to stay?” Emma asked as she peered into eyes so much like Cain’s.

“I want you to not go. I want you to stay so Hannah will be close to us.”

She shook her head, her eyes filled with tears. “No, do you want me to stay?”

“Yes. I want you to stay with Mom and me. We can’t ever be a family if we’re so far apart.”

And that was just what Emma needed to hear.

As Emma headed back toward Cain’s room, Merrick grasped her arm and stopped her. “Haven’t you done enough damage for one day? You have the spine of a slug.”

“I think you’d best get your hands off me and let me finish what I came here to do today.” Emma pulled her arm free and continued down the hall, wiping her face as she went.

For the first time since the shooting, Emma was glad that Cain wasn’t up to full strength. She walked back in as a nurse was arranging the sheets around Cain’s waist on the bed, then stood silently while the woman folded the blankets neatly and wrote something on the chart. When the door clicked closed, Cain didn’t even look at her, seeming tired of the whole exercise.

“Forget something?” Cain asked.

Instead of answering, Emma climbed onto the bed and straddled Cain’s hips, taking care to keep her weight off Cain’s injured chest. She leaned forward until her hands were at the sides of Cain’s head and their faces were inches apart. “I have just one more thing to say, and then if you want, you can have one of your big goons throw me out.”

“I’m listening.”

Cain’s smugness under pressure had always amazed Emma. They could be in the most bizarre or dangerous situation, and Cain was always cool, with that cocky little grin on her face. At that precise moment Emma could think of only one way to knock it off, and she decided to take a chance.

The kiss wasn’t one of their most incendiary, but it did take Cain by surprise. Emma had always been able to wipe all thought from her mind, and this time was no exception. The feel of her lips was sweet, nice, and prompted Cain to put her hands on Emma’s hips. “You were saying?”

“I want to stay here with you,” Emma said when she pulled away just a little while Cain caught her breath. “I love you and don’t ever want to be with anyone else as long as I live.”

“What about everything else? I can’t change who I am. If that’s what you’re asking, then in the end neither one of us will be happy.”

“Everything else will take care of itself because I trust you to keep our children and me safe. I just need to know if I’ve got a chance here? I’m not asking for anything more than that.”

Cain worked a hand up and pressed her palm to Emma’s cheek. “Do you know what my greatest regret is?”

“Not letting me get fired that first night we met?”

The deep laugh almost made her melt into Cain’s chest, but Emma stayed where she was.

“Not going after you when you left. My pride stole a lot of years and a lot of good memories from me.”

“I’m sorry for everything. I should’ve come back when Hannah was born, but I thought you’d have me shot the minute I stepped foot out of the cab.”

“Nah, maybe just a few warning shots to make myself feel better, but this time you brought the second greatest gift you could ever give me.”

Emma closed her eyes and relished the feel of Cain’s hand on her face.

“I missed a lot in Hannah’s life, but so did you in Hayden’s. That doesn’t make us even, but it gives us something to talk about for months to come. Just one thing, Emma. If you stay, it’s for good this time. It’s going to take time to rebuild what we had, but you need to be here if we’re going to try.” Cain pinched her cheek slightly. “I can’t say if this will work or not, but I’m willing to give it my best for the sake of our family.”

“Don’t worry. I learned from my mistakes. I need you and love you, and I’ll try as hard as I can not to hurt you again.”

“I don’t mean to be blunt, but only time will prove that. I meant what I said. I won’t go through this kind of pain again.”

“I know better than to promise you any more than that. But each day after this one I’ll prove to you that I’m sincere. There’ll be no more pain for you or our son. If you allow Hannah and me back in, you’ll never doubt my word. It’s the mark of a true Casey to keep their word.”

Cain laughed again and pulled Emma down far enough to kiss the tip of her nose. “And are you a true Casey?”

“I’m something better. I’m your Casey.”

Across town Muriel’s law office went up in bits when the second bomb of the day went off, sending pieces of debris flying in every direction and trapping two of her young associates in the rubble. It was six o’clock, and they were the only ones left in the building.

Cain had no choice but to answer those responsible, but would Emma keep her promise once she did?