The Hero (Game of Chance, #3)

by Susan Stoker

“Okay, maybe I’m a little tired. But just another hour. I want to have time to look presentable when I meet your friends.” “You’re already presentable,” he told her. She rolled her eyes again. “I’m a mess,” she said unselfconsciously. “My hair is probably sticking up everywhere, I stink, I’m dirty. I need to clean up before we land. I don’t want your friends thinking you’re with a wild jungle creature.” “You’re my wild jungle creature,” Bob said with pride. “And I love you exactly how you are.” She seemed to melt into his arms. “I love you too,” she said shyly. Bob palmed the back of her head and kissed her forehead gently. “Sleep, Punky. I’ve got you.” “I know you do,” she replied, then promptly fell into a deep sleep.

“More things went smoothly than not on this mission . . . at least until the end there. Willis’s plan to break into the prison worked, even if it was insane. Marlowe got out, I met up with her, and we made our way across the country. But with every day that passed, the more time I spent with Marlowe . . . something changed.” “You love her,” Cal said, speaking up for the first time. “Yeah. Love actually seems like such a tame word for how I feel about her. She’s strong. And brave. And resilient. She did as I asked and didn’t complain even once, even though she was under tremendous stress and had every right to. When that woman in Thailand suggested we get married, I let Marlowe believe she was talking me into it, but honestly? I didn’t even blink.”

“I need you to find our wedding certificate and pin it to the wall where it belongs.”

“Kendric,” she complained softly. “You need to stop being so nice.” “Why?” he asked, genuinely wanting to know. He stopped stirring the meat and turned to look at her. “Because.” “That’s not an answer,” he chided gently. “And I’m never not going to be nice to you. I want to spoil you. Look after you. Make your life as easy as I can make it.” “Can I do the same for you?” she asked with a tilt of her head. “Don’t you know? You already are. I’ve been a bachelor a long time. Done my own cooking and cleaning. Washed my own clothes. Mopped my own floors. Woke up alone, went to bed alone. Having you here? Sharing the daily chores? Lying in my arms when we sleep? It feels amazing. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep you happy.” “I am,” she said without hesitation. “Me too,” he agreed.

“I wouldn’t mind talking with you and the others about what we went through sometime, getting it all out on the table, but I think I’ve finally found the cure to my nightmares.” “Yeah? What’s that? You aren’t drinking, are you? Or taking medication?” JJ asked worriedly. Bob snorted. “No way. It’s Marlowe. Somehow, holding her at night . . . she keeps them at bay.” The look of longing on JJ’s face was so fleeting, Bob almost thought he imagined it. Almost. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.” “Thanks.”

“You need my help?” JJ chuckled. “No. You might think you’re Superman, but you’re still healing. When you finish up the antibiotics and are back one hundred percent, I’m gonna work your ass off. Force you to take all the calls to make up for your stupidness.” “That’s not a word,” Bob told him. JJ flipped him off and headed back into the apartment.

He brought their hands up to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “I love you, and I’m so proud of you.”