Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest)

Eighteen



Cara awoke to the sound of Mike’s voice and an aching, throbbing pain in her throat and head. She hurt; she was woozy and disoriented.

“Alexa said she’s okay,” Mike said. “Bruised windpipe, which is going to hurt like hell, and a mild concussion.” He paused. “No. They sedated her. Apparently, she attempted to climb off the stretcher to get to Daniella. She was damned near hysterical, not hearing that Francone was in custody. Alexa finally gave her something to knock her out so she wouldn’t hurt her throat even more.”

Yeah, Cara remembered that now.

Once they’d brought her to the hospital, all she could think about was Bob’s big hands around her neck, trying to choke the life out of her. She couldn’t let him do the same to Daniella. Dizzy and still in pain, Cara shut her eyes again, thinking jail was a good place for the bastard. She hoped they kept him there this time.

“Can you get word to Daniella for me?” Mike asked. “Let her know what’s going on? Cara would want that.”

The man was a keeper, she thought, before remembering he didn’t want to be kept.

“Thanks, Sam,” Mike said.

Aah. So he was talking to his brother.

A sudden spasm hit Cara in the chest and she coughed—or tried to. The pain in her head and throat blindsided her, and she moaned.

“Gotta go.” Mike spun around and was by her side in an instant. “You’re awake.”

“I—”

“Don’t talk. Alexa said it’ll hurt if you try. They’re going to keep you overnight to observe your breathing, and they’ll let you go home in the morning. Okay?”

She nodded.

He brushed her hair off her face, his eyes warm and full of emotion. “Cara, baby—”

She turned her head, a tear leaking from the corner of her eye. She didn’t want his sympathy or pity any more than she wanted to hear whatever he was going to say. Anything sweet and caring would unravel her. She still wasn’t over him and probably never would be. The physical ache in her throat now was bad enough. Adding the emotion of wanting to cry had the pain increasing tenfold. He needed to leave.

Instead his big hand covered hers. “You scared me,” he said, so softly she could barely hear. “Thank God you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

Nice words that he couldn’t possibly mean. He was merely feeling the shock of her attack, she thought, keeping her head averted and her eyes closed tight. She kept her focus on breathing through her nose.

Soon her limbs grew heavy, and behind her eyelids things began to spin. Maybe she still had the sedative in her system. Or maybe she was on painkillers. Something was making her dizzy.

“Sleep, baby,” Mike whispered, his voice gruff. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Mike didn’t know how long he’d slept, but a hand shaking his shoulder woke him, and he bolted up from his half-prone position on Cara’s bed where he’d laid his head. He rose from the chair, every muscle in his body protesting the night he’d spent there.

“I brought you some coffee,” Sam said softly, so as not to wake Cara.

“Thanks.” Mike gratefully accepted the cup.

Sam tipped his head, indicating they should step out of the room.

Mike paused to glance at Cara. She lay against the hospital bed, eyes closed, her face pale, and with the white sheets, the bruising on her face and neck stood out even more. It was a good thing Sam had handled booking Bob Francone, because if Mike got his hands on the man, he’d kill him and save the state the cost of a trial.

Mike followed him into the hall.

“Were you here all night?” Sam asked.

Mike nodded. They’d moved Cara to a private room, which was why the sympathetic nurse had let Mike, who wasn’t family, stay with her. Then again, Mike had towered over the male nurse, flashed his badge, and made it clear he wasn’t leaving.

“Listen,” Sam said. “I just came here, one, to check on her, and two, to apologize. If it weren’t for me, you’d have gotten to her much sooner.” Sam’s guilt was palpable.

According to Alexa, Cara had just stepped outside to her car to get her bag and when she’d taken too long to return, Mike’s gut, which never steered him wrong, told him to go check on her. But Sam had insisted Mike give her time to cool off. And he’d forced himself to wait another few minutes.

Mike knew how much his brother cared about Cara. “Don’t do that to yourself. There’s no way either of us could have anticipated she was in danger.”

Francone had gone quiet since his release and nobody suspected he’d go after Cara.

“But—” Sam geared up to argue.

“Shut up,” Mike muttered to his brother. He might be silently cursing them both for the time he’d wasted, but Sam’s guilt wouldn’t change anything. “She’s going to be fine, and that’s what matters.”

Sam nodded. “Thanks. I’ll go look for Alexa and see when she plans on signing her out.” He slapped Mike on the back and walked down the hall.

Mike leaned back and closed his eyes, the events of last night playing out in vivid detail, every second feeling like an eternity as he watched the woman he loved struggling for her life.

If anything happened to her, Mike would be lost.

He’d already taken his brother’s advice. Mike’s go big or go home plan was ready and waiting. He was amazed at how much he had accomplished in the short time since he’d left the city. He’d wanted to share his news with Cara last night, but she’d run from him. Now he had a captive audience and he’d stop at nothing to convince her that she was his home.

By the time the doctors signed Cara’s release papers and gave her instructions, she was antsy and ready to leave this place for good.

“Soft foods, lots of rest, and little talking,” the older female nurse reminded her, handing Cara the paperwork.

“Don’t worry,” Mike said, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I’ll make sure she listens to doctor’s orders.”

Cara narrowed her gaze, frowning at him. She had tried telling him to get lost, but he wasn’t listening and short spurts of sentences were all she could manage.

Alexa had left earlier, so Cara didn’t have her as a buffer with Mike. And since Cara understood that she needed someone around because of the concussion, she was stuck with him. At least until she could make other arrangements, which she intended to do, by text, as soon as possible.

The nurse looked over toward the door. “Oh! There’s the wheelchair now.”

Cara groaned.

“Hospital policy. You leave in our wheels.” The older woman patted the seat.

A few minutes later, she was settled in Mike’s truck, a place she’d never thought she’d be again. The arousing scent of his cologne permeated her pores, causing an ache in her heart she was beginning to think she’d never be rid of.

Angry at both him and the situation, she folded her arms across her chest and stared out the window, until she realized he wasn’t driving toward her house.

She prodded him in the arm and asked, “Where are you going?”

“No talking, Kermit,” he said with a laugh.

She scowled at him.

“You’ll see, so hush and enjoy the scenery.” He settled in for the ride.

Cara wasn’t so comfortable, not just because of the pain, which she could handle thanks to a generous dose of medication, but because Mike’s return unsettled her as much as the attention he insisted on lavishing on her. She didn’t want it, didn’t need it, and most of all, she couldn’t let herself enjoy it again.

She’d texted Alexa and asked her friend to meet her at Cara’s house so she could get rid of Mike, but she wasn’t answering. Neither was Sam. And now she knew they weren’t going home anyway. Out of options, Cara gave in and shut her eyes.

She didn’t realize she’d dozed off until she heard Mike calling her name. She forced her heavy eyelids open.

He cut the motor.

“Where are we?” She pressed her hand to her throat as she tried to speak.

“Shh. Just listen, okay?” He shifted in his seat and faced her, the most serious expression she’d ever seen on his handsome face.

Uh-oh. Her insides churned from nerves, and she wished she were anywhere but here. Mike had her at a serious disadvantage, unable to speak, stuck with him in his car, God knows where, while he prepared to…what? Explain that he was back for some ridiculous reason that had nothing to do with her, she wondered, and wrapped her arms around herself for comfort.

“I made a huge mistake,” he said, his tone gruff.

She narrowed her gaze.

“I should never have left town. I should have pulled myself together and dealt with everything being thrown at me. Rex, Simon, the case, the resignation, the job offer…” He frowned, clearly disgusted with his own actions.

Amazed at his honesty, she listened, waiting to hear more.

“You were right. If I needed time, I should have just said so. And I damned sure shouldn’t have pulled away from you.” He paused before continuing. “I reverted to my old M.O. and I ran when I should have stuck around and dealt with things here.” He cleared his throat, his expression as filled with pain as Cara’s heart. “I never meant to hurt you.”

She managed to swallow before attempting to speak, the words gut-wrenching to admit. “But you did.”

He moved his hand to the back of her seat, but Mike didn’t move to touch her, for which she was grateful. A simple stroke of his hand and she’d break down.

She was proud of how well she was holding herself together and hoped she wouldn’t have to do it for much longer. “So what now? We’re friends?” she asked, wincing at the sound of her own voice.

He was right, she did sound like Kermit. What a way to have this final conversation, Cara thought. Well, at least it would be memorable for him.

Mike stared into her eyes for so long, she didn’t know what to think or feel.

Finally he answered her. “Yeah, we’re friends.”

Her stomach plummeted at his agreement. Even though he’d told her he needed time to think, Cara hadn’t believed him. She’d known then he was ending things. He’d left her just as he’d said he would, and she choked back a cry at the painful recollection.

“Hey.” He slid his hand from the seat to the back of her neck and gently pulled her close. “We’re friends and so much more.” He drew a shuddering breath. “I love you, baby,” he said in that husky tone she’d dreamed about since he’d been gone.

Her heart beat out a rapid rhythm as shock enveloped her. “What?”

“I love you,” he said, his eyes warm, his emotions there for her to see.

She’d never seen Mike vulnerable before, but he was now, and despite her misgivings about what this declaration meant, that alone made her want to believe.

“I love you,” he said once more, no hesitation, no uncertainty.

She couldn’t prevent the happy tears leaking from her eyes. “But you said—”

“Forget everything I said before. I’d never been in love. I never had to change my life for anyone, nor did I want to. Until you. So please just listen to what I have to say now, okay?”

She nodded. They both knew she wasn’t going anywhere. He had her mesmerized, hopeful, and scared all at the same time.

He brushed her tears with his thumb. “I’m here, baby. I’m staying in Serendipity. The mayor formally offered me Simon’s job permanently, and I accepted.”

Cara’s mind balked. “But you’ll get bored. You’ll grow to hate it and me—”

“Never.” He kept his hand against her uninjured cheek. “As soon as I walked into my New York apartment, I knew I’d screwed up. It took me a week to do something about it because I didn’t think you’d want to see me again. And based on your reaction, I was right.” He winced at the memory they both held of how she’d rejected him back at the bar.

Cara ought to feel bad, but she didn’t. She was too shocked by his words and by the fact that he’d thought this out so clearly—and he’d taken the job.

He was staying.

“When you left the bar, my gut told me to go after you, but I waited. Then I saw that bastard’s hands on your throat and your head hit the pavement.” His body trembled. “You scared me to death.”

“Sorry,” she whispered.

“No, I’m sorry. For leaving, for putting you through the last week.”

If it brought them to this point, it was okay, Cara thought, her heart close to exploding from her chest. “You warned me not to get too invested, but despite everything, I fell in love with you too.”

As much as it hurt to talk, it was worth the pain to finally express her feelings and know they were reciprocated, she thought, running her finger down his cheek.

“Thank God.” He moved closer, and Cara threw herself against him, finding everything she’d ever wanted as his strong arms enveloped her in a tight embrace.

He pushed her away long enough to kiss her, a soul-stealing, all-consuming melding of lips that lit her up from the inside out. His tongue slid against hers and she moaned, seeking closer contact, wanting to rub up against him and never be cold again.

“You’re sure about all this?” she asked.

“So sure that I gave up my New York apartment and put a deposit on this house—pending your approval. The real estate agent faxed me pictures and I fell in love, but I wanted us to walk through together.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered.

His grin transformed his entire face, and Cara fell in love all over again, more so because this time she didn’t have to push away the emotions because now they were shared.

“You’re my life,” he said, the words a balm to her soul. “I want to get married, have a family, raise kids here in Serendipity. I want them to know their grandparents. And I want you to know that I will never abandon you again.”

Cara was crying for real now, but they were good tears, tears that told her he’d just given her everything she’d never dared to hope for or dream about. She watched in disbelief as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a ring.

Go big or go home, Mike thought, holding out the diamond engagement ring he’d picked out himself. He’d managed a lot in a short time, including this ring, which had called to him as soon as he’d laid eyes on it.

He presented it to her with shaking hands. “So, Cara Hartley, will you marry me?” he asked, as he gazed into the face of the woman he loved more than life itself.

She stared at him with those big, blue, expressive eyes, then glanced down at the ring and nodded. “Yes. Yes!”

She threw her arms around him, nuzzling her face into his neck, and Mike breathed easy for the first time in over a week. Or maybe ever in his life.

He separated them long enough to clasp her hand and slip the ring onto her finger.

“Look at that,” she murmured. “It’s a perfect fit.”

He couldn’t help but grin. “Just like us.”

He met her gaze, loving that her cheeks now glowed with happiness, a feeling that echoed inside him. “Ready to go check out the house?” he asked.

She nodded.

Hand in hand, they walked up the driveway to the huge Colonial set back on a private street in his small hometown of Serendipity. And Mike thanked his lucky stars that she’d given him a second chance.

Cara was his and he was finally home.