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Footsteps pounded into the house. The gun in Naomi’s hand was kicked away, even though she had to be dead.
“Come here,” Nolan murmured. He stood and easily lifted her to her feet, ushering her away from the bodies and the men and the smell of gunpowder, pepper spray, blood, and death. “Ray? I’m taking Madeline out back by the river.”
“Go.” Ray waved a hand at them. “We’ll clean this up, but four of my men will follow you.” He gestured to the men to run around to the back.
Madeline almost smiled at that. She’d been uncertain if she wanted guards trailing her, but her not taking guards this morning and Nolan out-driving his guard this evening had almost been disastrous. She couldn’t lie any longer and claim she needed time to process everything that loving Nolan entailed. Those moments of thinking he was dead as he’d flattened on top of her had been the longest of her life.
She loved him. She couldn’t live without him.
Ray’s blue gaze zeroed in on Madeline. Blue eyes so like his dad’s. She loved those eyes. “Madeline. Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She shook her head. “No.”
Ray nodded as if he understood. How could this tough, brave general who had seen death, inflicted death, and protected so many, understand?
“Thank you for coming for me.” She looked at Chief Jensen and Ray. Their men lined up behind them awaiting instructions, except for the four that had already vaulted her fence to secure the backyard.
“Of course,” Ray said.
Jensen nodded.
“How did you know to come?” Nolan asked. “You beat my guards here.”
“We were interrogating the suspect together, and he burst out that Naomi was coming,” Jensen said. He exchanged a look with Ray.
“It was a gut instinct to come this direction,” Ray said, his blue gaze steady on Madeline. “But Chad told me earlier he was bringing you home and I had a feeling.” He shrugged. “So we rushed here.”
“Thank you,” Madeline said. “Both of you.”
“Thank you, Ray, Jensen,” Nolan held her close and nodded to each of them, then the men behind them. “All of you.” He gently ushered her away from the bodies. “Do you want to go out back?”
“No.”
“No?” Nolan glanced down at her. “Where do you want to go, love?”
“Home,” she said, turning in his arms to face him.
“Home?” he repeated, obviously confused. “Madeline, sweetheart, you are home.”
“Your home,” she whispered, staring into his blue, blue eyes.
Nolan’s eyes widened, and then his face split into a grin. He bowed his head and kissed her. He kissed her so thoroughly she was lifted into a haze of happiness.
Together. A team. Madeline was no longer alone. She hadn’t realized what she’d been missing, but Nolan had already shown her love and happiness the likes of which she’d never known existed. She could hardly wait for the next step.
ChapterFifteen
Nolan savoredeach moment of the intense kiss with Madeline. Every kiss with her made his brain cloudy and made him feel far removed from the accomplished and with-it king of Augustine. He felt like a twenty-year-old, heady with love and longing to kiss her and never stop.
He finally forced himself to pull back for oxygen and noticed their audience. Well, none of the men were looking at them, but it was obvious they were trying not to. Jensen had a smirky-smile on his lips. Ray appeared far too serious. All their men moved with efficiency, cataloguing the crime scene and trying not to watch their king kiss the future queen.
Future queen? Did he dare hope? She had said she wanted to go home. His home. He wanted to make it hers officially.
“Madeline,” he whispered, gazing down into her emerald eyes. He wrapped an arm around her and ushered her out onto the patio. Four guards had taken up stations to watch over them as the river trail was on the other side of a thick layer of bushes.
“I know you want to go home, but can we talk first? I’m not certain I could drive with all I have to tell you and all I want to hear from you. It’s bursting out of me.”
“The best driver in the kingdom, the mighty king, is worried about his ability to drive?” She pursed her lips and looked him over. “I don’t believe it.”
