Fatal Identity (34 page)

Sam hugged her mother, holding on for longer than she'd intended. When she pulled back, there were tears in her eyes and her mother's. “It was good to see you. Keep me in the loop on the surgery and everything.”

“I'll do that.” She hugged and kissed Angela and Tracy and thanked Zach, who held the door for her.

“That went well,” Angela said.

“Very well,” Tracy added. “How do you feel about it, Sam?”

“I feel...relieved and concerned for her and for us in light of her diagnosis.”

“Knowledge is power,” Tracy said. “Now that we know, we can be proactive. That's how I'm choosing to see it.”

“That's a good way to look at it,” Sam said.

Her sisters left a short time later. Sam went upstairs to look for Nick and Scotty and found them lying on their bed with the Caps game on much louder than she would have it. She crawled in between them and straight into her husband's arms.

“I'm outta here if you start anything,” Scotty said.

“He's such a buzz killer,” Sam said. “What we were thinking adopting him?”

“You were thinking you're the luckiest parents ever.”

“You know it, buddy,” Nick said with a chuckle.

“Pizza's here!” Scotty bolted from the room and flew down the stairs.

“How does he know that?” Sam asked.

“There's an app for that.”

“He's got a
pizza
app? For real?”

“Yep, and it comes in handy at times like this. How'd the visit go, babe?”

“Good. Really good, actually.”

“What did she want to tell you?”

Sam sighed. “She's been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. Very treatable, great prognosis.”

“That's too bad.”

“It is. For her—and for us. It puts us at higher risk.”

“I sure do hate to hear that.”

“Like Tracy said, it just means we have to be more proactive. It's nothing we can't handle.”

“I've begun to think there's nothing you can't handle.”

Sam raised her head off his chest so she could look into his eyes. “As long as I have you, I can handle anything.”

“Since there's nowhere else in this world I'd rather be than with you, then I guess you're all set.”

Smiling, she leaned in to kiss him and didn't stop until Scotty's loud groan ruined the moment.

“I swear to God I'm going to ground you guys if this kissing stuff doesn't stop.” He'd brought the pizza, paper plates and a roll of paper towels upstairs with him.

As Nick bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud, Sam sat up and took the pizza box from Scotty. “We're living for the day you get your first girlfriend. I hope you're prepared for a lifetime of revenge.”

“To quote my mom, the badass cop, ‘bring it on.'”

Laughing, Sam dished out the pizza and settled in to enjoy the picnic with her two favorite people. For once, everything in her world was perfect, and she intended to enjoy the peace while it lasted.

EPILOGUE

“W
HEN
DO
I get my surprise?” Nick asked when they were on the plane heading for ten days alone together in Bora Bora. They were curled up on the sofa in his private cabin, away from the prying eyes of his detail and the flight crew.

“What surprise?” Sam asked, intentionally playing dumb while tingling with anticipation. She knew exactly what he was talking about and had endured the epic humiliation of bikini waxing to make it happen. She'd be having nightmares for years about the entire thing.

“Don't pull that crap, Samantha. You and your sisters have had my imagination working overtime for a week now, and the fact that I haven't been allowed to touch you for two whole
days
hasn't helped.”

“I'll give you your surprise as soon as we get there,” she said, intentionally squirming so her back side pressed against his erection.

Groaning, he said, “Fine, if you're going to be that way about it.”

“Patience, my love.”

He took hold of her hand and ran his lips over her knuckles. “I'm out of patience because I'm so excited to have ten days alone with you.”

“You think Scotty will be okay while we're gone?”

“He'll be fine. He'll get tons of attention from Shelby and your dad and Celia and Tracy and Angela. They told us not to worry.
He
told us not to worry. So we should relax and enjoy every minute.”

“I feel kind of guilty going somewhere without him.”

“I think that's called parenthood, babe.” He leaned in close enough to nuzzle her neck. “Just think...
ten days
with no one telling us to quit kissing so much.”

“Mmm, that will be nice.”

“Let's get some sleep so we can fully enjoy every minute in paradise.”

Sam took the hand he offered and let him help her up. They took turns in the tiny bathroom and then crawled into bed. “It's kinda funny how different everything is this time than it was last year when we had to fly commercial like regular people do.”

“And yet some things are exactly the same as they were then,” he said with a meaningful smile.

“The most important things.”

She rested her hand flat against his bare chest, feeling his strong heartbeat beneath her palm. “I'm not afraid to fly when I'm with you.”

“Then I guess you shouldn't fly without me ever again.”

“We both know that's not always going to be possible.”

“I'll go whenever I can,” he said, sounding sleepy.

Sam closed her eyes and tried to settle in, hoping he would get some much-needed rest.

The next thing she knew they were being awakened by an announcement from the cockpit, letting them know they'd be landing in forty-five minutes.

“I can't believe I slept on an airplane—again,” she said.

“You might be getting over your fear of flying.”

Her meltdown on the flight to Knoxville was evidence to the contrary, but she didn't feel like talking about that today. Not when paradise awaited.

With their usual efficiency, the Secret Service got them off the plane and into an SUV for the ride to the resort.

“Where will they be while we're here?” she asked of the detail that included Melinda, much to her dismay.

“In villas on either side of us.”

“So they'll be spying on us?”

“No, they won't be
spying
,” he said, laughing. “They'll be close by if we need them, but mostly out of sight.”

“What does this mean for my need to skinny-dip?”

“It puts a damper on that, but everything else involving nudity is recommended and allowed.”

They were given a VIP welcome at the resort and shown to the same villa they'd occupied last year. After Nick had a brief conversation with Brant, the agent left and Nick locked the door behind him.

“Alone at last,” he said.

“Whatever shall we do?”

“I can't think of a thing I want to do.”

“God, one year of marriage and we're already so bored. What does that mean for the other seventy years you're going to be stuck with me?”

“It means,” he said as he put his hands on her hips to draw her into his embrace, “I'm the luckiest bastard in the universe.”

“We're both lucky. So lucky.” With her hand curled around his neck she drew him into a kiss. “You want that surprise now?”

“More than I've ever wanted anything. Ever.”

“That's a whole lot of want.”

“You have no idea.”

“If you undress me, you'll find it.”

The dress she'd bought for the trip flew over her head. Her bra came off next and then he was on his knees before her, sliding panties down her legs and gasping at the sight before him. “Are you freaking kidding me?”

“Good surprise?”

“I won't know for sure until I get a closer look.”

He lifted her right off her feet and carried her to the huge bed they'd all but lived in last year. Something told her this year was going to be more of the same, and that was fine with her.

“Samantha...” He licked and worshipped her, making her tremble from the sensations that were a thousand times more intense than usual.

Angela had forgotten to tell her to expect that.

“Just when I think you can't possibly get any sexier than you already are, you blow my fucking mind.” He sucked hard on her clit, and she came instantly, crying out with the abandon that came from being completely alone with him and not having to worry about making too much noise.

His body came down on hers, hot and hard and heavy. Grasping her hips, he pushed into her, the tight squeeze triggering another release for her.

“So you like my surprise?”

“I fucking love it, and I love
you
, so much.”

She ran her fingers through his hair. “I love you too. You, this, us...it's everything.”

“Mmm, yes, it is.”

Sam had no idea how much time passed before they wore themselves out. The bright sunshine had given way to twilight that shimmered over the surface of the bluest water she'd ever seen. “As amazing as our loft is, there's no substitute for the real thing.”

“I want to come here every year until we're old and gray and too decrepit for anything more than a peck on the lips.”

Sam laughed at the picture he painted. “You will never be that decrepit.”

“Will you still love me if I am?”

“I'll always love you.”

“You want your present?”

“Hell yes, I want my present.”

As he got out of bed and walked out of the room, Sam enjoyed the view of his spectacular ass. He returned with a cardboard box. “Did you know the first anniversary is paper?”

“My sisters told me that.” She reached for the package she'd stashed next to the bed when they first arrived. “Which is why I got you this.”

“And here I thought you'd gone with wax over paper.”

She snorted with laughter. “I did both.”

“You first.”

Sam tore into the box and found a smaller box on top of a layer of tissue paper. Inside she found a gorgeous platinum bracelet on which he'd had the words “The first of many” engraved. “It's so beautiful! I love it.” She put it on and held up her arm for him to see.

“It matches the one I got you for the inauguration.”

“I see that. It's perfect.” She leaned in to kiss him. “Thank you.”

“There's more, and in case you're wondering, the tissue paper is my contribution to tradition.”

Under the layer of bright red paper were a treasure trove of intimate goodies, including massage oil, lubricant, a vibrator and a couple of odd-shaped objects she couldn't immediately identify. Her body flushed with heat and desire, but before she could indulge the desire, she had questions. “How in the world does the vice president of the United States make a purchase like this and get away with it?”

“Carefully,” he said with a chuckle. “I had it shipped to Shelby's.”

“So
she
knows about this?”

“She has no idea what was in the box, just that I needed to have it sent to her so you wouldn't know. I made a joke about being married to a detective.”

“Wow, I'm impressed and intrigued. Now open yours.”

He tore the paper off the framed collage she'd made at Angela's suggestion of her favorite pictures from their first year of marriage, including their wedding, honeymoon, Scotty's adoption, the inauguration and group shots with the people they loved best.

“This is fantastic, Sam.”

“It's not as exciting as massage oil, but—”

“It's amazing. What a year this has been. I love it, thank you.” He put down the frame and moved the box to the floor so he could hold her. “What do you suppose our second year will be like?”

Resting her head on her favorite chest, she said, “Probably a lot like the first—chaotic and busy and crazy and absolutely incredible.”

“I don't know about you, but I can't wait for every minute of it.”

Smiling, she kissed him, lingering over the sweet taste of his lips. “As a very wise boy once said,
bring it on
.”

* * * * *

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for reading
Fatal Identity
! I hope you enjoyed catching up with Sam and Nick and
the rest of the Fatal characters. If you want to read more about Sam getting a
bikini wax or how they made use of Nick's gifts on their trip, join my
newsletter mailing list at marieforce.com to receive a link to the added extras.
If you're already on the list, watch for a link to the bonus content in the
release week newsletter. You can also download my Marie Force App at Apple and
Android to receive occasional bonus content. Join the Fatal Identity Reader
Group at
www.facebook.com/groups/FatalIdentity
to chat about the book with
spoilers allowed and encouraged as well as chances to win release week
giveaways. Make sure you're also a member of the Fatal Series Reader Group at
www.facebook.com/groups/FatalSeries
to be among the first to hear news about
the series.

Fatal Identity
marks a turning
point in the Fatal Series. It's the first time in the series' six years that the
book is being released in all formats at the same time. It's available in ebook,
print and audio, and I couldn't be more excited that readers and listeners of
all formats can get it on the same day. Thanks to the HQN team for making that
happen and for the brilliant new Fatal Series covers. I hope you love our Sam
and Nick as much as we do! Thank you to my editors, Margo Lipschultz and Alissa
Davis, as well as my agent, Kevan Lyon, for their work on the Fatal Series.

My appreciation goes to Captain Russell Hayes of the Newport,
Rhode Island, Police Department, for answering my many questions as I wrote this
book. As always, Russ is an outstanding resource to me, and I wouldn't want to
write the Fatal books without him at the other end of an e-mail. Thanks also to
Christopher Burnette, forensic specialist, for his help with the DNA storyline
in this book.

Special thanks to my amazing team that works behind the scenes
to keep me sane—Julie Cupp, CMP, Lisa Cafferty, CPA, Holly Sullivan, Isabel
Sullivan, Nikki Colquhoun, Cheryl Serra, Ashley Lopez and Courtney Lopes. Thank
you, ladies, for all you do every day! Love you all!

And to my incredible readers who make this journey so much fun,
thank you for your support of my books! I appreciate each and every one of you
more than you'll ever know.

xoxo

Marie