I hope you all had a magical holiday season - I'm a little sad its over, but I'm ready to get that dang tree out of my living room.

xo

-xx-

Savior

Chapter 85

-xx-

Cate was thankful to be in her flip flops and leggings as she made her way down to the bar area. Derek had gone down before her to meet up with his cousins; several members of the family had taken out blocks in the hotel for the wedding and had decided to take over the bar after the reception ended.

She slid her hands into the front pocket of her Victoria's Secret sweatshirt and sighed as she watched the numbers decrease in the elevator. She fought every urge to climb in to bed for the night; she knew Derek was just downstairs with his family and friends, but the way he begged her to come out pulled at her heartstrings.

He could not stop gushing about his future wife as he introduced her to several people throughout the night. She was excited to finally be able to meet his grandparents and other key family members that he spoke about often.

"There she is," Cate laughed as his voice echoed throughout the hallway. It was not too often that he was able to enjoy himself with alcohol, so she grinned as he pulled her into a passionate kiss in the lobby of the hotel. "You look good," he whispered in her ear.

Cate blushed; he had shed the tuxedo in their hotel room and changed into jeans and a tight olive green Henley. She loved watching his muscles flex under the fabric. "Sorry I took so long," she muttered as he took her hand in his.

The two started back towards the bar in the front lobby. "You're here now," he commented. "That's what matters."

He always knew just what to say to her to make her smile. She was shocked when they turned the corner and headed into the bar area – it was packed. Sarah waved from the table she had saved with her husband. Cate stepped up to the bar next to Derek and grinned as he ordered her wine. "Thank you," she mumbled as the bartender slid the glass to her. "Last one for me," she said as she locked eyes with Derek.

He winked before taking his own whiskey glass and slipped his arm around his fiancé. "Sounds like a plan," he replied before pressing his lips to hers. She smiled against his lips as she felt his hand slip under the bottom of her sweatshirt. "Nothing on under this huh?" he asked in a whisper against her ear.

She could feel the blush rise in her cheek as she bowed her head into the crook of his neck. In her mind, it was a thin enough material that it was more like a shirt than a sweatshirt, and she often slept in it. She found it long enough to cover her bottom in the leggings she wore, but comfortable enough after being in a gown all day.

"Are you playing shy?" he asked with a soft laugh. "Where'd my Catie go – she'd tease me until she got me back in our hotel room."

His whisper against his ear caused goose bumps to climb up the base of her neck. Without looking, he knew her lip was tucked between her teeth. "We're with your family," she reminded quietly.

"And?" She pulled back when she heard the question escape his lips. The twinkle in his eye caused her to smirk. Her fingers slipped around his belt loop as his fingers danced across the small of her back. "It's your fault, baby."

Her eyebrow rose as she took a sip from her wine glass. "Is that so?"

He nodded. "My fiancé is the sexiest woman in this room, and she knows it drives me wild when she plays shy." Cate laughed at his quiet words. "We'll finish these," he said as he gestured to their drinks, "and I'm taking you upstairs, woman."

Cate pursed her lips together as he lost himself in the blue eyes he loved. "Behave," she scolded with a chuckle. "Or you're sleeping by yourself."

"I can't behave when I'm around you, Cate," he said as he kissed her cheek. "I thought you knew that by now."

The brunette shook her head as she slipped out of Derek's grasp and headed towards the table where his sister and brother-in-law sat. "This one is trouble," she said as she thumbed back in her fiancées direction. "All trouble."

Sarah laughed. "If you're just realizing that now, you're a little late to the game."

Cate chuckled as she placed her glass of wine to the table. "He just keeps reminding me," she said as she rolled her eyes. Derek slid in to the seat next to her and pouted. Cate placed her hand to his cheek and smirked. "But I think I'll keep him."

"Are you two flying home tomorrow?" Deshawn asked as he reached for his beer bottle.

"Monday morning," Derek answered. "I was able to make it a long weekend away from the office, so pending the team does not get called out on Monday, we'll fly home then."

Cate pursed her lips as she focused on her wine glass. "I'm sure they could manage one case without you, D," Sarah offered.

"I've requested a lot of time off in the next few weeks," he countered. "Between the wedding and then Aruba, I'm using up my vacation time for the year."

"What about next Sunday?" Sarah asked as she took a sip of her own wine.

Derek shrugged. "I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee that I'll be there."

Cate let her shoulders drop as Derek placed his arm on the back of her chair. "It's a party for the ladies, anyways," Deshawn added, only to receive a smack to the arm by his wife. "What?" he asked as he turned towards Sarah.

"Just because we didn't have one does not mean they're not fun," she replied.

"I didn't want one," Cate said with a laugh. "My mother just needs a reason to plan a party."

Sarah grinned. "Sounds like a mom," she said softly. "They always need a reason to show off their babies."

Cate nodded as she ran her fingers across the base of her wine glass. "I'd be lost without her, though," Cate added. "With the wedding planning and the time crunch, on top of everything else we're dealing with." She let her words roll off her tongue and then settle across the table.

Sarah placed her hand on top of Cate's. "We're a phone call away," she reminded. "And anything you need for us to do next weekend to knock off your to-do list – just ask."

Cate bowed her head as a smile danced across her lips. "Thanks Sarah," Derek added as he noted his fiancée's silence. "Cate is under strict orders to relax this week. She's been going crazy with all of the wedding planning that she needs a few days off to chill."

"That's not a bad idea," Sarah commented. "Everything will work out the way it's supposed to, anyways. There's no reason to stress yourself out more than you should."

Cate nodded. "I know," she muttered. "As much as I'm looking forward to everything over the next few weeks, I'm kind of ready to be done with it all."

"Vegas doesn't look so bad now, huh?" Derek asked with a smirk. Cate rolled her eyes at his words, but laughed when Sarah glared at her younger brother. "We would have told you guys – eventually."

Sarah shook her head at her brother. "You're going to have a gorgeous and perfect wedding," she reassured Cate. "If you choose someone other than him," she gestured to Derek, "in the next couple of weeks, we'll understand."

The two women laughed as Derek could only shake his head. "Nah," Cate said with a shrug. "He's a keeper."

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