Page 66 of Flint's Battle

“You’d better. Now shut up, already. I hear a wheelchair rolling down the hall.”

CHAPTER 21

Ten days later…

Emery jolted awake,blinking a few times to bring the room into focus. Dark shadows lined the space, only a hint of moonlight spilling in through the windows. Whispered voices murmured in the distance, the low din barely reaching her.

Flint and his team.

She didn’t need to hear the conversation to know they were discussing their “situation” again. Debating on whether they returned to duty or retired. Flint hadn’t told her too much — couldn’t from what she’d gathered — but she’d overheard snippets of intel when they’d talked in her hospital room last week. Enough to know it wasn’t a matter of choice, but of honor.

Emery lifted the covers, wincing when the motion aggravated her shoulder. The doctors had finally decided to take the damn plate out, and while it had eliminated the stabbing pain from the metal and screws, the surgery had caused other issues.

Namely swelling.

Enough that Flint had been worried about simply holding her. She’d threatened to kick his ass if he tried to sleep in oneof the other rooms, but he’d limited their contact to just that. Holding her. And it was high time he held true to his other promise. Especially when he might have to leave in two weeks.

God, she hoped his CO would come through. Find whatever he was searching for. But she needed Flint to understand she was in it, regardless. That they’d find a way to make it work, even if that meant temporarily relocating.

It took a couple tries to actually stand, but she managed it, making her way to the door then down the hallway. Flint was at the entrance, joking with his buddies as he leaned against the doorframe. His muscular silhouette making her skin tingle. The man was far too handsome for her well-being.

She copied his stance, leaning against the wall while he tossed insults out to the other men. A couple engines revved in the distance, followed by the sound of tires fading away.

Flint turned, humming to himself before he stopped cold, his gaze settling on her. Emery didn’t know if it was the way she smiled at him, or the fact she was only wearing his tee, that got his chest heaving. His narrowed eyes telling her everything she needed to know.

He smiled, nearly buckling her to the floor with the sexy tilt of his lips, then ambled over. Not quite a swagger but it was close. Had her heart tapping triple time against her ribs. He stopped a breath away, placing his hand above her head on the wall. A hint of cottonwood teased her senses, paired with the salty freshness of the ocean.

Flint leaned in, nuzzling her nose. “Did we wake you?”

“You’d have to talk above a whisper to do that. I guess I was just missing you.”

“Perfect timing, then. I was just on my way in.”

And there it was. The tension in his muscles. The tightness around his mouth. He obviously hadn’t liked whatever decision he and his buddies had come to. Though, she suspected it wasmore of the same limbo — waiting to see if their clocks would run out and essentially make the choice for them.

Emery lifted her good arm, gently palming his face. “That bad of a talk, huh?”

His eyes widened for a moment before he chuckled. “Can’t get anything past you, detective. And it wasn’t bad, just indecisive.”

“Which means, you still don’t know if you’ll be leaving in two weeks.”

Flint closed his eyes, his breath huffing in and out through his nose. It took him a minute before he finally looked down at her, all that warmth she’d admired, gone. “I don’t want to go. You know that, right?”

That’s all she needed to take that next leap of faith. Lay it all out for him because he wasn’t the only one who’d been trying to work a deal. She’d made some enquiries, too.

She smoothed her thumb across his jaw, loving how her skin caught on the thick stubble. “I think it’s time we cut through the bullshit, yeah?”

He frowned. “The bullshit?”

“You know, the part where you seem to think there’re only two options here. You either stay, and we’re happy, or you re-enlist, and I freak out.”

“I didn’t think you’d freak out, but…” He eased back and ran a hand through his hair, tousling the brown locks all over his head. “I know it’s a lot to ask. This job… I’m always on call. I can’t guarantee I’ll make to all the important events, and I’m not even stationed in Hawai’i.”

Emery nodded. “Yup. No doubt about it. I’d really rather you didn’t have to go back. But…” She interrupted when he went to open his mouth. “It’s not a deal breaker. It’s not like my job is that much different. Sure, I don’t go to exotic countries and live the high life…”

She smiled when he rolled his eyes. “But have you forgotten we have that factory shit show to thank for bringing us together? I’m on call, too. And I missed Christmas dinner last year because some asshole decided to rob the only open diner.”

Emery placed her hand on his chest. “What I’m trying to say is, I’m in. Whether you retire or not doesn’t matter. I just want you, coming home to me, for the rest of my life. That anchor position you said was free. Because I was kinda hoping you’d want to be my anchor, in return.”

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