Page 131 of Tactically Acquired

“You’re going to introduce me, right?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“I can’t believe this. I’m going to meet Zoe Warren! We’re going to be best friends!”

“Well, if you’re going to be best friends with her, you should know that Fox is also her best friend and godfather to her kids, which means you’ll have to watch musicals with him.”

I waved him off. “Totally worth it. Besides, Spencer will love him.”

“And what about me?”

I stopped, cocking my head at him, unsure of what he was saying. “What do you mean?”

“Spencer will love him,” he repeated, almost like he was trying to get to a different question. And then it dawned on me.

“Do you want Spencer to love you?” I hedged.

His hand slid over mine and I sucked in a breath at the swift wave of emotion that washed over me. “That’s not exactly what I’m asking.”

I knew what he wanted to know, but up until a few days ago, he didn’t even want to sleep with me. He kept pushing me away. And when we left the safe house, he once again put up walls so he didn’t have to deal with me. Would it always be like that?

“I don’t think I’m the one who needs to figure out what I want.”

“I already know what I want.”

“Then why did you push me away?”

My eyes slipped closed as his hand cradled my jaw in his large hand. “Because I knew I couldn’t protect you when I was already in love with you.”

I sucked in a breath, blinking rapidly as I took in his words. “You…you love me?”

“I probably should have found a better way to say that,” he muttered.

“I can’t believe you love me,” I whispered.

“Why not?”

“Because you didn’t even want to sleep with me.”

“Trust me, I always wanted to sleep with you.” He tugged me to him and his warmth seeped into my skin. My eyes slipped closed as his voice rumbled against my chest. “I didn’t think I’d ever fall for you. I never saw you coming.”

Tears pricked my eyes at his admission. “Dammit!”

“What?”

I scrunched my hand in his shirt, pissed as hell at the circumstances. “Why did you have to go and say all that stuff? I’m tired and my vision is shit right now. I can’t even see your face!”

A choked laugh slipped from his lips and he kissed my forehead. “Sorry. I’ll try this again after you’ve gotten a full night’s sleep. Though, I can’t guarantee that it’ll be as good. The stress from the day won’t be at the same level.”

“Then you’ll just have to get us in another car accident.”

“Another?”

I shrugged in his arms. “What’s one more?”

34

SLIDER

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