Page 270 of Enthrall Shadows
“At the gala, I tried blinking in Morse code to tell you all would be fine. You didn’t catch it, so I had to bring in the big guns. Diamond always comes through.”
“You’re really a fan.”
I felt comfortable sharing why. “When we were in Afghanistan, one of my men, Sergeant-Major Jack Brown, constantly played Neil Diamond. We used to make fun of him for it, but he loved his music. Had a Neil Diamond tattoo, for Christ’s sake.”
“Oh,” she said softly, realizing the truth.
The words were still hard to say. “He didn’t make it.”
She exhaled in a rush. “I’m sorry.”
“I play Jack’s music during significant times in my life. Keep my friend’s memory alive. I’m quite the Neil Diamond fan now.”
“That’s lovely.”
“Isn’t it interesting, how differently we view the music of our youth? Everything has a deeper meaning.”
Her lips turned up. “We’re growing older.”
“Maybe you’d consider growing older with someone like me?”
She sat back, face radiant.
“Move in with me.” I watched her reaction. “If you like.”
“I’ve been staying over at your place every night since you rescued me from de Sade’s. I kind of already live with you.”
“Officially, I mean. I’ll throw out my awkward statues and replace my barren furniture with your beautiful décor.”
“That’s a big move.”
“It’s just from Encino to Beverly Hills.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Anyway, Dex would like it.” I grinned.
“Oh, my God, I adore him.”
“The first night in the preserve, when we hunkered down in our tent, I watched you sleep, all night long.”
“You should have been sleeping.”
“You looked so serene. My sleeping beauty.”
“That’s a lovely thing to admit.” She gave me a shy glance. “I kind of guessed you had.”
“That night,” I said holding her gaze, “was one of the happiest of my life. Watching you sleep beneath the stars.”
Her delicate fingers brushed over my hand, her touch soothing me.
“It was always you, Lotte. Never had any doubt you would become mine.”
“I was scared to dream of a future.”
“You are the air I breathe.”
I cupped her face and brought her in for a kiss, our lips crushing, tongues clashing and then softening into a show of surrender—sharing our emotions in waves of tender affection.
