Page 46 of Jessica's Hero
“Well. I was thinking… You could stay here. Just until we figure out who’s behind everything. You’ll be safe, and you won’t have to worry about paying for a hotel room. It’ll be great. Like having a date every night.”
“You want me to stay here? After today?”
“If you don’t want to, I get it. But yes, I do. Not just because I think it’s the safest option aside from you staying at Blade and Arrow, but because I want you here. Not that I’m expecting you to sleep in my bed. We can fix up the guest room however you want. Or you can sleep in my bedroom and I’ll take the guest bed. Whatever you want.”
For a moment, my brain stalls on thesleeping in the same bedpart.
I’d be lying if I claimed I never thought about sleeping with Kane. Not just sleeping, cuddled up against his big body with his arm wrapped securely around me, but having sex with him. Falling asleep naked with our limbs intertwined. Waking up to feel his morning arousalnudging at my back. Touching his velvety heat and feeling him grow thick and hard in my hand.
“Jess?” Kane’s eyebrows pull into a worried V. “Would you rather stay at Blade and Arrow? I talked to Cole and he said the client apartment is available. So you could go there instead. I’d prefer you stay here, but we’ll do whatever makes you most comfortable.”
“You talked to Cole about me?”
Cole is the founder of Blade and Arrow Security, and I’ve met him several times through Nora. He’s nice, albeit a little intimidating, but I suppose that’s natural given the whole former Special Forces and head of a national security company thing.
“I did,” Kane affirms. “This morning. Just before I came out to the kitchen. And he agrees with me; what’s happening to you merits investigation. And protection. So he’s volunteered to help. Or, rather, the entire team is going to help.”
“But the money…”
“You know they take pro-bono cases. And given your friendship with Nora, do you really think they wouldn’t help?”
“Nora knows, then?” Fear stabs into my belly. Nora’s my closest friend in Sleepy Hollow. What if she’s mad at me for keeping this from her? What if this messes up our friendship? What if?—
“She knows, sweetheart.” Kane cups my cheek, brushing his thumb lightly across my skin. “And she’s worried about you. That’s what Cole said. But I’m sure she’ll tell you herself when she gets here.”
I jerk up straight. “When she gets here?”
“Yeah. Cole, Nora, and Leo should be coming over—”He checks his watch. “In about an hour and a half. Not that I don’t think the police department is good. And you know Oliver and I will be pushing the chief to be as aggressive as possible with your case. But with B and A involved, it gives us more… flexibility. Less red tape to deal with. You know they can do things that legally, as a cop, I can’t.”
I’m not sure what to say. My emotions are like pinballs bouncing around in my head. So much has happened in such a short time—the fear and devastation of last night, the joy of my relationship with Kane, fear of alienating my few friends, worry that I’ll be accused of making things up again—that it’s hard to make sense of everything.
“It’s going to be okay,” Kane adds confidently. “I promise, sweetheart. The worst is over. Now we have a plan. B and A will help investigate. We’ll get your house fixed. You’ll be safe here with me. And—” His lips cover mine for a second. “We’ll get to spend every night together. PlayingTenebris Veil, watching movies, cuddling, kissing…”
Well. When he puts it that way, it doesn’t sound so bad.
Still. I can’t resist asking, “You’re sure you won’t get sick of me? You’ve been living on your own for a long time.”
“Ihavebeen living on my own a long time,” he replies. “Because I wanted to. There wasn’t anyone I wanted to live with.” He pauses. “Sweetheart. If I didn’t want you here, I wouldn’t have asked you to stay. I would have pushed you to go to B and A. Or a hotel. This is where I want you to be.”
Oh.
Happiness fizzes up inside me again.
Despite the chaos, I find myself smiling.
Then I put my hand on Kane’s bristly cheek and lean in to kiss him.
“This is where I want to be, too.”
CHAPTER 10
KANE
Should I have bought more flowers?
When I picked them up at the florist’s earlier this afternoon, I was actually concerned I’d gotten too many. Loaded down with four bouquets overflowing with tulips and lilies and roses in a rainbow of blues, I never considered I might have neededmore.
But now that I’m back home, I’m worried. I’ve rearranged the damn flowers at least ten times and still can’t get it to look quite right. Either there’s a bare spot on the mantle or a vacant space on the table near the TV. Or an expanse of bland brown and gray furniture instead of a vibrant pop of blue. There just don’t seem to be enough flowers to get the look I was hoping for: themake Jess feel special the second she sees itlook.
