Page 42 of Hard Focus
“They leave tomorrow.” Nelly grinned and looked side to sidesuspiciously,as if she were checking for eavesdroppers. “I heard Mom tell Taylor yesterday.”
“Oh, thank God.”
“Thank God what?”
Connie jumped and twisted with a shriek when her father spoke from behind her. “Owww.” He scowled. “Thaaaat I’m feeling so much better.” She nodded and yanked at Nelly’s arm, pulling her close. “And that my sister is here. We’re close now, Daddy. So close.”
He nodded, lifting his bottle of beer in a salute. “Near-death experiences will do that to you. Having snipers aim their rifle barrels at you has a way of bringing everything into focus.” Connie’s stomach dropped, and her father stared at her a minute. “Sorry, baby girl. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but it happened. Not talking about it won’t make it go away.”
“Captain.” Cole’s voice was a welcome distraction from the conversation her father wanted to have, and she liked how he’d fallen into calling her dad by his rank. Her father had worked hard and for a long time to achieve what he had, and having Cole, whose career was within a similar ranking structure, bond with him in this way felt good to her. “How’s your day, sir?”
Tony stared at Cole for a moment before extending his hand. They shook over the top of Connie’s head, and she watched her father’s fingers flex around Cole’s, clamping down when he would have pulled back. Her gaze flicked to her father’s face and she saw an unfamiliar emotion there. Grief mixed with relief. “You’ll take care of her the way she should be.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Cole nod. “Or I’ll be back here and kick your ass into next Sunday.” Her father’s fingers flexed again, and this time Cole’s grip tightened too. “Be the man I know you to be, and we won’t have any problems.”
“Is he handing me off?” she asked Nelly, frowning when her wide-eyed sister nodded. “Did you just do that whole caveman thing, Daddy? Did you just try to give me to Cole?”
“Didn’t try, baby girl.” Her father released Cole’s hand finally and rested his fist on his hip. “Mission accomplished.”
“You can’t do that.” She pushed at the cushions underneath her, struggling to sit more upright. A strong arm curled around her back, supporting her, and Cole helped her change position. “Thanks.” She glared at her father. “You can’t just do that, Dad. It’s not the dark ages.”
“You mind being mine?” She turned her head to find Cole right there, his eyes crinkling at the corners, cheek creased in a smile that showed off the dimple she loved so much. “Is it that hard to stomach?”
“Well, no. But…what he was doing is entirely different.” Connie shook her head, stopping the movement when Cole cupped her cheek. “That’s, um…” He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “Different.”
“You want me to ask you instead?” She stared at him. The expression on his face was so open and earnest it told her this was something he wanted very much. Cole was so close now she could feel the heat of his breath against her mouth. She’d only have to move a fraction of an inch to kiss him. Each word carried him closer. “Constance Rowe, will you be mine? If you aren’t ready, yet, I’ll wait. I’ve already promised you that. But will you be mine one day?”
She nodded and pressed forwards, sighing as his lips molded to hers. “Yes,” she whispered and felt his lips move as he smiled.
