Page 100 of Nails
“I know you can take care of yourself.I’ve seen it with my own eyes.Riley, you’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.But that doesn’t mean I don’t worry.My job brings out a protective instinct, and seeing Adam, who is not only just a criminal, but in my opinion, one of the most manipulative and dangerous predators I’ve ever laid eyes on, touch you like he owned you.And knowing you were going to meet him alone, yeah, it did something to me I didn’t expect.I hated it.I care about you, Riley.More than I probably should right now, considering we’ve only known each other for less than a month.And I just didn’t know how to handle it.
His voice cracked slightly at the end, and she couldn’t help but stare at him.This tough, brave, but guarded SEAL looked like he was unraveling right in front of her.And damn if he didn’t look so freaking cute when he was all vulnerable like this.Not that she would tell him that.
She smiled, and before she could stop herself, she reached up and cupped his cheek.
“You weren’t the only one at fault,” she said quietly, her gaze dropping for a moment.“I shouldn’t have snapped the way I did.But being a woman in this line of work can be exhausting at times.We’re constantly having to prove we belong.You know, to show we’re just as capable, just as tough, just as smart.And even when we do, there’s always someone ready to second-guess us.”
She drew in a breath and looked up at him.“So, when you told me I couldn’t go, it felt like you didn’t believe I could handle it, and it hit a nerve that I’ve spent years trying to cover up.I know you were just trying to protect me, but in that moment, it felt like doubt.”
Nails didn’t answer right away.He just looked at her, jaw tight, like her words had cracked something open inside him.
Then he nodded slowly.“I get it,” he said, voice low.“Not all of it, because I haven’t lived it, but I get why it hit you like that.”
He shifted a little closer, his gaze steady on hers.“When I told you not to go, it wasn’t because I didn’t think you could handle it.Hell, I know you can.You’re one of the toughest people I’ve ever met.But I’ve seen what this world can do to good people.And after what happened to you last night, I just—” He broke off, exhaling hard.“I couldn’t shake the thought of you getting hurt again or worse, losing you.”
He paused, rubbing the back of his neck.“But I crossed a line.I didn’t treat you like a partner.I treated you like someone I needed to lock away in a safe, and that’s not fair.Especially to someone like you.”
He gave her a half-smile.“You scare the hell out of me, Riley.In the best way.”
Riley’s lips curled just slightly, her eyes softer now.“So basically, we’re both a little messed up,” she said.“You’re overprotective, and I’ve got a chip on my shoulder the size of a tank.”
He let out a breath and laughed as though he felt relieved.
She reached out and brushed her fingers lightly against his.
“But maybe that’s what makes us work,” she added.
Before he could reply, she leaned in and kissed him.It was slow, warm, and full of unspoken apologies and everything that didn’t need to be said out loud.It wasn’t rushed.It wasn’t hungry.It was grounding—a reset.
When she finally pulled back, her voice was just above a whisper.“Still want to go to the carnival?”
“As long as you promise to protect me in the crowd still,” he teased, drawing a laugh from her.
As they stood, she laced her fingers through his again.“For the next few hours, I’m not thinking about this mission or anything else.Tonight is just about you and me.”
Nails nodded.“Sounds perfect.”
As they crossed the street toward the entrance, Riley felt something she hadn’t in a long time.She was happy.Like, really happy.
CHAPTER TWENTY
It had been a few hours since Riley and Nails settled their misunderstanding and walked into the carnival.Riley couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed so much.
They had ridden just about every ride.The Ferris wheel had given them a quiet moment above the city where he had kissed her again.The zero-gravity spinning ride had been a mistake, especially after stuffing themselves with popcorn, funnel cake, and cotton candy.
But the best part was when Nails had insisted that he could handle the Tilt-A-Whirl.He claimed that he had iron guts.Ten seconds into the ride, Riley had been crying from laughter as he gripped the bar tightly and even looked a little green.He had muttered something about the damn thing not being a ride, that it was an interrogation device.
He had nearly fallen off the platform when the ride stopped.He stumbled like a true drunken sailor.
When she had asked him if he was okay, his reply was, “I would rather be disarming a bomb than riding that torture machine.”
Now, they were weaving through the crowd near the food stalls again.They both held cups of cold lemonade.
Riley rubbed her stomach.“I swear if I eat one more thing, I’m going to need someone to roll me home.”
Nails looked at her.“You sure you don’t want to try a deep-fried grasshopper, or a candied scorpion?”
“Absolutely not,” Riley replied.Her face was scrunched up in disgust, which made Nails laugh.
