Page 90 of Her Reluctant Hero
She didn’t go to her son right away, just looked at Alex, hoping. When he didn’t say anything, she scooped up her naked boy, cuddling him close, his chubby little arms going around her neck, confident that she’d be there for him always.
Christ, he wouldn’t wimp out here and cry.
“We’re both tired,” she said in a soft voice, then jiggled her son in her arms. “We have a big exciting day tomorrow. I’ve never been to Disney World, either.”
She smiled at her son and the whole room brightened, everything within him brightened, but he retreated into his own shadows. Safer for everyone there, as it had always been.
“Let’s get you dressed,” she murmured to her son, easing past Alex into the main room.
Alex stood perfectly still, but the scent of her still filled him with longing.
Disney World was amazing, everything she could have dreamed of and more. They were fortunate they accompanied a three-year-old, since with their injuries they couldn’t handle the more exhilarating rides. Anyway, Isabella had had her fill of excitement.
Alex flashed her a grin when they passed the Tower of Terror and heard the piercing screams as the riders dropped in a free fall.
“Sounds like you on the side of that cliff,” he teased.
Hector was in heaven, and Alex indulged him with sweets and souvenirs. Isabella had never seen the man so relaxed. He even chuckled a few times, a sound she’d never heard.
She never thought she’d be so in love with a man under such control.
She’d told him she loved him, and he hadn’t said anything. Of course she didn’t want him to say it if he didn’t mean it—she’d heard it from men who’d tried to charm her to get their way with her. But if Alex said them, that meant she was the one for him. She longed for that more than she could say.
What a childhood he’d had—if she could call it a childhood. He would hate knowing she pitied him, hate knowing she’d give anything to go back to fix it for him.
But he’d had a good life with his foster parents. He knew what it was like to be part of a family. Did the responsibility scare him? Maybe it did—though she’d never seen him scared of anything. Still, she came complete with a child.
She didn’t think that was Alex’s issue. He was great with Hector. Hector was shy—he hadn’t known many men in his young life—but Alex was gentle and easy with him, learning how to interact with the child as the child learned how to interact with the man. Someday he would be a great dad.
Just not for her child.
That would be an unacceptable loss for all of them.
God, her feelings for him were so complicated. He made her feel safe, he challenged her, she admired his courage. She desired him.
He took her hand and led her toward the Dumbo ride.
“Oh, if you’re going on that, I need a camera,” she laughed.
“I’ll buy you anything,” he said, walking backwards, his fingers threaded through hers. “Except that.”
Alex carried the sleeping boy to the shuttle that would take them to their hotel, careful to keep his weight off the bruised ribs. Isabella walked beside him, dragging, laden with stuffed animals, Mickey ears, a giant lollypop—hers, not Hector’s. Even the pert little ponytail she’d flipped around all day was drooping. He reached back for her free hand and found it easily, as he had all day. He shoved aside the longing that accompanied the gesture.
The same longing he saw in her eyes whenever he looked at her.
So easy to crush that hope. Even if he decided to give in, even if he promised when he came back from his next assignment that they would give this a shot, how long would it last? A month? A year? Who would lose interest first? They both might be too stubborn to admit defeat, or they might fight it out, all the while knowing they’d be better off apart.
No. Best to end it tonight, go back with his team tomorrow, back on assignment, away from her. She could find happiness on her own. She didn’t need his protection anymore.
He stepped onto the too-bright shuttle, shielding Hector’s eyes, sitting on one of the hard plastic seats gingerly so he wouldn’t wake the boy. Isabella dropped to the seat beside him and let her head fall to his shoulder.
“Good day,” she murmured.
He squeezed her hand as the shuttle lurched forward. “Yeah.”
“What time do you leave tomorrow?”
“I have to report at five.”
