Page 24 of Bulletproof Weeks

She traced her finger over his soft lips. “Again.”

“I love you.”

She lowered her mouth to his. “Again.”

He slowly dragged his fingers up her spine, under the shirt. With his other arm, he settled her over his lap. “I love you.” Breath to breath, the buzz of his voice so close made her sigh. “Izzy, mine.”

Slower this time, with infinite care, he showed her just how much he’d missed her.

Nine

Her voice woke him. She was trying to speak quietly, but his apartment wasn’t exactly the biggest place. And the hardwood made voices echo.

He rolled onto his side and stuffed a pillow under his head. She stood by the window. This time she was wearing the white thermal that had been left on the couch. Seeing her in his shirt tugged at him in ways he didn’t want to study.

As always, the curve of her hip and smooth legs

had him shifting under the covers. He still couldn’t believe she was there. The fact that she hadn’t run out the door was impressive enough, but that she wanted to be with him?

Daring to believe that was an option had been the furthest thing from his mind. And he was selfish enough that keeping her there was his first priority. Fuck, he’d been miserable without her.

“Nic.” She sighed and thunked her forehead against the window. “No. I know. Yes, he groveled enough.”

He propped himself up on his elbow. Groveled? Was there a rating scale he wasn’t aware of?

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. When I know when I’m coming home, I’ll let you know.” She drew on the frosty glass pane, but he couldn’t make out the letters. “I don’t know.” With one last sigh, she swiped away whatever she’d written. “I will. Stop worrying. Yes, I love you too.” She turned around and straightened. “I gotta go.”

“No need,” he mouthed.

She shook her head. “Nic, I’ll call you tonight.” She rubbed her forehead. “I swear I’ll tell you everything.”

He lifted an eyebrow.

Izzy swiped a hand over her face, exasperation all over her features. “Yes, honey, I’m hanging up.” She gave a soft laugh. “Bye.”

“Worried?”

“She has a Master’s degree in worrying.” She crossed the room, set her phone on his end table, and perched on the edge of the bed.

He slid his arm around her middle and dragged her under the covers with him. “It’s too cold to be up already.”

She snuggled back against him. “I agree. But if I hadn’t taken that call, she would have sent the National Guard out for me.”

The topic was still fresh between them, but he had to know. He tucked his chin into her neck. “What did you tell her?”

She ran her nails through the hair on his forearm. “Just that we’re talking.”

“And that I groveled enough?”

“Oh, you haven’t groveled nearly enough, pal.”

He smiled into her neck. “You mean all that time I spent making you scream last night wasn’t enough?”

“Nope, that was just a level one. You’ve got a lot to make up for.”

That was an understatement. If he was smart, he’d have her on a plane to Colorado and hidden away with Zeke’s parents in their cabin that was about as off the grid as was possible with internet connection. But he didn’t waste his breath. Izzy wasn’t the type to hide and she definitely wasn’t the type to take orders.

“You got quiet.”

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