Page 49 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

I shrugged, trying to pull her back in again, but she resisted. “I just thought I’d tell you in person.”

She studied me for a minute. “So, are you going to tell me, then?”

“I’m staying in San Diego.”

Her gaze flickered from one of my eyes to the other rapidly. My heart rate instantly picked up. She didn’t seem to look happy.

I tried to calm down. “Will you come with me?” I asked, hating the way my voice sounded so uncertain.

She didn’t say anything. She just continued to nervously search my face.

After what seemed like an eternity, she climbed from the bed and walked across the floor. I watched her stop by my bag and pick up my USMC shirt from the top of my suitcase and slip it over her head before pacing back to the other side of the room.

My heart was in a complete nervous sprint now. I pushed myself up to stand on shaky legs. “Amy?”

She stopped and looked at me, her mouth opening, but no words came out. Her expression turned more and more worried the longer she studied me.

I was sure I was about to have a serious panic attack. “Baby? What’s wrong?”

“This . . . ” she said quietly. “This is hard.” I watched her twist her fingers together in front of her. “I want to go with you—you have no idea how much I want to go with you, Daniel . . . ”

I frowned. I was so fucking confused. “So what’s stopping you?”

“My job, Daniel!” she said, slightly hysterical. “Alex didn’t have to give me the job. I know he just felt obliged because Amber begged him, but that doesn’t change the fact that he gave it to me. And he’s taken so much time training me. I’d feel awful leaving and making him have to train someone else after he’s shown me so much generosity . . . ”

I watched her glance around the room, her head obviously trying to sort through everything that was happening.

“But it’s not just that . . . ”

I braced myself. I didn’t know what she was going to say, but I got the feeling it wasn’t good.

“I’ve kind of found my independence now, Daniel. I mean, I know I don’t have my own place, but I have my own job, I pay my own way, and I’m doing it without anything from my parents . . . ”

I got it immediately. “You’re scared I’m going to take your independence away from you.”

After a few heartbeats, she nodded. Slowly, I moved toward her, until I was almost touching her. Then I reached out and softly stroked the back of my hand down the side of her face.

“Baby, I don’t want to take away your independence. I love that you’ve finally found it. I’d never do anything to make you feel like you don’t have it. People can be together and still have their own identities, Princess, and I think the fact that we already recognize how important it is, is a head start for us. I don’t think most couples know it until it’s too late.”

Her gaze flickered over my face again, and I knew she was processing my words. Slowly, she nodded her understanding. “You’re right.” She inhaled, and her shoulders relaxed a little. “But I still don’t know about moving with my job. I can’t do it to Alex after he’s shown me such kindness, Daniel.”

I took her face in my hands. “There are always solutions to every problem, Princess. You don’t have to move with me straightaway. What if you waited until Alex interviewed and found someone else suitable, then you could train them for him so he wouldn’t have to?”

Her eyes lit up with hope, and she gave me a tiny smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry I flipped out on you. I don’t know why, because I knew that’s what would happen, but I just wasn’t expecting it for some stupid reason.”

She walked into my arms and pressed her face into my chest. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her close, suddenly very aware of how naked I was and how very sexy she looked in my shirt.

Pulling back from me, Amy glanced down at my now rock-hard cock and raised her eyebrows. “Again?”

I didn’t think she understood just how much she affected me. “Baby, I always want you.”

Desire lit up her eyes, and this time, I was ready for the long challenge.

Picking her up, I carried her over to the bed, to love her properly this time.

Chapter 21

Amy

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