Page 47 of Guarded from Danger

“Yeah.” She lifts her head to meet my gaze. “That piney stuff.”

Now I’m fully smiling. “You mean IPA?”

Her lips form a moue of distaste. “Yes. The stuff that tastes like a pine tree.” Then she grins. “My seltzer is so much better. And it comes in all those yummy flavors.”

I mock gag. “Kiwi-strawberry?”

“That’s not the best flavor. The peach-mango is.”

Cupping her cheek, I brush my lips across hers. “That’s why I let you have all of them.”

Gaze softening, she says, “I would share.” Then she kisses me, nipping my lower lip and stroking her tongue across the small sting.

Immediately, I go hard, straining against my jeans. Need throbs, deep and insistent.

Lucy dips inside my mouth, a slow exploration, caressing and gently teasing. She tastes faintly of the pink lemonade she made earlier as she declared, “It’s almost summer, and this is my favorite summer drink. It makes me feel happy whenever I have it.”

It’s only May, but I wasn’t going to argue. She could announce we’re having eggnog or hot chocolate and I wouldn’t say a word.

When my lungs are close to bursting, Lucy pulls away with a little gasp. Her cheeks are flushed and her lips are rosy and kiss-swollen and she looks so beautiful my heart actually hurts.

“So, what do you think?” There’s that sparkle in her eyes. “Xavier’s Favorites night?”

For a few seconds, I give serious thought to dumping my original idea. Just staying home with Lucy and going along with her very enjoyable-sounding plan instead of suggesting something that could potentially upset her.

But then again. I think about something Lucy said not long after I told her about Rhiannon. “I didn’t think about it before,” she’d explained, “but when I overheard you and Rhiannon talking, something stuck with me. About how sometimes weneed a push. And it’s true, I think. If you hadn’t pushed me to talk to a counselor, to do yoga with Erik, to spend time with Rambo… I’m not sure if I would have done it myself.”

That’s why I’m going back and forth on this instead of making the easy choice.

Selfishly, I want to keep Lucy at Blade and Arrow. I don’t want to shake the foundation of safety she feels here. I don’t want to risk doing something that could trigger a setback.

But then again.

I know how badly Lucy wants to get back to her normal life. How she wants to feel normal again. I know how safety can feel suffocating after a while.

And maybe a little push would be a good thing for her.

“Well,” I start. “I love that idea. But I have another idea for tonight, if you’re interested.”

“Oh?” Brows winging up, she gives me a questioning look. “What are you thinking?”

“You’ve heard me mention Rylan from the Sleepy Hollow Blade and Arrow team?”

Lucy nods. “Yes. He was stationed at Fort Campbell with you, right?”

“Yeah. He and his wife, Charlie, are in San Antonio, visiting her friend from college. And they want to come see everyone here, too.”

Lighting up, she replies, “Oh, that sounds nice. I’d love to meet them. Are they coming to the ranch?”

“They could.” Taking both her hands in mine, I watch her expression carefully as I add, “But we were thinking of meeting up in Seguin first. At The Bar. For something a little different.”

Alarm flickers in her eyes. “You want to go out? Leave B and A?”

“We don’t have to.” I hold her gaze as I explain gently, “It’s up to you. If you don’t feel comfortable, we’ll have everyone overhere. But I was thinking… You’ve been stuck here for weeks. I don’t want you to feel trapped. Or to start hating it here.”

“I couldn’t. How could I hate being here with you?”

“I hope you don’t, Luce. But I just thought… Well, it might feel nice to get out. And it would be completely safe. I already talked to the owner, and he agreed to close the place down except for us.”

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