Page 102 of Dangerous Rhythm

“I love you,” Lina said. “I’ll do anything to keep you safe. As you will do the same for me. So please don’t ask me that.”

Curtis’ pupils widened at her revelation. “That’s not fair. You’re telling me you love me for the first time to avoid making a promise to me?”

“No. I’m not avoiding a promise. Telling you I love you is the promise,” Lina stated. “It’s a promise I’ll come back to you. It’s a promise I’ll find a way out of this so we can finally live our lives together.”

Curtis blew a breath, his voice shaking a little when he spoke. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Lina wrapped her hands around the back of his head and pulled him in for a kiss. “Count on it.”

“Be careful,” Curtis said as Lina and Kate headed to the door. “Both of you.”

Kate Bishop threw a flirty smile at him. “Don’t worry, handsome. We’ll be fine.”

When he’d learned Kate was Ken’s right hand, he’d expected Kate to be a little geekier. But boy, did he learn not to assume anything about the women of B&Y.

She looked like she could break him in half. Even in her all-black outfit, he could see the muscle definition on her arms,shoulders, and legs. And to top that off, she had an infectious smile and a pair of green eyes set off by deep dark brown hair.

Whereas Lina was almost aloof, Kate had no qualms about asking him to sign a Canis Major album she’d brought. She kinda reminded him of someone, but he couldn’t figure out who.

“We’ll stay in touch through Bill,” Lina assured him and nodded toward the man who would stay with Curtis while Lina was away.

Curtis nodded but felt like a child being babysat. But he couldn’t argue with Lina anymore.

Sometimes you gotta compromise.

He had to learn something from his friends, who were in great relationships. He might not show it, but he’d quietly observed how they had good days, just okay days, and bad days. But they all made each other happy.

Kate opened the door, but Lina hesitated to follow her out. She rushed back to Curtis and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

“I love you,” she said.

Curtis couldn’t prevent the stupid, happy smile on his face. “I love you.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

As fast as she’d come to him, she left the apartment. Bill closed and dead-bolted the door. He turned and looked at Curtis, no expression revealing his thoughts.

Only reaching a little past Curtis’ shoulders, Bill wasn’t exactly a big guy. But Curtis could see the bulk on his back and arms.

Totally a gym bro.

“So, Bill, what should we do now?” Curtis asked as he looked around Lina’s apartment. She had a chess set sat on a small table and two chairs by a window.

Lina and I should play sometime.

He glanced at Bill, but the dude didn’t show interest in a chess game. Too bad Lina didn’t have a video game console.

“How about a card game?” Curtis suggested when he found a deck of cards on a shelf near a framed sketch of Lina, which he recognized as Brandon’s handiwork.

Bill just shrugged.

Sighing, Curtis settled in the sofa, turned on the TV, and started going through the movies in a streaming app. Bill settled in a reading chair.

“I’d watch a movie,” Bill finally said.

“Great.” Curtis muttered.

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