Page 64 of Explosive Vengeance

As in, she was contemplating them being together after his contract was up? “To what?”

“Wondering if you’ll still remember me then.”

He snorted. “You gotta be kidding. Like I’d ever forget you, firecracker.”

She was silent a moment. “What will you do after the contract’s done?”

He’d planned to go home and spend some much-needed time with his family, then join a couple PJ buddies for a rock-climbing trip. But he’d planned all that before he’d met Chloe. Now everything was different, and the idea of going home or rock climbing wasn’t half as tempting anymore. “Ty wants me to join the team permanently.”

“You’re considering it?”

“Yeah.” He resumed running his fingertips along her spine, wondering how in hell it would ever work between them. Even if she was willing to try a relationship, could they make it work long-distance? “What about you?”

“I’m going to finish what I started.”

“And then?”

“If I make it that far, I’ll worry about it after. But I’d like to help Megan and the others.”

It chilled him to hear her say she didn’t expect to survive going after Dubois. “Don’t talk like that.”

“Like I might die?” She gave a humorless laugh. “Chances are, I will. Just how it is.”

God dammit. He crushed her to him. “No. I couldn’t take that.”

She pushed against his chest gently and tipped her head back to look into his face. “You can’t save me, Heath. But it’s so incredibly sweet that you want to.” She laid her palm against his cheek, her expression turning serious. “I never expected to meet anyone like you. I’ve spent most of my life staying distant and detached. But a few days with you, and look at me—I’m a wreck.”

“It’s okay to fall apart every now and again.” He stroked her hair. “Just like a taco.”

She blinked at him. “Huh?”

“Tacos. You like them?”

“Yeah, of course. Everyone does.”

“There you go. They fall apart all the time, and yet you still love them. And so do I.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

She let out a startled laugh, then groaned and closed her eyes. “Oh, man. And now you decide to show me you’ve got a sense of humor, too.”

He hugged her tighter, unable to keep his feelings buried a moment longer. “What if I wanted to see you after this is over?”

She grunted. “How would that work? You’re going to Syria, and my life is…uncertain at best. I’m not exactly relationship material.”

“Yeah you are.” If she wanted to be.

Now her smile was tender and sweet, piercing him. “You’re a dangerous man, Heath. You make me want to stay when I should be running in the opposite direction, for both our sakes. You make me wish for…”

“For what?”

“Things that can never happen,” she whispered back.

It was far from thenohe’d been fearing. “They can if we both want them bad enough.”

She laid her fingertips on his lips to stop him from speaking, her eyes haunted by doubts and fears she wouldn’t voice aloud. “Being with you is an unexpected gift. Let’s not complicate things any more than they already are. Let’s just enjoy each other while we can, and let that be enough.”

Frustration pulsed through him, an instant denial forming on his tongue. But he sensed if he pushed her right now, she’d shut down and turn away. That was the last thing he wanted. “I’ll be there for you if you ever need me,” he finally said. “I want you to know that.”

She groaned and leaned forward to rest her forehead on his chin. “You’re killing me, Heath.”

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