Page 92 of Shea's Hero

Oliver’s legs go rigid beneath me. “What are you talking about, Shea? Why would I break up with you?” On a sharp inhale, he asks quietly, “Are you breaking up with me? Because of what happened?”

“No—”

“I wouldn’t blame you,” he continues, his mouth dragging down. “After everything I put you through… It’s probably safer if you’re not with me. If you?—”

“No.”It’s almost a shout. I take a deep breath and blow it out. “No,” I repeat more softly. “That isnotwhat I want. And that’s what I’m afraid of. That you’ll decide to leave me because you think it’s the only way to keep me safe, like those stubborn jerks do in the movies.”

“What?” Confusion etches tiny lines between his eyes. “Like the jerks in the movies?”

“Not that you’re a jerk,” I amend. “But those guys are. Leaving their girlfriends and wives because of some misplaced idea that it’ll keep them safe. But it doesn’t. In the movies, the woman always ends up in danger, anyway, but then the guy isn’t even there to protect her.”

Oliver stares at me for a few seconds. “So you think I’m going to leave you?”

“Not exactly. But… maybe? If you got it in your head that I’m still in danger for some reason.”

“Youcouldstill be in danger,” he retorts. “Everything that happened was because of my old job. While I hope it doesn’t, I could be targeted again.Youcould be targeted again.” Sighing, his expression is pained as he adds, “The guy who started all this?—”

“Romanova.”

“Yes. He’s still out there. He could send someone else after me. After you. I already feel so guilty…”

“Oliver Kingston.”I firm my voice. Turning so I’m straddling him, I frame his face with my hands. “You have nothing to feel guilty about. Lots of people have dangerous jobs. And they still have wives. Husbands. Families. They figure out a way to make it work.”

“But you were hurt, Shea. More than once.”

“I don’t care.” A lump lodges in my throat. “I love you, Oll. With all my heart. I already went through losing you before. I can’t do it again.”

“What if the stress makes you sick again, Shea?” Worry darkens his gaze. “I know what my job did to you before. Going forward, we’ll have to increase security. At least until Romanova is stopped, if not after that. It’s a lot. I don’t want you to lose all the progress you’ve made.”

“I won’t. Because back then, I didn’t handle my illness the right way. I tried to hide it. Now I know better. If things are stressing me out, I can go to my counselor. I can talk to you. Or Jade. Or Niall, if I don’t mind giving him a minor heart attack.”

Brushing my lips across his, I add, “We can do this together. I don’t care about extra security. So what if we live in a fortress? That’s fine. Then we’re barricaded together. Honestly, that sounds pretty great. Tons of privacy, time for naked mini golf…”

One corner of Oliver’s lips lifts. “You really liked the naked mini golf, didn’t you?”

“Obviously.” I make a littleduhface at him. “You, naked, bending over to take all those shots…”

“Ah.” The smile gets bigger. “Sothat’swhy you stood behind me all the time.”

My cheeks warm. “Busted. But don’t think I didn’t notice you eyeballing my breasts whenever I swung the club.”

The tips of his ears go pink. “Can you blame me? Your breasts are gorgeous. Just like the rest of you.”

Aww.

“Oliver.” His eyes meet mine, dark like twilight flecked with stars. “I love you.I love you.Whatever we have to do to be together, I’ll do it. And please, don’t feel guilty. It’s not your fault what happened. It’s that sleazy guy Romanova.He’sthe guilty one.”

He sighs. “What you’re saying makes sense. I know it does. But I still can’t stop feeling guilty for dragging you into this.”

“Don’t you think I feel guilty for hurting you?” I ask quietly. “But if I want to be with you, I need to figure out a way past it.”

“Ah, Shea. You don’t have anything to feel guilty about?—”

I cough. Loudly. Obviously.

“Well.” He gives me a sheepish smile. “Point taken.”

“So. I have an idea. Well, more than one idea, really.”

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