Page 101 of Guarding the Singer

Cooper didn't even acknowledge the man's concerns.

"I'm sorry, Selene. I never thought... She didn't show any signs-"

"It's okay, Cooper." She smiled at him and put his mask back in place so he could get the oxygen he needed. "It's impossible to know what everyone is going through. She hid it well."

He shook his head. "I should have known."

She smiled at him and William felt his heart kick against his ribs. He could see her sweating and the tightness of her expression. She was in pain, but she was trying to console Cooper. He didn't think he could be so generous, but she could.

Shit.

He pulled her gently against himself as the EMTs wheeled Cooper out of the house to take him to the hospital.

William needed to hold her for a second to make sure that she really was okay, and this wasn't just a strange kind of dream.

He was so lucky to have her.

And now that they'd stopped the person who'd been trying to hurt her, he'd keep her alive for years and years to come.

"I've never been so scared."

She looked up at him. "You?"

He smiled down at her. "Yes. Me. When Cypher said that your plane didn't take off and that you were headed somewhere in town, likely here, we took off. Now I'm realizing that I should have gone with my gut before."

"Hmm?" She gave him a smile. "So what are you saying?"

"I need to go to Montana and debrief with Alex. Any chance you'll go with me?"

"With us?" Badger's droll tone made William and Selene smile.

"And from there?" Selene only had eyes for him. "Where are you going?"

He smiled. "Wherever you are."

She looked like she was thinking about it for a moment.

When she spoke again, she had a bright smile for him. "Sounds great. I was thinking of who I was going to have handle all of my security."

He leaned in for a quick kiss before he swept her up in his arms. "It just so happens that I might know a guy."

PART XV

The Premier night forLove in the Lightswas full of crazy energy.

It had taken a half an hour to get the limousine to the front of the movie theater and Selene was strangely calm as she sat back against the seat. It might have something to do with the diamond ring on her finger.

She hadn't taken her eyes off of it since William had put it on her finger in their suite.

As they approached the drop off point in front of the red carpet, he took her hand and kissed the back of her hand. "It fits, right?"

She looked at him a little confused. "What's wrong?"

He looked down at the ring on her hand and offered her a soft smile. "Are you sure the ring-"

She pulled her hand out of his, clasping her right hand over her left against her chest. "You are not taking my ring back."

Then she turned her head and looked at him with a side-long glance. "You're not, right?"

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