Page 66 of Cooper's Command

Shaughnessy leaned toward the camera. “Youareaware you need to send me the correct form signed by your doctor before you start chasing cartels again, right?”

“You, personally?”

“I’m not sure any other supervisor will survive overseeing you, so yes. Me, personally. And Nova?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Try not to blow anything up or shoot another cop for a while. Even if they deserve it.”

“I’ll do my best, sir.”

The monitor winked out, Shaughnessy’s approval still hanging in the air. She was staying. On Hawai’i.

Permanently.

Flint ambled over, holding Emery’s hand as he tilted his head. “I figure you’ve got another two weeks before you’ll be back out there. That sound about right?”

“That’s the best case scenario. Why?”

“It’s going to take me some time to install bullet-proof glass in Emery’s Jeep.”

“You mean, you haven’t already?”

Emery snorted. “Don’t encourage him.”

Nova smiled, shaking the rest of Cooper’s team’s hands along with Hawk when Cooper moved in beside her. She held her breath, waiting to see if he’d sweep her off her feet with a soul-searing kiss or ask her if she’d suffered a stroke.

Cooper glanced around the room, not a hint of what he might be feeling breaking through the surface. “Are you finished?”

She frowned. “Yes, but?—”

He took her hand then turned, practically jogging out of Hawk’s office and over to his truck. He helped her into the passenger side then jumped behind the wheel and took off. He didn’t speak, just drove in an odd silence all the way to his place.

Nova was working through all the ways the night might go when he appeared at her door. She inhaled, hating that she hadn’t even realized they were back, before accepting his hand, again, and following him inside. He walked through the door, then continued all the way to the back, leading her out onto the lanai before finally stopping.

She worried her bottom lip when he turned and stared at her, eyes narrowed. His lips pinched tight. “Cooper I?—”

“That was your play?”

“Excuse me?”

“We’ve been kicking around this house for two weeks and you wait to tell me you love me until you’re on a damn video chat with your boss?”

“It’s not like I planned it that way, it just slipped out.”

“Slipped out? So, you don’t really love me, then?”

“What? Of course, I love you. I’ve loved you since you showed up at that lookout and risked your ass to save mine. But with everything that happened, it never seemed like the right time to tell you. Then, Hawk interrupted us and… At least, I said it.”

The jackass smiled, closing the distance then backing her up until she hit the wall. “Hell, yeah, you did. But I’d like to hear you say it again.”

She relaxed, making it look as if she was considering her options before tiptoeing up and giving him a soft kiss. “I love you, Cooper.”

“About damn time. I’ve been biting my tongue for weeks trying not to scare you off by shouting it at you, because I love you, Nova Martin. Even if you are certifiably insane.”

He kissed her. Just like before with his hands in her hair and every inch of them touching. The scenery was starting to spin by the time he finally eased back and rested his forehead on hers. “You didn’t have to agree to stay in Hawai’i if you didn’t want to. I would have followed you anywhere.”

“Were you even listening? I want to stay. And not for a week or a month or a year, I want?—”

“Forever?”

She smiled. “Now that’s a plan I can get behind.”

“Good because I have another question to ask you… After we finally pick up where we left off. And in case you were wondering, I’m hoping there’s only one possible answer.”

Nova wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, holding him close. “Then, kiss me like you mean it slugger, so I can say I do.”

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