Page 15 of Inevitable Dream

“I’ve got to do something with my day,” she says as she’s dicing tomatoes for the salad. One minute, we’re joking around while cooking, and then Sadie speaks up, and my heart drops. “I should be getting back to work and back to my apartment.”

It takes all I have not to handcuff her to me and make sure she won’t leave. My brain is thinking of a million reasons why she shouldn’t leave.

“You’re still recovering. This is the best place for you.” I keep my tone calm, although I’m raging on the inside.

“I need to get back to work too,” she answers.

“Doctor said no heavy lifting. It’ll be at least a week or two before you can do more than cook, babe.”

“I have bills to pay, Rebel. I can’t be off for very long without taking a hit to my savings. I’m thinking of asking Henrietta if she has any modified duties I can do until I’m back to my old self.” I don’t like it. Not one bit. “Besides, Hubert misses me,” she jokes.

“Hubert is welcome here any time, babe.”

She glances up as she tosses the salad. “I can’t stay here indefinitely.”

“Why not?” I shrug.

Sadie stops what she’s doing and stares at me like I’ve grown three heads. “I have an apartment, and I’m paying for it.”

“Then give notice. I don’t like you staying there anyway. Hubert’s a good man and keeps the place running as well as he can, but there’s no working elevator, and it’s in a shitty neighborhood. I don’t like you working late nights, but let’s face it, it’s part of your job. However, I’d rather you live in a better area, closer to your work, and when I’m not working, I can pick you up. My apartment isn’t huge, but it’s good enough for now, and when a bigger one opens up, we can trade up.”

Her eyes pop open wide, and she stares at me, stunned.

“You…you want me…to move in?” she stutters.

“Yeah, babe! What do you think we’re talking about here?” I ask.

“Isn’t that a little crazy? It’s been like a week.” She tilts her head to one side, raising her shoulders to her ears. Totally fucking cute!

“It’s been way longer than that. You met me at my worst. I was an asshole, and it didn’t faze you in the least. That’s when I knew you were for me. And I know I’m not the only one who felt it. I was hot for you, and you were right there with me. I tried to play it off like it was just a physical attraction, but I was only fooling myself. Am I wrong?” I challenge her.

She shakes her head. “No.”

“When I found out what happened to you, I made Falcon drive me over, but if he refused, I was calling a cab to come get you,” I confess. I walk over to stand in front of her. “If you tell me you’re not ready for me, then fine, I’ll give you space, but it still means I’ll be over at your place every night because I don’t trust the drug addicts on your corner or the gang members hanging around your building.”

Sadie opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

“Babe, we’ve got your parents itching to visit, and we need to settle. So what’s it going to be?” I ask, silently willing her to agree to move in with me, but preparing myself to pack a bag to keep at her apartment.

“Here,” she says quietly, then adds, “For now. I’ll keep my place in case you change your mind.”

“I’m not?—”

Her fingers cover my lips. “We’re new. Everything has been dramatic. You were shot and vulnerable. Then I was assaulted. We needed each other. When we find our normal, you may not feel the same as you do now.”

I hold her hand away from my mouth. I convinced myself long ago that I’d never be in a position to love a woman. My job is too dangerous, and I’m not willing to give up that part of my life.

“Not going to happen, sweetheart, but if you want to keep it for now, I’ll accept that,” I tell her, kissing her fingers. Sadie doesn’t know it yet, but she’s mine for keeps.

I convinced Sadie that staying at home for one more week was the smart thing to do. I appealed to her medical expertise and asked her if she’d let a patient go back to work under the same circumstances, and she gave in.

At the same time, she made me promise to ease back into work. Not a problem, because I know Falcon, and there’s no way he’d put me out in the field just yet. I hated leaving Sadie alone, but I wasn’t out the door five minutes before I got a text from Gertie telling me she’s keeping Sadie company.

It took a day and a half of Kailyn, Phoenix, and me taking turns teaching Gertie how to use the new cell phone we got her for her birthday, but we finally taught her how to text. She’s now a texting machine. Usually, I get messages reminding me to come over to visit, but today, it’s to tell me that she’s heading over to be with Sadie, and if the mood struck them, they’d be going down to the coffee shop a block away.

I know I’m overreacting, but I don’t like the idea of the two of them out on their own. It’s totally illogical because I’m the one who runs into perilous situations all the time, and going to a coffee shop is a simple act that we all do.

I text Gertie back:Don’t overdo it.

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