Page 15 of Remade

His expression softened.

“The problem is, when I worry about you, I miss out on your progress,” I went on. “I bury every accomplishment under a pileof downsides, concerns, and…whatever. I just see what you need to get better at—which, at your level, is still a lot. Itistoo soon for you to work in the field.” I firmly believed that. Objectively. “But, as Coach pointed out to me, we’ve had the rare opportunity to see what you can handle when shit hits the fan, and it’s more than I’ve given you credit for. So—” Fuck, this was hard. My chest felt all tight and shit. “Coach and Hudson clearly think you should be here tonight, so that’s what’s going to happen. There’s a spot for you in the unit.”

He raked his teeth across his bottom lip and tilted his head. “I’m more interested in hearing whatyouthink.”

I drew a breath, and I…had to go with honesty here as well.

“My judgment is clouded by personal feelings I don’t know how to process yet,” I admitted. “You’ve caught me off guard here, pup.”

He did a decent job of concealing how good that felt to hear, but the slight tug of smugness at his lips gave him away.

He was fucking adorable.

“Why, Bo Beckett,” he murmured, “it almost sounds like you’re catching feelings for me. Actual, actual feelings.”

Punk-ass.

“Or the flu,” I said. “Could be the flu too.”

He smiled quickly. There one second, gone the next. “Don’t worry. I know your stance on relationships.”

No, you don’t.

I swallowed past the pressure coming up my throat. “It’s easy to swear off relationships when each one in the past was a fraud.” When every I-love-you felt like a lie, when you had to force actions… I coughed and tried to clear my mind. “I don’t feel like a fraud when I’m with you—but I can’t wrap my head around anything in my personal life when the guy who ordered my brother’s murder is half a klick that way.” I pointed toward our camp. “I hope you understand.”

I’d already killed the motherfucker who had pulled the trigger, but I wanted their leader. He had to die, and he had to suffer.

“Then that’s my priority too.” Leighton took a step forward, resolute. “I’m sorry if my being here has taken some of that focus from you. That was never my intention—and I feel shitty for throwing a pity party for myself when you avoided me. This isn’t about me at all.”

Something cracked inside me, releasing a fuck-ton of pressure, and a breath gusted out of me.

He gets me.

How did he do that? He actually understood what I was saying? He understood my position. He wasn’t trying to change the topic, and he didn’t say, “Well, if we’re doing your thing now, we have to do my thing later.” Or something like, “Okay, fine, but you better make it up to me.”

“Also, it’s not a matter of what I can handle anymore,” he went on. “You’re in charge of this operation, and what you say goes. If it will bother you or distract you in any way to have me near the bunker, I’ll opt out.” He grimaced and rubbed his forehead. “I was so eager to show you I could be of use that I forgot the whole purpose of this assignment. I’m sorry.”

The last word had barely left his mouth before I was crushing him in a hug.

He had no fucking clue how much I’d needed to hear that. Hell, I hadn’t known either.

Knowing we were safe here, I unstrapped his helmet and knocked it off, because I needed to get closer. I buried my face against his neck and screwed my eyes shut.

Leighton exhaled and slipped his arms around my neck, where he did that thing with his fingers. Fucking magic. He brushed them through my hair and scratched my scalp.

“Thank you.” I kissed his skin and lingered in the soft curve below his ear. “Thank you.” I cupped his face next and kissed him hard.

Goddamn you. I think you broke the mold.

He was something else entirely.

He smiled into the kiss and wrapped an arm around my midsection. “Isn’t it good when I say all the right things?”

“Amazing.” I matched his smile and teased the tip of his tongue with my own, and now I kinda wanted an extra few minutes. But…focus. We were losing daylight. “We’ll continue this back at Hillcroft, all right?”

He nodded and actually pinched my ass. “I had to do it. Your ass looks incredible in combat gear.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Fuck, you make me breathe easier, kid.”

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