Page 147 of Ship Outta Luck

Teeth grind against teeth as I clench my jaw, stomach sinking. Dean turns his full attention on me, scooting back against the white headboard, his tan standing out in stark contrast.

God, I don’t know if I can take this.

“He was our source. He was the informant on the whole mission, on the cartel, for years. He was one of the most important assets in South Texas for a decade. That’s why he’s dead, because Pierce knew, and the cartel found out. Your dad must’ve figured out Pierce was dirty and scuttled the drugs. Your father isn’t the bad guy, June. He’s the hero.”

Air. I need air. Taking a huge breath, I expand my lungs, a cross between a laugh and a hiccup erupting from my throat. Relief and love war for attention. I can’t move, paralyzed by the sudden shock of knowledge. Of gratitude.

“You okay?”

I nod, then curl up on Dean’s lap. “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“I know how much it would mean to me.” His words rumble against my chest. Fingers stroking down my legs, comforting. “But Pierce is still out there, June, and you saw what was in that sub.”

I nod, and he tugs my chin up to look at him. His lips are a firm slash, his brown eyes steady on mine. Aha. This is where the other shoe drops.

“They’ve asked me and my firm to take the lead on the whole thing, to figure out the reach of the domestic terrorists, what they plan next. Where Pierce is, all of it. I need to get back to DCearly next week. We don’t think the cartel is a threat to you, but the domestic terrorists, they very well may be. We’re setting up round-the-clock surveillance on you. It might be best if we find you a new place to live.”

“Next week?” My voice is soft, and I quickly do the math. “So that means you’ll be here for a few more days?”

His throat bobs as he swallows, not taking his eyes from mine. “I don’t have to stay here, I’m sure you’re ready for things to get back to normal. Well, as normal as they can be. We don’t think the terrorists will try anything, but there is a small possibility that they’ll seek to silence your testimony against Pierce and his associates. You may want to think about moving away from this town completely.”

“I’m not giving up my research on the wreck, I’m not just going to walk away from my life here.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that. So… you’re ready for things to go back to normal, after all.” It isn’t a question.

A beat passes, and my fingers finally still against his skin, where I absentmindedly traced a tattoo on his chest.

“Back to normal?” My eyes meet his.

“If that’s what you want, just say the word.”

He isn’t asking about normal… He’s asking about him. About the possibility of an us, for something longer. More serious.

“Stay.” It bursts out of me, full of hope and longing. “Please stay.”

A genuine smile lights up his face, and my heart leaps. “If you’re sure.”

I straddle him, taking his face in my hands, planting a long, slow kiss to his lips. “I’m sure. I wouldn’t want anyone else to watch over me, anyway.”

I found him, I found theSantu Espiritu, and I’m going to hang onto both for dear life.

“What parts do you want me to watch over?” He pulls his lips away, and I reach back for him. A teasing smile playing across his lips before he presses a kiss to my jaw. “Here?” Another kiss, lower, across the top of my breast. “Is this where I need to watch over?”

“All of it,” I breathe, and he brings his lips back to mine for a moment before staring down at me, smiling, that delicious dimple firmly in place.

“Know what the best part of being tasked with this is?”

Dark hair tickles my eyebrows as I furiously shake my head.

“It means I’ll be back here as soon as I can.”

“I like that.”

“I’m glad, because you’re the reason I said yes.”

I stare at him, my mouth dropping open. “Oh?”

“Yep.” There’s a devilish glint in his eyes.

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