Page 53 of True Valor
Chapter Nineteen
The lights were on in the living room whenNic pulled his rental car into the driveway.The last hour had beentough.He’d never wanted to get home so badly in his life.That wasno light statement, either.There’d been times when, pulling intothe cul-de-sac, he, Joey, and Cruz had doubted that they had thestrength to even move from the car to the house.Simple rescuesturned into three-day affairs ending with seven-hour flights anddebriefings that they’d taken turns sleeping through.But now therewas more than just his bed waiting for him here.
Way more, truth be told.
The sweetest, softest, most attractive womanin the world was here, having been kept safe by his best friend.Nic was a lucky guy.Good friends and a woman to die for.Course,that soft, sexy woman might be pissed as hell at him for what he’dpulled in Quincy.She might not have forgiven him for making herspend three days in jail.On the other hand, she was even morebeautiful when she was mad.
He got all the way to the door, key in hand,when he stalled.His gut heaved and his throat closed.He squeezedhis eyes shut and let the anguish hit him like a Mack truck.
God.It hurt so bad.
Minutes ticked by before he could slide hiskey into the lock and push the door open.
Cruz sprawled on the couch, watching a soccergame, his legs stretched out, feet propped on the coffee table.Henodded a distracted hello when Nic came in.
Nic put down his bag and cleared his throat.“Who’s winning?”
“Scotland.”
“Is that good?”Nic had tried to get intosoccer at the insistence by Cruz that it wasthesport.Itwas okay, it might be a sport, but no way was itthesport.That would be hockey.Nic and Joey had gotten Cruz on the ice a fewtimes, even stuck a stick in his hand, but the boy had no passionfor it.He was hell on wheels on roller blades, but somehow thehockey gene was sorely missing in the beach bum.He would watchgames with them, if forced to by the inaccessibility of theremote.
Before Cruz could answer, the door to Joey’sroom opened.It gave Nic an odd jolt before Julie stepped intoview, dressed as he’d found her—in Christmas pajamas.
She’d been crying, her eyes red and puffy.Before he could speak, she flew into his arms, holding onto him forall she was worth, sobbing.Without a second thought, Nic tippedher face to his and kissed her.He vaguely heard Cruz get up andleave the room.
He pulled back and looked at her.Her lowerlip trembled.“Hi, baby.”
“Hi,” she answered, barely a whisper.“I’m sosorry.”
“You’resorry?For what?”
“About Joey, about intruding when you neededto be alone.”She started crying again.
“Shh.”Nic encircled her in his arms again,and tangled his hands in her hair.“I’m sorry for sticking you injail.I thought you’d be mad.”
“I am.”Now she smiled tremulously, pullingback.“Why didn’t you tell me about Joey?I’m so sorry, Nic.Thepictures...”
Her voice quivered but she held off anotherround of tears.Again, her arms went around him and she tucked herhead against his chest, right under his chin.It felt so damngood.
“I love you, Nic,” she whispered.
Holy moley!Did he hear her right?She lovedhim?Holy moley!Before he could process his reaction, Julie pulledaway, turning her back on him.
“I’m sorry.I shouldn’t have said that.”
For a moment, Nic was stuck.There she stood,her heart on her sleeve, even more vulnerable than the night hefound her.His gut clenched.He moved behind her, sliding his armsaround her.“You shouldn’t have said it because it’s not true, orbecause it is?”
She didn’t speak.Maybe she couldn’t.Insteadshe just hugged his arms closer and shook her head.Nic smiled tohimself.Christ, she smelled good.He shook free of the thoughtsthat sent lightning bolts through him.At least he tried to.Therewas no doubt about what she’d meant.There was also no doubt heloved her, too.
Maybe he’d loved her since the moment she’dturned her terrified, brown eyes to him as she sat in the car.Maybe since she’d curled up on the floor beside him to sleep.Ormaybe it was just this moment.It didn’t matter.
“I love you, too, Julie.”
There.He’d said it.
Julie laid her head back on his shoulder.Shepulled his hands from her waist, and kissed them.
They sat on the couch, not watching thesoccer game, just snuggled together, holding onto each other fordear life.
