Page 85 of The Harborer
“I love you,” she murmured against his chiseled chest.
“And I’ve always loved you.”
They fell asleep wrapped up in each other.
The sun had clearedthe mountain peaks and flooded Shane’s apartment with light when Amy finally awoke. She was still cocooned in his warm embrace, but now his body was curled protectively around hers. Miraculously, she had made it through the night without dreaming, without waking. That had everything to do with the man holding her. How had she lived in Fall River this entire time and never known this sweet, selfless side to Deputy Shane?
She picked up his rough hand, kissed it, and pressed it to her chest. He stirred behind her, tightening his hold and humming in contentment.
He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“So am I.”
Her mind fired to life. Memories of last night came crashing over her like a rogue wave breaking on shore. She rode out the storm, lying here safe and sheltered. A question wormed its way to the choppy surface and niggled at her.
“Shane, I need to ask you something.”
“Mm-hmm?”
“Would you have come after me if Ihadbeen caught up in … I don’t even know the right terminology.”
“Of course I would. I was going nuts not knowing if you were all right.” Propping his weight on an elbow, he rolled her onto her back and fastened his eyes on hers. “Amy, I should have gone with my gut instead of worrying about rules. I should never have misjudged you. I—”
“You did what you had to do. Shane, you said you are who you are, and you don’t want to change that. I don’t want you tochange either. You had your doubts about me, and I admit it stung, but I get it. You tried not to let your heart drown out what your training was telling you. But you know what I still can’t get over?”
He shook his head, and sprigs of his hair bobbed.
Warmth flooded her bones. “You came for me anyway. In spite of your conflicted emotions, in spite of your doubts. That had to be incredibly difficult.”
“It was a simple decision, actually.”
“So you put yourself in danger for someone who might have been breaking the law?”
“No, I did it foryou. I will always come for you, Amy. You should know that by now.”
She fought to contain a fangirl sigh.Oh Gaia, this man!She cleared her brain. “What would you have done if you discovered I was, in fact, part of their operation?”
He picked up her hand and gently kissed each fingertip. “I’d have visited you in jail. It wouldn’t have been my first choice for a date, but yeah, I’d have been there. I would have also brought you coffee. Pastries. Maybe a cake with a file in it.”
A laugh burst from her. When she recovered herself, she said, “That’s so sweet.”
“Cakeispretty sweet.”
“I meantyou’resweet, and you know it.”
He kissed her, a drawn-out, soulful affair. When he drew back, he smoothed the hair from her face. “Do you still think I’m sweet if I’m damn glad I don’t have to do that, though?”
“Yes, I do.” She stared into those warm, nut-brown eyes that seemed to be lit with amusement. “I don’t think I thanked you for coming to rescue me. I’m sorry I passed out on you after you pulled me up.”
“You didn’t pass out. You just sort of folded, so I did what any boyfriend would do. I held you up.”
Boyfriend.Oh, she liked the sound of that.He was putting a stamp on their relationship, staking his claim, and she liked that too.
He grinned. “Do you remember what you said to me?”
“I don’t remember saying anything. I couldn’t even breathe.”
“You said, and I quote, ‘Is that a rifle in your hand, or are you happy to see me?’”
