Page 46 of Mine to Protect

He shoulders moved up and down as he chuckled. “When you add the honesty factor, yes.”

“What do we do now?”

“I’ve got an idea.” He winked.

Her nipples tightened and tingled. Her skin heated. Part of her wanted to rip off her clothing, straddle him, and do it right there on the sofa. She’d never felt uncomfortable in her body, but all her senses were heightened around him, and she became a tigress. Not only did she want to please him, but she also wanted to take from him all she could. And she didn’t feel guilty about it. Not one bit.

And he always seemed willing.

He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek. “I care about you. I know that’s crazy; we barely know each other. But I want to change that. I want to be with you, but we can sit here and keep chatting and get to know each other more if you want.”

“Wow. You’ve changed.”

“I like to think I’m a better version of myself,” he said. “But I meant what I just said. When we find your brother, and all of this is over, I don’t want this to end. I want to explore things with you. I want to date you.”

Her heart grew heavy in her chest. Her life was in Jacksonville. She’d lived there her entire life. It was all she knew. And yet when she thought about spending the rest of her life there, her stomach filled with bricks, and her heart turned to stone.

She broke off the embrace and stood. Making her way toward the sliding glass doors, she stared out at the moon dancing over the river. The tide was high, so the water kissed the dock. Next door, the neighbors’ kids fished. She could hear them laughing.

She’d always thought that having a family of her own was a dream she’d never be able to chase. Especially in Jacksonville. There was so much pain in that town. Her mother’s death. Her father’s illness. And even though her brother had managed to find happiness with Jackie, there were so many reminders of his past around every corner that she found herself wanting to leave. Needing to find a safe place to land.

But she’d never been anywhere that gave her hope or a sense of freedom, except two places.

The state park in Lighthouse Cove, and Key West.

“My ego is severely bruised right now.” He came up behind her but didn’t touch her.

She loved that he knew exactly what to do around her and when she needed his touch and when it was best to let her lean into him, which was exactly what she did as she pressed her back against his strong, firm chest.

He wrapped his arms around her midsection.

“It’s so beautiful here. And I feel safe,” she said.

“I’m glad.”

“I’ve never really had that sensation in Jacksonville. It’s like all I do there is exist amongst the pain of my past. It’s like I live in a world where I’m chained to my feelings of having to take care of everyone. Whereas, when I’m here, or when I was in Key West, I was able to get lost.” She dropped her head to his shoulder. “It wasn’t about forgetting my troubles, though I did. It was as if I became a whole person. I didn’t realize that in Key West. I’m figuring it out now.”

“I understand.”

She turned and faced him dead-on. “Do you? Because I’m not even sureIget what’s really going on with me. I’m scared for my brother. I don’t like sitting around and waiting for something to happen. And while all that is going on, I’m having all these emotions for you that I thought were some fantasy I was holding onto because it couldn’t be real. It was a thing that happened. A fleeting moment in time to never be repeated. But here we are, repeating it, and—”

He hushed her with a gentle kiss. “I don’t want to repeat what we had in Key West because that had a beginning and an end.” He arched a brow. “However, I don’t want this to end.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to make you do that.”

“You didn’t. It’s just that this is a lot to take in, and where I’m used to you coming on strong with sex, now you’re laying it on with all this deep relationship stuff and…and…” If she told him what she was thinking, he’d probably run out the door, down the steps, and jump into the river. “I’m afraid to tell you how I’m feeling.”

“I’ve thought about you every day. I’ve wondered about being with you. So, if you’re worried about me being weird about you thinking about that, too... Don’t.”

She inhaled sharply, taking in his rich scent that was a mixture of rain and earth. It was as if she’d stepped into the rainforest. “I’ve never felt safe anywhere until I met you, but I’m afraid it will all vanish when we find my brother.”

He cupped her face. “Give me a chance to prove to you that I can be your safe harbor.”

CHAPTERTEN

Shelby caved to her desires. She wasn’t going to overthink it anymore. Attraction was a powerful thing, and there was no point in denying theirs any longer.

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