Page 50 of Island Homecoming

All of that bright joy around his heart crashed in on itself. She turned down the perfect job? He stepped back. Shoved his hands into his pockets. Hecould notcope with any more ups and downs today. The fear she might be killed, the relief when she was safe. Hearing her say she loved him and now that she was leaving. He couldn’t take it.

And he was an ass for being jealous of a town, resentful of the place she felt at home because the place wasn’t here. With him.

“Jess. I—I…” He didn’t know how to say anything. The pain in his chest was sharp and deep. Jagged shards biting into that fragile dream. The only cure was her. He wouldn’t be whole without her. And all of that sounded reactive and overdramatic in his head. Not her job to make him happy. He was responsible for that.

Though he didn’t particularlywantto follow her back to Key West, he would.He would. He could sell the business. Better yet, leave it in the hands of a manager. The details didn’t matter right this second. Whatever she needed, he’d figure it out. Because living without her was worse than anything he might leave behind.

“When are you leaving?” he finally asked.

“I’m not.”

Okay, apparently this entire takedown thing just messed with his head. He wasn’t sure if he could dare to celebrate anything more than surviving the moment. Was she staying or was he just reading way too much into every word she spoke?

“Spell it out for me Jess, what are you saying?”

“Nothing clearly.” She looked up at him, then away. Planted her hands on her hips and then let them fall. “You want to know where my head is?” He nodded. “All right. Brace yourself. Here’s my counter offer. Let’s live together. I’ll move in with you, since you have an actual house apart from your parents.”

“I kind of like closet phone calls.”

“Well, too bad. I’m over them.” Her grin flashed, sassy and confident. “I’ll marry you when our mothers can’t stand it anymore and we’ll build a life right here on the island. A life that suits us both.”

The hope on her face, radiating from her beautiful eyes, made him indescribably happy. Elated. The immediate rush was followed by a wave of soothing contentment. Jess as his wife? Hell yes. He couldn’t imagine anything more perfect.

“Nash?” She ran her hands lightly over his arms.

“Yes. Yes!” He hugged her close, pulling her off her feet and spinning her in a circle. “Yes to all of that, my love.” He set her gently on her feet. “You’re sure you can be happy here?” She was nodding, but he wouldn’t risk her suffering any regrets. “Your career is important, but we only have a small police force. I don’t want you to burn out.”

She was shaking her head. “No. I won’t be a cop here.”

What did that mean? Worry trickled through his system. She was a cop to her core.

“I got a better offer,” her eyes sparkled.

He couldn’t think of another post that would interest her here on the island. “Don’t tell me Nina offered you a job.”

She laughed, the delighted sound going a long way to erase the lingering dread and stress of the earlier danger.

“Your sister would never do that. She’s too smart.” She cupped his face in her hands. “It’s better. My lawyers who manage the Guardian Agency and sent me here—”

“To work off your lawyer fees after being arrested,” he teased.

“You’ll never let me live that down.”

“I won’t.” He kissed her.

She nudged him back and rolled her eyes. “They’re diversifying. Or expanding. Whatever they call it, they’re creating special teams, remote research groups, training programs, and that kind of thing. They asked me to be the regional coordinator for the southeast.”

“Seriously?” He pulled her into another fierce hug, absolutely thrilled for her. For them. “That’s fantastic!”

“It’s a big opportunity.” She sat down on the edge of the dock and he joined her. “I can work right here. In Brookwell,” she clarified. “I can work from home or if I find office space that suits me, they’ll cover the rental and equipment and all that.”

He took a breath, marveling at how perfect this would be for her. “Travel, danger, or any similar requirements?”

“There may be some travel, yes.” Her smile grew wider and brighter with every detail she shared. “Danger should be greatly minimized.”

He couldn’t hide his relief on that score. “And what about your need to uphold law and order?”

“You know me too well.” She swung her feet back and forth off the edge of the dock, reminding him of those days when they were kids.

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