Page 74 of Hidden Shadows
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A calm Nixonhad rarely felt in his life seeped through his bones at the weight of Finley’s head on his shoulder. At the sigh of her soft breaths as she slept.
Yeah, she was sleeping on another two-hour flight, and there wasn’t a single part of him that wanted to wake her.
This trip had been a whirlwind. He’d found things that he’d never thought he’d find. Love. Peace. A hope for the future he’d never fucking felt before.
Since the day his sister had died, he’d distanced himself from everyone in this world with the exception of his SEAL team. It had been an intentional move to keep himself from being hurt or from hurting others. But bit by bit, this woman had weaved her way into his world, cracking the protective shell around his heart. And now there was no going back. No letting her go or falling back into his old ways.
She’d changed him. And become so damn vital, he couldn’t even conceive of a life without her.
The entire time she slept, the slight pressure of her cheek soothed him, the softness of her body heating his blood.
It wasn’t until they were on approach, and the pilot came over the speaker, that he cupped her cheek. “Honey. We’re landing.”
Her eyes opened slowly, then she looked up at him, gaze soft before humor danced in the brown depths. “Oh my gosh…I fell asleep again.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You did. But I kind of liked it.”
“Well, I’m sure you liked it more than the first time I did it, back when I was a stranger.”
He shrugged. “I kind of liked it then, too. Not that I would have admitted that out loud.”
Something crossed her face, some unreadable emotion.
He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “What is it, honey?”
“I was just thinking about what a mess yesterday was. I hate that it happened on Christmas Day. It gives you more reason to hate the holiday.”
He shook his head. “Yesterday wasn’t all bad.”
Her brow furrowed.
“Not only did we eliminate the asshole,” he continued, “but it was the first day you said you loved me. And the first day I said it out loud to you. I haven’t told anyone I love them in a very long time.”
A thin sheen of tears filled her eyes. “Nixon…”
“Yesterday was the start of our forever, Finley. And I promise you…I will love you and protect you until the day I die. I am so damn grateful you came into my life.”
She wet her lips, swiping at a tear that spilled down her cheek. Then she smiled. “So we’re a bit of a Christmas miracle, aren’t we? Like eggnog?”
He chuckled, lowering his head. “Youare a Christmas miracle. Eggnog isnot.”
Then he kissed her. Lost himself in her. Drowned in her.
