Page 89 of North

“But?”

“But I guess maybe Frank was right. I couldn’t seem to get past the fact that I had to keep things from you. And I didn’t like that.”

He leaned toward her then, his face illuminated by the moonlight. “I was thinking, maybe…maybe I quit the team. Maybe I find something different. I still can’t tell you everything that…Well, some things are classified. And then there’s the travel. And…” His mouth tightened. “I don’t want to keep anything from you. But I also don’t want you to know what…what happens. So maybe I take that out of the equation.”

She had stilled at his words. “Quit Jones, Inc.? For me?”

“For us. Maybe I don’t have to be the guy who saves the world.”

“Who says?”

His eyes narrowed. “I just want you to live in peace, Selah.”

She touched his face. “And you think leaving your job as a protector will help me have peace?”

He swallowed. “I don’t know.”

“Listen. I get that you’re black and white. That you’re either in or out. But I think there’s a different answer. And it’s not to live in the gray, either.”

“Yeah?”

“You aren’t the only one whose father was a believer. My dad worked with inner-city kids, and about a year after Hannah went missing, he got us all together and sat us down and told us that God loved us. That we would be okay. That we would go on, even without Hannah.”

North frowned, and she nodded. “We needed to hear it. I mean, we were all Christians, so we knew Jesus had saved us, and that if Hannah wasn’t alive, then she was with Him, but we were all still really grieving. Especially my mother. My dad looked right at her and said we only live in peace, in wholeness, if we believe without a doubt that God loves us. And that His love is perfect even when our life feels terrifying and broken.”

She glanced outside, into the darkness, then reached for his hand. “I think I forgot that a little after Nigeria. And especially in Mariposa. But the last few days have reminded me that nowhere do I go that God hasn’t already gone before, that He hasn’t already prepared. That He hasn’t already raised up help and hope.” She squeezed his hand. “And fear is just me forgetting that.”

She leaned forward. “North. The world needs you to be a hero. And it needs me to support you. Pray for you. Love you.” Her voice fell. “And oh, do I love you.”

He made a little sound, a grunt maybe, or perhaps a growl, but he leaned forward then, grabbed the front of her shirt, tugged her close, and kissed her, sure and soft. And after a second, he wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her into him, deepening his kiss.

And she wrapped her arm around his shoulder, held on, and kissed him back. He was danger and safety, the night and the light, and right here, she belonged.

Always.

He leaned back and touched his forehead to hers. “I love you too. And if a girl could just give a guy a moment to blink, he could ask her to marry him.”

“A girl could do that.”

He kissed her forehead.

“I’m going to get something to eat. I hope Gerri has some cinnamon rolls left.”

“Bring me one,” he said, and squeezed her hand as she got up.

She headed to the kitchen. The refrigerator hummed, and the cinnamon rolls sat under plastic wrap on a plate on the counter. She started to undo the wrap, peeling it back when North came out of the den.

“Ford spotted movement. It looks like the bull got out of its pen. We’re going to check on it.”

Ford appeared from down the hallway, stalked past North to the front door.

“The bull got out?” Selah said.

North opened the door. “Just stay put, okay?” He stood at the door, waiting for her reply.

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

He met her eyes. “I’ll be right back.”