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Connor undressed and climbed into bed in boxer briefs that—glory to the world—left very little to the imagination.
“Come here,” he said, and I slid into the crook of his shoulder.He wrapped his arms around me, sighed heavily. “I’ve wanted this for hours. Just this. Peace and quiet and you.”
“It’s not bad,” I agreed. “Pretty damn good, actually.”
“Are you worried?”
“Yes,” I said. “Are you?”
He paused thoughtfully. “No. I’m anticipating, and I’m ready for a fight. I’m ready to resolve two issues that are hurting you, hurting us. But I’m not worried about the result. Because one way or the other, they won’t get their hands on you.”
He kissed my temple. “Sleep. The rest is for tomorrow.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “But I’m glad you’re here, with me, in my house, in my bed.”
As light fell across the city, I fell into sleep, safe in his arms.
TWENTY-TWO
Something hit me in the face, and I jumped awake, brushed at the wings of the dragon I was sure had come to gnaw my bones.
And found a sports bra in my hand.
Blinking, I looked up, found Connor in the doorway in shorts, running shoes, and nothing else. “Come on. We’re going for a run.”
I pulled the hair from my face. “Why would we do that?”
He walked to the window, opened the heavy blackout drapes so moonlight shone through. “Because it’s fun?”
“You and I have very different ideas of fun.”
He grinned. “No, Lis. I think we’ve proven that’s not true.”
He had me there. And several other ways.
“This will be good for you. You can run off the nerves, and you’ll be ready for what comes next.”
Right. I checked the clock. Sixish hours to go.
“Have they found Levi?” I asked.
“Nothing yet,” he said. “They’re looking.”
I plucked up my screen, checked my messages. “Nicole has arrived. We’re confirmed for midnight. No messages from Levi.”
“He may not send one.”
“Maybe not,” I said. “But maybe I should poke the bear.” Ityped a draft, showed it to Connor. “A response to his last message.”
“‘You can’t be my enemy if I don’t care about you. Life goes on and I’m with a real man.’” He handed the screen back. “Immature and guaranteed to piss him off.”
“Enough to have him come for both of us tonight?”
“Possibly.”
“That’s all I need,” I said and sent it.
“If he comes at you, how’s the shoulder?”
I rolled it. “Only twingey.”
