Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“Not as much as you.”
My breath caught. Neither of us had ever said the words. Still hadn’t, really. I swallowed. “It’s not worth risking your job over.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Aiden could hunt down Cupid and take revenge, but that wasn’t who he needed to be.
Sighing, he kicked off his boots and loped toward me. He sat on his side of the bed, tucked one leg under the other, and faced me. “I’d risk anything for you. Don’t you know that?” He cupped my jaw and leaned in, kissing me gently.
My heart swelled. Yes, it was a stupid expression, but I swore that’s what happened. There was something about untamable men, the wildness in them, that became all the sweeter when they tried to be gentle. Attempted to be unguarded and genuine with just one woman. Me. With just an honest statement like that, he made me feel special, like one in a million. Because I knew that he’d risk anything for me. He had, in fact. I returned his kiss, feeling his tension start to dissipate. I leaned back. “I admire the rein you’ve kept on your temper all night.”
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “It has been an effort.” His voice was still hoarse. “I’m pissed at myself for not seeing the danger in this stupid Cupid ring. The guy shot Basanelli, and I still didn’t hunt him down.”
I ran my palms along the whiskers on his chin. “I’m not involved in the case. Not really. It was a shock that Lenny showed up at my office tonight.” Although, my nana had brought him the other day. Still, I wouldn’t have thought he would seek me out for help.
“I should’ve seen it coming,” Aiden said grimly. “I mean, it’s you.”
A somewhat fair statement. Sometimes, I caught him looking at me with genuine concern in his eyes. Did he doubt our future? Was he afraid he’d end up with kids and maybe a wife who got shot at a lot? Of course, it wasn’t like he worked in a safe field. He was fired upon often and had recently dealt with a bomber. What kind of changes would we have to make if we decided to have kids someday in the far future? One of us had to be safe. Of course, as an attorney, I should be mostly safe. Yet, I kept ending up in these situations.
“Anna?” He leaned in to study my eyes. “Lost you for a second there.”
“I don’t want you to lose me,” I whispered, tears pricking the backs of my eyes.
He wiped at the corner of one eye with his thumb. “Hey there. Hold on. It’s been a rough night. It’s okay.”
It might’ve been the pain pill or the disappearing adrenaline, but I couldn’t stop. “I don’t want you to decide I’m too much effort. Or too much risk.” The idea hurt in a way I’d never be able to explain.
His expression softened. “I’m in for the long haul, Angel. I promise.”
Another tear fell. Yep. Must be the pain pill. “Me, too,” I said. “I don’t want you to worry that I’m in danger all the time.”
“I don’t. And I promise, I’ll lock you down if necessary.”
Well, that dried up my tears. But then he kissed me, deep this time, and I forgot all about my worries.
Chapter 24
I woke to the rumble of Aiden’s voice on the phone and blinked, wincing as I tried to roll over, realizing the pain pill had worn off. My shoulder pounded like it had taken a hammer. I supposed an arrow tip was kind of like that. Pushing my hair out of my face, I gingerly sat up and looked around. “Aiden?” I called.
He moved into the bedroom with his phone to his ear and a cup of coffee in his hand. My mouth watered. He handed me the mug, and I took a big drink of the brew. It was perfectly warm and tasted like cinnamon. I took another sip.
He sat on the bed and looked refreshed. I hadn’t heard him shower, but his hair was wet, and he’d shaved his hard jaw. Today, he wore a long-sleeved, black T-shirt and faded jeans.
He looked me over. “Just great,” he said into the phone.
Both of my eyebrows rose.
He set the phone on the bedside table and pressed the speaker button. “Hey, Pierce, you’re on with both Anna and me now.”
“Hey, Albertini,” Detective Pierce said. “How are you feeling?”
“A little sore.” I tried to move my shoulder and then winced. “Okay, a lot sore. Getting shot by an arrow kind of sucks.”
Pierce chuckled. “Yeah. Don’t worry, we’re going to find this guy.”
“I know. What’s going on right now?”
Movement sounded over the phone as if Pierce had walked out of his office. “Pete’s Pawn Shop got hit early this morning.”