His smile said how much he was on board with that idea.
He drove me to the Willis Security Tech building, his hand curled around mine the entire time. We rode the elevator to the top floor, and though I’d been here before, something about this time felt different.
Austin was practically vibrating beside me.
When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out and stopped short. The open office floor was full of familiar faces. Some a little less than others. I was pretty sure Milo was hanging in the back, studying me over the top of his glasses.
And it wasn’t just Reed’s team.
I counted a handful of my team too.
“So, what now, boss?” Harlow asked as he stepped up and gave me a respectful nod.
“I don’t know,” I said with a look of panic on my face. A few laughs rose up. I took a deep breath, and then cleared my throat, which suddenly felt clogged. “I can’t ask you to give up your jobs. The team is dead, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for you at the FBI. Or even—”
“No need to give that speech,” Carver said. His face held no emotion, but there was a twinkle in his eye. “We’re with you.”
I felt pride and happiness welling up inside, it burst out in a smile I couldn’t contain.
“Or if your sad ass is done,” Harlow said, shifting his focus from me to Reed. “I’m just gonna put it out there that I’m available.”
“Yeah, Harlow’s at your service, huh?” Keller said teasingly, which earned him a backhand to the stomach from Carver. Keller doubled over and coughed. Carver might have been tiny, but he packed a hell of a punch.
I shifted my focus to Reed, easily reading the look on his face. He cut through the crowd and tipped his head at me.
“What do you say?” He held his hand out. “Want to team up?”
I glanced at Austin, who was proudly beaming at me.
“Sure,” I said, giving my attention back to Reed. I gripped his hand and gave it a good shake. “But I’m going to need a long vacation first.”
Reed smiled at me and winked.
“You should get on that now, sir,” Keller called. “It’s well overdue.”
I smiled and gave him a nod.
“We’ll figure it out when you get back,” Reed said, reaching out to shake my hand.
“Keep them busy while I’m gone,” I said to Reed as I eyed Harlow and Carver like they were mischievous children who’d get into trouble if they didn’t have anything to do. It wasn’t a second later that we all broke out in laughter.
“Come on,” Austin said, slipping his hand into mine and pulling me away.
The elevator doors slid shut, and it was just the two of us. I squeezed his hand. My skin buzzed and hummed with the excitement of what was to come.
“Hey,” I said as I turned to him.
“Yeah?” His face was full of concern.
“I love you,” I said, feeling rather silly that I hadn’t said it since seeing him again.
The smile that split his face was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“I love you. With everything I am,” he whispered softly.
Of course he had to take it a step further. My heart went all fluttery, even if his cheesiness made me want to roll my eyes.
“Now I’m going to take you home,” he said with a pump of his brows, “and I want you to give me a reason to stay there.”
