“Um…” I swallowed, and Panther leaned down and placed his hands on the rail I was leaning against, effectively caging me in. “He said that if I cared for you then I should do what’s best for you.”
“What’sbestfor me?”
“I believe his exact words were ‘I expect you’ll do the right thing.’”
If anger had a shade, it would’ve been the red tinge now staining Panther’s cheeks.
“And what exactly is that supposed to be? Pushing me away? Treating me like a piece of shit for the last couple of days?”
“No.” I got to my feet, and Panther took a step back, but I wasn’t letting him go anywhere. “Trust me, that’s the worst thing I could’ve done. The dumbest fucking thing. He just…he got in my head, okay?” I threw my hands up in the air. “He got in my head, made me doubt myself—”
“Andme.”
“Yes,” I admitted, as Panther went back to pacing. “And you. And, well, I started to think that maybe he was right and you would be better off without me. I mean, let’s face it, you deserve way better than someone like me.”
“I deservebetter?”
“Yeah. I’m not stupid, Panther. You’re practically Navy royalty. You’re smart as hell, you fly like you own the sky, and you’re the bravest person I’ve ever met. I love you, but I’m under no delusions. I’m aware that I probably only have you for a limited time here.”
Panther stopped and slowly pivoted. “What did you just say?”
As I thought back over my words, three that I’d never said to anyone stood out like a flashing neon sign.
As Panther began walking in my direction, I found myself backing up, not because I feared violence or rage, but because the emotions in his eyes mirrored everything I’d felt over the last couple of weeks and been too afraid to say out loud.
“You said you loved me.”
“I…”
Panther’s blazing blue eyes held me in some kind of trance, and his lips curved into a smug smile. “You said you loved me.”
Just hearing him say those words made my heart feel like it was going to burst, andthatsmile was designed to bring me to my knees. “I did.”
Panther reached for one of the belt hooks in my jeans and tugged me in as close as he could. Then he lowered his head and whispered across my lips, “Say it again.”
“I love you,” I said, and reached up to take hold of Panther’s face. “I just didn’t realize how much until I’d almost lost you.”
“Never.” Panther’s eyes fell shut and he leaned his forehead against mine. “You could never lose me because I’d refuse to go. I love you too, Solo. And I don’t care what anyone has to say about that, especially my father. These last few days have felt like forever.”
I pressed a soft kiss to Panther’s lips. “I’m so sorry for everything I said to you—”
“It’s okay.”
“No.” I shook my head. “It’s not. I should’ve trusted you, trustedusmore. You’re right. I let your dad get in my head when I should’ve come and talked to you.”
“Trust me, I get it. If anyone understands the kind of mind games my father can play, it’s me. But next time, don’t shut me out, okay? We can deal with anything, even him, as long as we’re doing it together.”
“Deal,” I said, and then took Panther’s hand, an idea suddenly taking hold of me. “So, um, will you let me make it up to you?”
Panther arched an eyebrow and looked me over.“Well, I’m certainly not going to say no to that.”
I started walking backward toward my bike, a grin on my lips, his hand in mine. “Hmm, I was hoping you’d say that.”
Panther licked his lips as we continued toward our bikes, the heaviness from before replaced with a levity that made me feel like I could float on air.
“Okay, I have to do a few things first,but…how about you knock on my door at eight and I’ll treat you to a night you’ll never forget?” I pressed a kiss to his jaw. “A night that will remind you that you are exactly who I want and who I want to be with.”
A shiver racked Panther’s body. I stepped back then dropped his hand and climbed onto my bike. As I gunned the engine, I flashed a grin his way. I took a mental snapshot of him standing there, looking at me like I’d hung the moon, and I promised myself as I rode out of the parking area that by the time the night was over, I’d make sure he saw the stars too.
