A faint blush stains Ciara’s cheeks, and my fingers itch with the need to reach out and stroke my thumb over her soft skin. But I refrain, keeping my hands balled into fists beneath the table.
“Just… promise me you’ll never put yourself in that kind of danger again.”
Her eyebrows lift as she leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I don’t think I can make that promise.”
“Why?”
“Because you put yourself in danger every damn day, and you expect me to be okay with that. But what you fail to realize is that I worry too, Ronan. Don’t act like this is one-sided.”
My heart skips a beat.
She cares.
But then I realize what she said. “It’s not. But I know what I’m doing. I have backup. I have training. And while what you did was brave, it was also reckless as hell because you had none of those.”
“But it saved Mila.”
“Yes. But it could’ve killed you both.”
“But it didn’t.”
“Look, this whole conversation is ridiculous. We’re going around in circles. All I’m asking is that you don’t put yourself inunnecessarydanger.”
“And who gets to define what’s necessary? You?”
“I’m not trying to control you, Ciara. I’m trying to keep you safe.Alive. What you did the other night could have ended badly, and I don’t think you realize that. I mean, what happens when we have kids? Will you consider how your actions will affect them? Or will you risk your life and leave them without a mother?”
Ciara’s face pales as she peers up at me. “You want kids with me?”
The question throws me, and I frown. “What?”
“You said, ‘What happens when we have kids?’ Like it’s something you’ve thought about.”
“Of course, I’ve thought about it. I mean, things might be too messed up for us to think about it right now, but someday I want a family of my own.”
Something flickers in Ciara’s eyes. Surprise, maybe?
For once, I can’t quite read her, but then her lips pull up into a tentative smile, and I feel the tension in my body instantly melt away.
“So, do you forgive me for being an ass?”
“Maybe…” The corners of her lips twitch.
I let out a long breath and lean back in my seat, feeling some of the weight lift off my shoulders.
“And I promise to do my best not to risk my life unnecessarily if you can do the same for me. We need to be a team.”
It’s not the promise I want, but it’s the one I’ll take if it means being back on speaking terms with my wife.
“It’s a deal.”
Chapter Nine
CIARA
Someday.
