Chapter 28
After two daysof eating pizza and burgers, they decided to eat healthy and made chicken and vegetables. They were having sex every chance they got and working out, but Ansley still wasn't able to run without her leg hurting.
The hot tub was nice, and it felt good to soak her leg. Also, getting in the ocean helped with swelling and pain, though the water was cold.
Link came in from taking the trash out, and she stood and moved to the kitchen. "I got an email about doing some work with the state department."
“Really?”
She nodded. "Yes. I wouldn't have to move, but I'd have to travel probably two to three times a year when they have big meetings."
“Are you thinking of doing it?”
“I wasn’t sure at first, but it would be fairly easy money.”
“If you want it, I think it would be good. I’d be out of town more. You know, being in special forces, my schedule isn’t as predictable.”
It was one thing she didn’t like about his job, but it was a part of who he was. “I understand. It’s part of the job.”
“It is. And it allows me to have extra days off.”
"So, your place by Fort Bragg, does it have an alarm?"
“It does. When I first bought it, I didn’t have one, but then I was gone a lot of the time. I don’t want some idiot breaking in while I’m not home.”
“I think that’s one requirement that I’d absolutely need. With Pete out there, I don’t think I could really relax without an alarm.”
He moved to her and cupped her cheeks. “He didn’t send another email, did he?”
She shook her head. "No, I just don't want to live in fear of him breaking in. If there's an alarm, I'll know if someone broke in, and I'd hear the alarm sound if it's at night."
"I get that. Once we get back home, I'll make sure you have access to the application that shows you if the system is on or off. I was thinking of adding a security camera or two."
“You don’t have to get cameras.”
“I kind of want to. Just so I can see if anything happens in the yard. See if any deer come into the area, stuff like that.”
“Oh, that would be cool.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Also, I’d feel better knowing you were safe when I’m on missions.”
She nodded slowly, realization filling her. “So when we go back to your place…”
“Yeah?”
Her stomach tightened, and she raked her teeth over her lower lip. “I mean, we haven’t really talked about it directly, but we kind of beat around the bush. Am I, are we?—”
“Are you asking if I want you to live there?”
She shrugged. “I don’t want to be presumptuous. I don’t have to live there.”
"Please don't get an apartment unless you want one. I mean, I know it's a lot. You just left the military, and your life is changing. Maybe it's too much to assume you'll move in with me."
She shook her head, happiness filling her. “No, it’s not too much. I just wanted to make sure I was reading this right. I like you a lot. I don’t want to push you into anything.”
He pulled her close and wrapped his strong arms around her. She could feel the beat of his heart against her hand that was on his chest. Her palm flattened against his strong muscles, and she knew this was right.
His voice was low, but filled with emotion. "You aren't pushing me into anything. I have big feelings for you. I want to spend my life with you. I don't know how that will play out, or if we can make it long term. Maybe you want to travel or move somewhere else. Me, I'll be stuck in Fayetteville for the foreseeable future."
