Though it wasnothinglike her ex would say, her first instinct was to bristle. Independence had been stripped from her in that relationship.
With Crew, this didn’t feel like a cage.
Her throat tightened. “Okay.” She surprised herself with how sure it sounded. “You can drive me.”
Relief crossed his face. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her hair. “Thank you.”
They lay there a little longer, the room peaceful again—until a muffled laugh drifted through the wall. Followed by footsteps in the hallway. A door opening. Voices.
Fern stiffened.
Crew’s body went alert beneath her. “The guys are coming back from lunch.”
She glanced up at him. Her eyes widened. She didn’t want the men she’d be working with in the garden seeing her slipping out of Crew’s room.
“Crew…”
“I’ve got you.” He slid out from beneath her, already moving with quiet efficiency. He picked up her clothes and set them next to her, then began tossing on his own.
She dressed quickly and smoothed her hair but knew she still looked well-loved.
Crew crossed to the window and cracked it open, peering outside before pushing it wider. Cool air swept in.
“You’re serious?” she whispered.
He looked back at her, a faint grin tugging at his mouth. “I’m not letting rumors start about you.”
Her heart did a little flip. “You’re sneaking me out.”
“Protecting your reputation.” He shot her a wide smile that felt playful and dangerous at the same time.
She tried not to laugh as she edged up to the window. “This is officially the strangest exit I’ve ever made.”
“Won’t be the last.” He pulled out the window screen and set it aside, deep brown eyes warm and amused.
She paused, leaning in to kiss him once more—quick, soft, full of the promise of more. “You’re trouble, Crew Diaz. But the best kind.”
Then she slipped out into the afternoon light, smiling all the way down.
Chapter Nine
Crew’s world had shifted. Just a month ago, his life was made up of morning chores, working with the horses and various therapy sessions. He wrote letters to the families on Gray’s list and took them to the post office.
Suddenly that gave way to a breakthrough about the feelings Conner’s family harbored for him. He’d even gone from having to force himself to say Navy’s name to it flowing off his tongue. He’d unloaded military supplies at the Black Heart Tactical Training Facility.
And this was the second time he stood in the security office like he belonged there.
Maybe he did.
Carson was the eldest in the big family and the founder of the security agency that he and his brothers were building into an empire. Crew was used to the guys firing off a request to run an errand or help with a task.
But now he sat at his desk across from Crew, looking at him like an equal.
It felt good. Better than good. It felt…right.
“We ran the plates on the truck Fern saw.”
His lungs constricted. “And?”
