She shook her head.“I can’t take your money.”
“Bryn, I know this might be too soon for you to hear this, but I love you.”He felt her go still, her wide dark eyes clashing with his.The uncertainty in her gaze wasn’t exactly reassuring.“I’ve always admired you, even back when we were kids.Tommy was protective of you, and when we both joined the army, I realized it wasn’t fair to mention my feelings.And afterward, when Tommy was killed, I figured you probably blamed me for his death.”
“I didn’t blame you,” she protested.
“Well, maybe I blamed myself,” he admitted.“So I kept my distance.Until you called needing help.”
Regret darkened her eyes.“I didn’t know what else to do, but looking back, I realize I put you in a bad position.”
“Hey, I’m exactly where I want to be.With you, Bryn.I’m grateful you reached out.If you hadn’t called me...”He couldn’t finish.He was convinced that her attempt to navigate this on her own would have ended with her death.
“I know.You saved my life countless times.”She tipped her head to the side, regarding him with a serious gaze.“Are you sure?I mean, you could probably find someone without as much baggage as I’m carrying.”A hint of a smile tugged at her lips.“Metaphorically speaking, because as you know, I don’t own anything but the clothes I’m wearing.”
“I’m absolutely sure I love you.”He hoped she could hear the truth reverberating in his tone.“Watching Nate hold you at gunpoint was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.Second to the fiasco of pulling out of Afghanistan,” he amended.“And if you’re not ready, I understand.Just come back to Chicago with me and we’ll take things slow and easy.”
“I love you too, Micah.”She smiled at his shocked expression.“I have always admired you too.Since we were in high school.I almost asked you to prom, did you know that?”
“Ah, no.I had no idea.”He couldn’t imagine the Bryn he knew back then asking him out to a dance.
“Then Ken Thompson asked me to go to the dance with him, and I figured he was a sure thing.To be honest, I wasn’t convinced you’d go with me.”Her smile faded.“Your support during Tommy’s funeral was amazing, I needed you more than I realized.And now this.”She waved a hand at their surroundings.“I know I wouldn’t be sitting here if you hadn’t agreed to come rushing to my rescue.”
It was his turn to hesitate.He hadn’t imagined she’d confess her love for him too.And while he was thrilled to hear the words, he understood better than most that she may be experiencing a bit of hero worship.He didn’t want her to feel obligated to return his feelings.“Are you sure?You’ve been through a traumatic couple of days, and things may look and feel differently once things go back to normal.”
“I’m sure that I love you.And I’m sure that my life will never go back to the way it was before.And you know what?I’m okay with that.”She leaned toward him.“Because I know there’s something better waiting for me in the future.Thanks to you, Micah.”
“Ah, Bryn.”He framed her face in his palms and leaned in for a kiss.She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer, which was not easy since they were in the front seat of the car.His elbow hit the computer dashboard, the steering wheel dug into his side, and his knees were wedged painfully against the center console.
Under different circumstances, he might have laughed.But his heart was too full of hope and love to care about being uncomfortable.
“I love you,” she said with a heartfelt sigh.
“I love you too.”He looked into her eyes for a long moment.“I forgot to add that if you don’t like Chicago, we can move somewhere else.I, uh, travel a lot for my job.”He briefly thought of Leah, his former fiancée, then doggedly pushed forward.“But if you want me to stop working for Grayson’s Guardians, I can do that too.I have money socked away from when I was in the army, and I can operate my private investigator business from anywhere.There’s no rush to jump into anything.We can take our time.I’m willing to do whatever makes you happy.”
“Don’t be silly.I would never make you move away from your home for me.”She frowned.“Or give up your job.It’s fine if you have to travel.You do realize I’ve lived alone for a long time.I can handle it.I’ve never visited Chicago, but I’m sure it’s a nice place.”
“It’s a big city, without the open space that you’re used to.”The more he thought about it, the more he realized it would be better to find somewhere else to live.The marshland that butted up to her house was nice.As were the lakes within driving distance of her home.Sure, Chicago was on the shore of Lake Michigan, but that wasn’t the same.It was loud and noisy and jammed with tourists all summer.
A police car pulled up alongside them.The officer behind the wheel hit his siren for a moment to draw their attention.
Micah jerked back, feeling as if he were seventeen and kissing his girlfriend in the front seat of his beat-up Mustang, as he released Bryn and rolled down the window.He cleared his throat.“Officer.”
“Are you Micah Newton and Bryn Sinclair?”the cop asked.
He swallowed a sigh.“Yes, sir.”At least they weren’t going to get a lecture about necking at the side of the road.“We’re on our way to the Wild Prairie police station to provide our statements.”
The cop hiked a brow and made a circle in the air with his index finger.“Let’s go then.You can follow me.”
“Yes, sir.”Micah raised the window and put the car in gear.He glanced over at Bryn to find her blushing.“Sorry about that.I should have picked a better spot for this conversation.”
“It’s fine.”She managed a weak laugh.“Besides, we should get these interviews over with.”
“Yeah.”He made a mental note to call Rex, then reached for her hand again as he followed the cruiser down the highway toward the police station.“We’ll be okay.It may take a while to get through our statements, but after that, we’ll be free to leave.”
“I’m looking forward to that,” she admitted, lacing her fingers with his.“I have to admit, I’m a little soured on Wisconsin, the Madison area in particular.”She was silent for a long moment, before adding, “I’m so blessed to have found you, Micah.”
“We’re blessed to be together,” he agreed.“And while I’m honored to hear you wanted to ask me to prom, I don’t think things wouldn’t have worked for us back in high school.Tommy and I did two full tours in Afghanistan, and that’s a lot of time and distance for any relationship to survive.I think God brought us together now for a reason.”He smiled.“Specifically so we could save each other.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she said.“Although I can’t wait until we can get out of here.”
