Page 73 of Rafe’s Future

One corner of his mouth lifted. “That’s a lie.”

Lena turned back toward the bay. “You’re annoyingly perceptive.”

His masculine chuckle touched her deep inside as his soft footsteps carried him closer.

“Occupational hazard, but I’m pretty sure it’s one we share.”

Rafe joined her at the railing, and for a moment, neither spoke. His shoulder brushed hers, the innocent contact sending a pulse of warmth through her despite the early morning’s cool air. When their conversation resumed, their gazes remained forward, toward the expanding water.

“I keep thinking about that cabin,” she admitted.

“Me, too.”

“I thought you were going to die.”

He was silent for several seconds. “So did I.”

Lena turned and looked at him then. There was no irreverence in his expression. No attempt to make light of what had happened or brush it away. Just the truth, which was what she felt a sudden urgency to give him.

“I couldn’t lose you,” she whispered softly.

His eyes turned and locked with hers.

“Lena . . .”

“Let me finish.” She gave her head a quick shake, needing to get this out before she lost the nerve.

It didn’t matter if he didn’t feel the same. Lena hoped he did, and it had sure felt that way when he’d been kissing her feverishly in the moments following their harrowing experience.

But until she said it out loud, it was impossible to know.

Here goes nothing.

Lena opened herself up in ways she never had before.

“I’ve spent most of my life convincing myself that needing someone was a weakness,” she shared. “A distraction from the job. That caring too much or letting someone in too deep would give someone a weapon to use against me later.” She swallowed. “But when I thought you were going to die tonight, none of that mattered anymore. All I could think about was getting you off that plate. I never once worried about whether the killer was watching. My only concern was for you.”

His gaze softened, and his lips parted as if to speak, but Lena lifted a palm to stop him. If she didn’t get this out now, she feared she never would.

I have to tell him the rest.

“When I realized the bomb didn’t go off, and you were still alive . . .” Her voice caught. “I realized something else.”

“What’s that?”

Rafe reached for her hand, and she let him take it.

“I love you.” There. She’d said it.

The words hung between them. Simple. Terrifying.

True.

“I love you, too.” His fingers tightened around hers.

Her lungs froze, and her heart swelled. Deep down, Lena hadn’t just hoped. A part of her knew. But hearing him say those precious words still stole her breath.

She inched closer. “So what do we do now?”