Page 85 of Rafe’s Future

For him, and he’d done the same for her.

Rafe stripped off his jeans, T-shirt, and boxer briefs before leading them both into the shower. The water streamed over them, washing away the last few days.

Lena closed her eyes and tipped her face toward the spray. He watched her for a moment, his jaw tightening as he remembered the phone call she’d made after the mission.

It’s over. I’m coming home.

He’d heard plenty of promises in his life. Some were well-intended at the time they’d been made. Others had been nothing but lies. But she’d kept hers.

Rafe stepped behind her, pulling her body snug with his. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Lena turned. She kissed him. It was soft at first. But then it became so much more.

Later, when they were in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, she looked up at him with a soft sigh.

“So what happens now?”

“What do you mean?”

Her gaze filled with a knowing look. “You know what I mean, Rafe.” Lena swallowed. “What happens now . . . with us?”

Oh. That.

He’d planned to discuss this with her tomorrow. But since they were both still awake, and she’d brought it up⁠—

“I want to give this a real shot.” Rafe paused. “I want to see what happens when we’re not running for our lives.”

She was quiet for a moment before her mouth lifted. “I’d like that, too.”

A blanket of relief fell over him. “Yeah?”

Lena’s hair swished against the pillow with her nod. “Yes.”

Rafe pressed a kiss to the center of her forehead. “Good.”

A quiet laugh escaped her. “Good? That’s the best you’ve got?”

“Pretty sure I gave you that a few minutes ago.”

She threw her head back and laughed, full-bellied this time. He joined in, pulling her closer to him.

When the laughter died down, and they’d shared a final goodnight kiss, Rafe closed his eyes. There were still some questions to answer. What things would look like for them moving forward, for one. But they could all wait until morning.

He felt Lena relax completely against him, and a few moments later, her breathing deepened as sleep finally claimed her. Rafe leaned in, pressing one last kiss to her temple. When his lids fell shut again, he didn’t think about the past, men he’d lost, or enemies still lying in wait.

Instead, he began making plans for the future.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Charlotte, NC

Two days later . . .

“I’m telling you he meant well.” Alice fought to keep a straight face. “He just apparently decided that since I’d been shot, I was no longer capable of handling the dishes.”

Lena and the other women sitting around the table laughed and groaned at Digger’s good intentions. The little coffee shop where they’d chosen to meet smelled like freshly ground beans, a touch of cocoa, and hints of pumpkin spice.