Accidental Shield

“Maybe so. In this case, I hope after he’s done falling, he rolls downhill to a happier place than my hill. All I’ve ever wanted for my son.”

I don’t want him to think I’m still teasing. “You’ve done a great job with Bryce and with your life. It shows. I’m grateful Cash brought me here.” Here comes the guilt again. I pause, clearing my throat. “But…well, I’m still really sorry for pulling you into my family’s crap. Sorry you felt you had to go to such extremes to make me feel comfortable.”

“The whole fake marriage story? Forget it, honey, already water under the bridge.”

I nod limply. It should sting less than it does to hear him still calling me honey. But he does it with this weird easiness that almost feels right.

“That was Cash’s idea, remember? I went along with it because I thought we’d crack the case in hours, maybe a couple days. We’ve rescued whole groups of people in under forty-eight hours in the past. But it’s damnably hard getting to the bottom of this case. There’s no rhyme or reason why anyone would want to hurt you, or why you were on that ship.”

I look up, wishing I had his certainty. “How do you know, Flint? You don’t know who I was or what I was doing. I could’ve been a terrible person, just like—”

“No. Not like your fuck of a brother,” he growls, his eyes turning to slits. “You wouldn’t have drawn him roaring in your face if you were tight with him, waist-deep in illegal shit. Trust me, I’ve been working on it since Cash brought you here. Your family has their hands in the muck, something underhanded. But you don’t.”

“We can’t know that,” I say. Goosebumps take over my arms.

“Val, the whole reason you’re here must be because you got in the way.” He pauses. “Think you tried throwing a wrench in Ray’s gears and almost paid the price.”

It’s my turn to pause before I ask, “So will you tell me what you’ve found out about what’s going on? What’s caused all this trouble?”

He stares at me for a second, his eyes lit like dancing blue flames, then shakes his head. “Not yet, babe. Soon.”

“Why? The amnesia? You’re afraid I’ll just—”

Flint stands up taller, this dark, imposing knight. “Because. I don’t think it’ll help you right now. You could’ve fucking drowned today, babe. I’m not gonna be the man responsible for blowing up your head so bad you have another accident. You’ll know when you’re meant to. You’ll remember. I’m trying to help.”

I can’t say his response makes me mad, but it does make me curious. “Yet, you thought a fake marriage would be the ticket for a trip down memory lane?”

“No, I never thought that. The only reason I went along with Cash is because you were hurt. You needed time to heal, and how waking up in a stranger’s house scared you half to death. I saw how you were. So when Cash mouthed off like a royal idiot and said that shit, I went along. Couldn’t stand the thought of messin’ you up more.”

God, does he hear himself? Doesn’t he know those broad shoulders, those hellfire eyes, those conflicted, throaty words mess me up in ways I can’t even contemplate?

“Messed up. Right. So I guess that’s why you kissed me.” I bite my tongue. Too late. It’s already out of my mouth.

“That was a damn mistake. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Lovely. I pinch my lips together.

It shouldn’t so much, but it stabs at my heart anyway.

I don’t want to be a damn mistake, but…

But, holy hell, I don’t know what I want to be.

“You’re right,” I mutter.

He stands up taller, stretching his arms over his head, then lets out a yawn. “Fuck. It’s been a long day. We should probably turn in, too.”

“Probably,” I agree, dreading what kind of dreams a day like this is bound to leave behind.

I’d woken up this morning believing I was flipping married.

And if I wasn’t so brain-stuck, I would’ve gone right along with him when he’d said I had a stepson, too.

But I hadn’t.

Bryce was a bridge too far, something I knew I’d remember. Then again, being married to him should’ve been a dead giveaway. Just how gullible am I?

When I get up, I realize I’m still wearing my swimsuit under the sun dress I’d thrown on before dinner. “I think I’ll shower first,” I tell him.

“Good idea. Sleep tight, Val,” Flint says. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Um, hey, wait…” I’m halfway across the room before I pause awkwardly. It dawns on me that we’d shared the bed the past couple of nights. His bed. “Is there a guest room I can use?”

He stops mid-stride, whipping his eyes back to me, the same recognition smoothing his face. “Oh. Yeah. No. I mean…shit.”