Contingency Plan (Blackbridge Security 3)

She cocks her hip out, right eyebrow raising. “To the Riverview Motel?”

“Absolutely not. That area of town is dangerous. I’d never be able to fall asleep.”

“I don’t want to use you. I don’t want to make you feel like you’re being used.”

I ignore the possibility that it may be a jab for my past actions. If we’re going to move past it, we have to let it lie.

“I don’t see it that way at all. I plan to spend the rest of my life with you, Remi. I want to start that journey now, today. We have too much time wasted between us. I don’t want to miss another second with you.”

She hums, and I don’t know if it’s in approval or in doubt.

“What?”

I step closer to her, armed and ready to defend how I feel and what I want if she starts to backpedal. She said those words to me as well, and I plan to hold her to them.

“You were always so serious when we were in New York. I could never read you. Now you’re saying all these things, and—”

“I’m speaking the truth.”

“Why now?” She brushes her hand down my bare chest before toying with the waistband of my sweats.

I capture her hand, resting it over my heart. It takes the sight of her to get me revved up, and as much as I want to spread her out and spend the rest of the night between her legs, conversations like this are just as important.

“Look at me.” Dark eyelashes flutter before her brilliant green eyes focus on mine. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have walked away from you. What I felt for you terrified me. If I’m being honest, it still does. I haven’t had to worry about anyone but myself my entire life. When I left New York, I tried to convince myself that touching you was the mistake, and it took so long for me to get my head out of my ass to realize that what we shared, the potential of what we can have going forward, could never be a mistake. Leaving, walking away from you was the problem, not how I feel.”

“Flynn.” I press my fingers to her lips.

“Listen to me. I know it’s all words, and like you said earlier, you don’t need my flowery words, but I’m going to prove to you how I feel. I don’t want you at a motel or some shitty apartment. I don’t want you out of my sight. If I could get away with it, I’d bring you to the office and keep you hidden from the guys just so you’re there when I’m missing you.” I palm the side of her face, letting a rogue tear catch on the side of my hand. “Having you here is entirely selfish, not wanting you to struggle with life is selfish. I need to see, to spend time with you. To know that you’re going to be here or close when I get off work. I wouldn’t be doing it entirely for you. The favor isn’t for you. I’m asking for me.”

“To move in,” she clarifies. “You’re asking me to move in here?”

I nod, words getting stuck in my throat.

“Because you love me.”

“Because I love you.”

“I can still work?”

“Whatever makes you happy.”

“And I can pay bills.”

My jaw clenches. “Sure.”

“I’m not a charity case.”

“You’re the love of my life.” She offers me a small smile. “I need you with me.”

“I want to be here. I want the things you want.”

“I need you to be sure.”

She blinks up at me. “I’m sure.”

“Seal it with a kiss?”

When her lips meet mine, the food on the counter is forgotten as I carry her back down the hall to our bed.Chapter 38Remington

“It’s going to be weird.”

“It won’t. I promise.” Flynn squeezes my hand as we climb onto the elevator to go up to the Blackbridge Security offices. “We’re only going to be here for a few minutes.”

“You’re going to have to go back to work eventually.”

“Deacon told me to take as much time as I need.”

“We haven’t left your condo for a week.”

“Our condo,” he corrects. “And until now, I haven’t heard a single complaint from you.”

Who knew that once we had everything settled between us that it would be impossible to keep our hands off each other? The only reason we poked our heads out today is because we’ve been summoned by his boss. Apparently, the man is demanding proof of life because Flynn never stays away from work as long as he has.

“The last time I was here I made an ass of myself,” I mutter, the elevator doors opening up in front of us.

“Believe me, the assholes that work here are Team Remi all the way.”

“You sound a little bitter.”

“Just stay away from Brooks and Finnegan.”

“I do love an accent.”