“Letting me cry, and not saying anything about it.”
Dutch nodded.
“Not making a move on me even though we’re in bed next to each other.”
“That wasn’t easy.” He tried to make it sound like a joke, but it didn’t, and it wasn’t.
“For bringing me here.”
That wasn’t something he would’ve expected her to appreciate, but he was relieved she did. Would she still thank him when she realized he had no intention of letting her leave once they got to the island? At least not until he knew every last detail about her mission.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
“Pretty much always.”
“I remember that about you.”
“Not easy to forget.”
“Where’s the food Sofia made?”
Dutch hit his forehead with his fist. “I left it in the back of the car.”
“Oh.”
“How much do you think it would cost if I paid her to make it all again?”
“Would it matter?”
“What? The cost?”
She nodded.
“You’re right. I’d pay whatever price she demanded.”
“Text Onyx.”
“Good thinking, baby.”
He felt her tense, and wanted to hit himself in the head a second time. He’d promised not to call her that, and he just had.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I know you don’t like that.”
She nodded but didn’t speak.
There were so many other things he wanted to say, but each one would make her tenser than she already was.
“Dutch?”
“Yeah…Malin?” God, he’d almost called her “baby” again.
“I need to use the restroom.”
He smiled and loosened his hold. As soon as she left the bed, he missed her body next to his.
* * *
“Would you like to explore Charleston today?” he asked when she came back and sat on the edge of the bed.