Lifeline

“Is this where you grew up?” Lindsay asks.

O’Brien nods. “Since birth.” He points toward the garages. “That’s where I spent every Saturday with my dad.”

“Our dad used to take us out for ice cream,” Lindsay mentions.

My eyes snap to her because she doesn’t talk about him often.

A smile spreads over her face as she remembers something, then she murmurs, “You remind me of him.”

O’Brien’s eyebrow lifts. “Me? Your dad?”

She lets out a chuckle. “You’re just as full of shit as he was.”

“Lindsay,” I chastise her even though I start to grin because she’s not wrong.

“I’m taking it as a compliment,” O’Brien says. “Your father’s a legend.”

I love this. Us talking.

“Sooo,” Lindsay says, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. “JJ’s not going to ask, so it’s up to me.”

He flips another steak, then says, “Let me have it.”

“You’re thirty-five, right?”

“Thirty-six,” he corrects her. “My birthday's in August.”

“When in August?” I ask, hating that I missed it.

“Thirtieth.”

“Virgo,” Lindsay mutters. “Explains a lot.” Then she gets back to her original question. “Why aren’t you married?”

His answer comes without hesitation. “I haven’t proposed to JJ yet.”

My heart shoots to my throat, my lips parting.

“Duh.” She rolls her eyes at him. “Before JJ. Wasn’t there a special someone you wanted to marry?”

He shakes his head. “Never. It’s as if I knew I had to wait for JJ.”

Swooning over here.

I shift in the chair, my palms growing clammy. “That’s enough, Lindsay.”

O’Brien gives me a comforting grin. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.”

“In that case.” An eager expression forms on my sister’s face. “When did you realize you loved JJ?”

Oh my God, I’m going to kill my sister.

“She crawled under my skin her first day on the job.” He gives me an intense look. “Drove me fucking insane.” Then he shrugs. “I can’t pinpoint when I realized I loved her. Feels like it’s been forever, though.”

“JJ instantly had the hots for you. She talked my ear off. You owe me.”

Reaching over, I slap Lindsay’s shoulder. “Stop.”

O’Brien lets out a chuckle.

“I have one more question,” Lindsay says, drawing a groan from me. “When you get married, are we living in our house, your house, or getting a new house?”

I can only shake my head until O’Brien says, “I’m really attached to this place.” He glances up at his home. “It feels like I’m close to my parents here.” Then he locks eyes with me. “Would you mind moving in here?”

“Ah…” my tongue darts out, wetting my lips. “One day.”

He lets out a burst of laughter. “Okay, that’s enough, Lindsay. Any more questions, and I’m afraid JJ’s going to make a run for it.”

Lindsay chuckles, giving me a mischievous look. “Admit it, you loved hearing his answers.”

I shrug, then smile and nod.

“My turn,” O’Brien says, then he pins Lindsay with a serious look. “What’s JJ’s favorite flower?”

A bark of laughter escapes me, and I quickly cover my mouth with my hand.

“It’s a tie between a Peony and Poppy. Either one puts a smile on her face.”

“What kind of date will sweep her off her feet?”

“That’s cheating,” I mumble around my smile.

“Just gathering intelligence,” he shrugs.

Lindsay thinks for a while, then she shakes her head. “I have no idea. JJ didn’t go on many dates.”

A frown forms on O’Brien’s forehead. “What do you mean?”

“I think those steaks are ready,” I jump in to avoid a disaster.

Lindsay scrunches her nose. “She had one boyfriend. They broke up when he went to study in California, and JJ chose to stay here with me.”

The frown darkens on O’Brien’s face, then he looks directly at me. “When’s the last time you dated?”

I shrug, feeling awkward as hell. “Studies. Quantico. Work. I’ve been busy.”

“High school?” he asks, shock shuttering over his face.

“Yep,” Lindsay sighs, clearly unaware of what’s happening. “My sister’s a bit of a nun.”

“Enough,” I say as I get up. “I’m going to check on the garlic bread. Those steaks really look ready.”

“Lindsay, place them on the plate,” O’Brien orders, and then he comes after me.

I stop at the island, and making sure Lindsay’s busy with the steaks, I quickly say, “It’s okay. I wasn’t a virgin.”

“How long has it been since you had sex, JJ?” he bites out, clearly upset.

Almost six years.

Instead of answering, I give him a pleading look. “Can we drop this? Please?”

I know what he’s thinking, that he hurt me.

“Jesus,” he mutters. “You might as well have been a fucking virgin.” Grabbing hold of me, he yanks me against his chest and tucks my head under his chin. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

“It didn’t hurt that much,” I mumble against his shirt. “And I really don’t want to talk about it with Lindsay here.”

“Okay. But we will talk about this,” he says, and pulling back, he looks down at me, searching my eyes to make sure I’m okay.

A natural smile forms around my lips. “I’m fine. Please, don’t worry.”