I can’t help the giggle that comes out of me, and I drag my fingertips down his cheek.
I’m in love with him. I’ve been falling for weeks. Every time he called me, each time we flirted during a meal or just exchanged looks from across a room, led to this.
Shane Martinelli is everything I’ve ever hoped to find in a man. Not because he completes me or anything cliché like that, but because he’s simply…him. I know he thinks we can’t have anything permanent because of his dangerous job.
But maybe he’ll come around. Perhaps he’ll see how good we are together and change his mind.
I can’t sleep. I’ve never had insomnia issues before, and after a rigorous afternoon of sex, some delicious food, and even more sex, you’d think I’d be comatose.
Shane’s sleeping soundly next to me, his breaths even as the light of the moon filters through the window.
I envy him. I’m restless, so rather than toss and turn next to him, potentially waking him, I slip from the bed and wrap up in one of his flannel shirts. I’m able to get out the door without a sound and decide I’d like to sit outside.
We’re headed solidly into fall, and evenings are cool here in the mountains, so I grab a blanket off the couch on my way to the back door.
It’s a clear night. With no light noise from any city, it’s dark, aside from the light of the moon, and I can see more stars than I ever have in my life.
If I’m not mistaken, I can see Venus. I bundle the blanket around me and take a long, deep breath of crisp, fresh air.
I see why Shane loves it out here. The air is clean, and no one’s around.
I would never have thought I’d enjoy the quiet like this, but it’s peaceful.
A coyote howls in the distance. A light breeze blows through, rustling the bushes beside the back porch.
I can see Curt’s little cabin off in the distance. The lights are on, and there’s a small trail of smoke coming from a chimney. I can’t help but wonder what kind of horrors that man has seen in his life to make him want to exile himself out here with no interaction with anyone except Shane. Did the two of them serve together? Did they see the same horrors? Neither seems eager to discuss it.
But I’m nosy, and I’m curious.
An owl—at least, I think it’s an owl—flies overhead, making me smile. It may be quiet, but it’s not boring out here, even at night.
I don’t know exactly what has me so restless tonight. “I’m just silly.”
“Hoo. Hoo.”
I glance up. Yep, it’s an owl.
“I am,” I reply with a smile. “I should be fast asleep, and you should be out hunting for your breakfast.”
“Hoo. Hoo.”
“Exactly.”
Suddenly, there’s a commotion behind me, and Shane comes running out the back door, yelling my name.
“Ivie! Ivie!”
“Hey, I’m right here.” I stand, letting the blanket fall. “Shane, I’m right here.”
He’s panting and out of breath as his chin falls to his chest in relief, and then he takes my shoulders in his hands. “Don’t ever fucking do that again.”
“Do what? I couldn’t sleep so I came out to look at the stars.”
“You can’t just leave while I’m asleep and not tell me where you’re going.”
“Yes. I can.”
He shakes his head and paces away from me as if he’s completely frustrated. “No, Ivie. There are people out there looking for you. People who want you killed. And it’s my goddamn job to keep you safe. I can’t do that when I don’t know where you are.”
“Where am I going to go?” I demand and prop my hands on my hips, staring at him. “You’re overreacting, Shane. I couldn’t sleep so I came out to talk to that owl that just flew off. I didn’t sneak out to go to a party.”
“I’m not overreacting.” He shakes his head and then rubs the back of his neck in agitation. “I woke up, and you were gone. Not in the bathroom, not grabbing something in the kitchen. Gone. I have top-of-the-line security here. If anyone breached the perimeter, I have alarms that would go off. But what if someone managed to slip through and get you?”
“Hey, they didn’t.” I walk toward him, but he won’t let me touch him. “Shane, I literally just wanted some fresh air.”
“Just wake me up and tell me next time.” He blows out a breath.
“You’re scared.” I blink at him in surprise.
“Of course, I am.” He rubs his hand over his mouth. “You’ll never know what it felt like to hear that you’d been taken. To watch the footage on Annika’s tape. To know that someone had you and I wasn’t there to get you.”
“But you did get me.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t get it.”
“Okay, tell me.”
He rubs his neck again. This time, I don’t let him back away. I wrap my arms around him and press my cheek to his chest.
“Tell me.” My voice is quiet now.
“If something happened to you, I don’t know that I would ever get over it.” He presses his lips to my head. “You are important, Ivie. I won’t ever let someone get to you again. If you want fresh air, we’ll get fresh air. But I need to know.”
“Okay.” I rub his back in soothing circles. “I’m sorry that I scared you. I just wanted to let you sleep.”
“When all of this is over, you can let me sleep.”
Is he still going to be around when all this is finished?
It’s a question I’m not brave enough to ask. Not yet.
“So, if I want to go for a walk on your property, I have to ask for permission?”
“Either Curt or I will go with you.”
“Okay.” I kiss his chest and pull back to look up at him. “I have to use the bathroom. Do you want to go with me to that, too?”
His lips twitch as his eyes narrow into slits. “Wouldn’t bother me a bit.”
I scowl. “Ew. It would bother me. You aren’t allowed in the bathroom. That’s where I draw the line.”
“We all have one,” he says simply. “Do you still want to sit out here?”
“The owl and I are done talking.” I reach down for the blanket. “We can go in. I’m sorry you ended up waking up anyway.”
“I’m not. You scared ten years off my life, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a short one as it is.”
I stop and stare up at him. “Don’t say stuff like that.” He shrugs and moves to walk inside, but I stop him. “Seriously. Don’t. You hate the idea of something happening to me, and the same goes for me, Shane. It’s not funny.”
“No.” He kisses my nose and then takes the blanket to carry. “You’re right, it’s not funny. Let’s go get some rest.”
Chapter 9
~Shane~
“Holy crap, I’m sweaty,” Ivie says as we hop off the ATV and walk toward the house. “That was quite a workout.”
“You did more than I expected.” I take her hand and smile down at her, proud of her. She kicked ass today. Literally. “I think Curt will need a long soak in a hot bath. It’s a good thing I provide him with excellent health insurance.”