Way of the Warrior (Troubleshooters #17.5)(31)
Footsteps thundered in the hallway as she realized his friends were running to the rescue. Somehow, in what had seemed like forever, only a minute or two had passed. Sirens wailed, and this time Jared wouldn’t be slipping away. Because she and Gavin had rescued each other, worked as a team, the couple they were always meant to be. She loved him.
And this time, she wasn’t going to repeat her mistake in letting him go.
? ? ?
Gavin tugged on a clean T-shirt with a wince. Hugh had stitched up his arm while the cops took everyone’s statements. The bastard Jared Lewis was in the back of an ambulance under police guard and would never be coming near Stacy again. But God, the bastard had almost won. Stacy’s worst nightmare had gotten closer than ever to her even after Gavin’s promise that he would never let that happen. Guilt pummeled him over how he’d almost failed to keep her safe.
Things definitely hadn’t gone off exactly as planned, but then he’d underestimated Stacy, something he would never do again—if she gave him the chance.
His house was quiet for the first time since Jared had come blasting through that glass. Liam had boarded up the window. The cleanup could wait until later. It was almost daylight. That much he could tell, light and dark. But he would never be the man he was. Would what he had to offer be enough for Stacy? Would he be enough for her?
He sure as hell hoped so, because he loved her so damn much, he didn’t know how to say good-bye to her again. But after all she’d been through, the choice had to be hers.
Her future had to be one of her choosing.
The scent of her teased his nose an instant before she touched his shoulder lightly. “How does your arm feel?”
“Just fine. Plenty numb around the stitches, which is a good thing.” He closed his closet door. “Hugh’s the second best medic I know.”
“And the first best would be?” She slid her arms around his neck, her body pressed to his.
“Me, of course,” he said with a grin, his hands riding low on her back, bringing her closer to him.
“Ah, you’re riding an ego high after your big save there.” She toyed with the long hair just brushing the collar of his T-shirt. “Thank you. Truly. You saved my life.”
“No, I didn’t.” More guilt piled on top of the heap inside him. “I failed to keep him away from you.”
“How could you even think that? You kept him pinned, risking yourself. If you hadn’t done that, I never would have had time to grab your cane. Your friends wouldn’t have made it in time for either of us.” Her words rang with a fierceness and strength that awed him. “Gavin, I have to confess it felt good to get that swing in for myself. We stopped him, you and I, and that felt amazing.”
“We worked together,” he realized simply, truthfully. “We saved each other, with some help from Radar.”
He felt her nod just before he reached down to scratch his dog’s ears. Radar leaned against him, resting his head against Stacy, too. The dog knew. Stacy was a part of his pack now.
“I do love you, Gavin Novak.”
“And I love you, Stacy Currie.”
“Since the day we met. Now and always. I can trust in that.” She arched up on her toes to kiss him, once, twice, holding until she eased back with a sigh.
“Stacy,” he said, sweeping her hair back, “can you trust that you’re safe now?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What if I said I want us to leave here, to start over?” He wasn’t sure why he was bringing this up now rather than biding his time. But there was a desperation in him to make up for lost years. He couldn’t wait another minute after waiting a decade. He knew how precious their love was, and he wouldn’t lose another moment with her. “You mentioned wanting to leave, but I want you to be sure. I know this is the only sense of home you’ve known. Your roots are here. I don’t want to take that from you. But if you’re sure you want to go, I’m ready to start over.”
“I have to admit, leaving the bad memories behind and beginning fresh sounds enticing. But it’s familiar here for you in your duplex. Wouldn’t it be…difficult for you to adapt? Wherever you are, I’ll be happy.”
How like her to worry about him. This would have concerned him too a few weeks ago when he’d been struggling with how to find the courage to let her know he’d returned. He hadn’t wanted to appear weak in front of this woman. But now, he’d found a new sense of himself and the old confidence returning, even if he couldn’t tell the mustard and ketchup bottles apart. That stuff was minor. It didn’t matter. He would stumble a few times figuring out a new place, but he’d proven to himself he had something to offer her. “I think we’ve both lived in the shadows here too long. It’s time for us to take our love out into the light.”
She wriggled against him enticingly. “What exactly are you proposing?”
“Just that. Proposing. Again.” He took her face in his hands, wanting her to feel the intensity in his words, even if he couldn’t show her with his eyes. “If you’ll have me. I might be physically imperfect, but I’ve got my head screwed on straight now. I can tell what’s most important. In that way, I can see more clearly than ever. And I know I want you in my life, by my side. Always.”
“Oh Gavin, you are my first love, my forever love.” She held his face right back, the intensity of her words flowing into him every bit as strong. “You are everything I have ever wanted. I was wrong to let you leave without me before. I won’t make the mistake of losing you again.”