Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain #6)(106)

He watched her blink, felt her body jerk slightly under his and she asked, “When you move in?”

“Yeah, when I move in. So this means I’m investing in what’s eventually gonna be my own home so you can’t find shit wrong with that.”

“I… you… you’re moving in with me?’

“Not tomorrow. Not in a week. Though, tomorrow, you’re movin’ in with me. I got an attached garage, security system, motion sensors on the outside lights and a dog. And, just sayin’, we’re focusing inside work on the wires so we can get a puppy. A German shepherd or a Rottie.”

“We’re getting a puppy?” she asked then went on before he could answer. “I’m moving in with you?”

“Until work is done here. We’ll start lookin’ for dogs now, though. Buford’s got a helluva bark but his look could make someone underestimate him. Only a plain moron would underestimate a shepherd or a Rottie.”

“Okay, I, uh… well, I’m not sure how we got here,” she shared.

“We got here because, straight up, baby, every loved one of someone who does something like I do, shit like Chace does, if it gets extreme, they can be vulnerable.”

He heard her sharp intake of breath, had no clue if what he was doing was the right thing to do, but he powered on doing it, hoping to God it was.

“But, just pointin’ out, crazy shit has happened in this county. Too much of it. So much it’s surreal. But Nina, Lexie, they didn’t have a man or someone in their life that had a job that put them in that place. That shit can happen to anyone, baby. You didn’t live here, you lived in Denver County when it happened to you. You also didn’t have a dad who was a cop or did something that put you in jeopardy. But you have concerns. They’re valid concerns. That means we alleviate the vulnerabilities.”

He paused to make sure that was sinking in in the way he’d hoped. She nodded slowly, so Deck took that as a good sign and carried on.

“Best thing you can do to protect a home is have a dog. Next up, security system. Next up, good lights. People who do bad shit do not like dogs or lights, and most idiots who are f**ked up enough to do bad shit aren’t smart enough to bypass a security system.”

“Oh,” she mumbled. It was noncommittal but he could still tell he was getting in there. Her body was loosening under his and her face was getting soft in the moonlight.

So he kept going.

“We also step this up so you can feel good up here,” he stated, lifting a hand and tapping her gently on her forehead. “Self-defense classes. You won’t need them but they’ll make you feel that you might know better how to handle a situation. Even if it is highly unlikely that situation will occur.”

“That’s actually a good idea,” she whispered, and he grinned.

Then his grin faded, he dipped his face closer and he shared, “As much as it shits me, I cannot protect you from the bad things in life, baby. What both of us can do is be smart, be aware and be prepared. ’Cause, I know this. You can twist this in your head as another reason to disconnect from me, but even not being with me, that doesn’t mean you can assure you’ll be safe. What I know for definite is, you being with me, I will bust my ass and break the bank to do everything I can to keep you that way. So, in reality, being with me does not make you more vulnerable. It makes you safer.”

Emme had no response.

Then, two seconds later, she did.

And this was to lift her hand to cup his jaw and whisper, “Seriously, Jacob. I really, really like you.”

It was whacked but he almost liked hearing her say that more than hearing her tell him she loved him.

Almost.

Then again, coming from his Emme, it meant the same thing.

He let out a breath and with it went the tightness he felt in his gut. After, he dropped his mouth to hers and gave her a brief kiss.

When he lifted his head, she asked, “You’re moving in with me?

His head tilted at the repeat in subject, and her baffled tone, and he replied, “Yeah, babe. Told you that. Not tomorrow or—”

She interrupted him. “What about your house?”

“We get to that time, I’ll sell it.”

This time, her head tilted. “You’ll sell your house?”

He felt his brows draw together. “Yeah.”

“But, don’t you like your house? I mean, it’s an awesome house.”

“Yeah, Emme, I love my house. I worked my ass off for that house. But do I love that house more than you love this heap?”

He felt her body still under his.

“No,” he answered when she didn’t. “So, when we’re at that place to make the change, I move here.”

She was silent.

Utterly.

Then she wasn’t. But she said something that made little sense.

“I have more bedrooms than you.”

“Yeah, you do,” he agreed unnecessarily.

“So our kids can have their own rooms, even if we have a bunch of them. Like, four. But, just saying, we’ll need to keep a guest room for when Mom and Dad or Rich and Karla visit.”

That was when Deck stilled.

“Though, I don’t want four kids, just to say,” Emme continued.

Deck had no reply.

This was because his blood felt like it was boiling, his heart pumping so hard in his chest, she had to feel it.