Defending Morgan (Mountain Mercenaries #3)(32)
“I’m glad it got better. I can’t stand to hear about kids being in the middle of squabbles between adults.”
“Like Nina,” Morgan observed.
“Exactly.”
“I can’t believe her dad just up and kidnapped her.”
“Happens all the time. I’m just glad we were able to get on the case quickly and come get her.”
“Me too,” Morgan whispered.
She felt Arrow lean close, and was surprised to feel his lips on her cheek. He didn’t say anything, merely continued to work on her hair, but Morgan knew she was blushing.
“Can I ask you something?” she blurted, determined to get this out of the way.
“Of course. Anything.”
“Are you married? Or seeing someone?”
She wanted to say more. That she was beginning to like him, and if he told her he wasn’t available or didn’t want anything to do with her after this, it would be better to back away from him now rather than later.
“Look at me,” Arrow ordered.
She didn’t want to, but she steeled her spine and twisted so she could look him in the eyes.
“I’m not married or seeing anyone. I haven’t been on a real date in years, and it’s been about as long since I’ve been with a woman. I’ve never felt about someone the way I’m feeling about you, Morgan. And no, I can’t tell you what that is, because I haven’t figured it out myself. But I do know I want to see you when we get back to the States . . . and not to simply make sure you’re doing okay. I mean, yes, that, but it’s more . . . Shit, I’m messing this up,” he said in agitation. His shoulders sagged, and he looked away from her.
“You’re not,” Morgan insisted, feeling ten pounds lighter at his admission. “I’m not sure I’m the best bet. I alternate between being scared out of my skull and being pissed at the world for this having happened to me. But . . . when I’m with you, things seem not as scary. I trust you more than I’ve trusted anyone in my life, and I don’t think it’s because you were the one to rescue me. I mean, I trust Black and Ball, but not the same as I do you. Does that make any sense?”
“Yeah, beautiful, it does.” Arrow shoved his goopy fingers in her hair and supported her neck as she looked up at him. “We’ve got a bumpy road ahead of us,” he warned. “Between your mental health, and trying to solve the mystery of who did this to you . . . my job, and the fact that we’ll be living in two different cities . . . it’s a lot.”
Morgan swallowed and nodded, not sure what to say. Was he trying to let her down gently? Warning her that it wasn’t going to work out between them, and not to get her hopes up? She just wasn’t sure. It didn’t help that it had been a full year since she’d had to deal with any kind of relationship issues.
“But all that notwithstanding,” Arrow went on, “I want to try. Because I see something in you that I haven’t seen in any other woman I’ve met. Yes, I feel protective of you. Yes, I realize that part of what I’m feeling is because of our situation. But, honestly, I think it’s more than that. I want you to continue to trust me. To know I’ve got your back. No matter what you want to do. Harvest honey from bees or knit stocking caps in your house . . . I’ll be there, supporting you and cheering you on. Whether that’s as a friend or more remains to be seen. But I hope you’ll be there for me too.”
“I’m scared that I can’t live up to your expectations,” she admitted softly.
“Fuck that. You’ve already surpassed them, beautiful. The only thing you have to do is be yourself. We’ll figure everything else out.”
She nodded, then licked her lips and asked, “Do you think this is moving too fast? I mean, we’ve only known each other two days. Maybe it’s the situation. Things might be different when we get home.”
“It’s possible,” Arrow admitted. “But I don’t think so. In case you’re thinking this is some sort of protector complex I’ve got or that I feel responsible for you because I rescued you, think again. I can’t even count the number of women I’ve rescued. And I haven’t felt even a fraction for them what I’m feeling for you. Okay?”
“Okay.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead before saying, “I know we need to slow down. That it’ll be a while before either of us is comfortable with any kind of serious intimacy. Sleeping next to each other is one thing, but sleeping with each other is something completely different. I’ll give you all the time you need, but know that in the end, that’s the kind of relationship I’m hoping for with you.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I do. And I’m not saying that things won’t change between us. We might get home and decide that we’re better off friends than lovers. Or that we just don’t suit. Or you might take one look at my neat-as-a-pin home and decide you don’t want anything to do with me. Or Kandi might tell you one too many horror stories about my childhood, and you’ll run screaming.” He grinned to let her know he was teasing. “But the bottom line is that I want to try.”
“I do too,” she agreed. “But I think I’m the one with way more baggage than you. What if we never find out who did this to me? I’ll have to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, wondering if they’re just waiting to pounce. And my folks aren’t exactly poster children for mother and father of the year.”