The Long Way Home (Corps Security #6)(20)

The opening song starts playing, and Riley finally makes her selection. Then she points her face to the ceiling and screams, “Alexa, turn my movie room lights off!”

Drew’s chest moves again with his soundless laughter.

I didn’t even make it thirty minutes before my eyes drew heavy, and I let the safety I felt with Drew’s arm around my shoulders and his warm chest lull me to sleep. The last thought I remember thinking was how much trouble I might be in where this man is concerned.

And I’m not sure I mind it one bit.





“Hold Back the River” by James Bay



I feel the heavy weight of a deep sleep coming off my body in slow degrees. Everything takes a sluggish pace to turn back on, my brain being the last to plug back in. I try to remember the last thing I could before falling into such a blissful slumber, but everything is just blank. All I feel is content peacefulness. Something I don’t think I’ve felt in a long time.

That’s when I feel something on my arm.

Something that sets fire to my skin as well as adds more of that peacefulness to my soul. So strange, the two of those feelings dancing together. It’s when the touch reaches my neck, my hair sliding off my face a little from where it had fallen. The touch traces my hairline, tucking the hair behind my ear before following the trail of my jaw. When I lose it, it’s like a jolt to my mind that finally pushes awareness to the forefront.

My eyes snap open, and I gasp when I see Drew sitting on the edge of the cuddle couch, looking down at me with something akin to reverence in his gaze. I move quicker than he expected because the top of my head cracks against his chin. I hear him grunt, but I’m too busy looking around the room to worry about the dull ache on the top of my head.

“Where’s bean?”

“Bed.”

“I’m sorry?”

He clears his throat. “You both fell asleep. Took her to bed, tucked her in, then came back to wake you up.”

“You … tucked her in?”

He nods.

“You know how to tuck someone in?”

That damn brow. I shrug, not feeling bad at all for questioning him.

“It’s not rocket science, Olivia.”

“Do you know rocket science, too?”

“Are you always this stubborn when you wake up?”

“Drew,” I start, but stop when he looks at me with a harshness that steals my words. “What?”

He shakes his head. It isn’t until now that I realize he’s not holding his words from me. There was actual communication that didn’t involve nods and grunts.

“You’re talking,” I gasp, shifting so I’m kneeling. My knees dig into his thighs as I get a little closer and search his troubled eyes.

He lets out a burst of air so harsh, I can practically feel the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Please, don’t stop.”

“It’s not that easy, Livi.”

“What isn’t?” I ask, desperate to keep him from shutting me out. Proud that my voice doesn’t get all weird when the butterflies kick up at the shortening of my name.

“You make me want things that I gave up wanting a long time ago.”

I frown. This man, he’s such a mystery to me.

“You make me want things I told myself I would never consider. So I guess we’re both even there.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You want to talk about stubborn. Hey pot, my name is kettle.”

He sighs, then leans against the arm of the couch and looks at me. Really looks at me. In a way that makes me think he can read my very thoughts, see my whole past, and know what lurks in every corner that I keep shadowed for a reason.

“What keeps you single? Riley said you’ve never had a boyfriend.”

“My parents weren’t good parents,” I answer.

“It’s a lot more than that.”

“You’re right. Not only were they not good parents but they were never here. My sister and I were raised by a revolving door of staff that didn’t stick around for long because my parents were even worse humans to them than they were parents to us. I learned a long time ago that it was best to live alone—now with Riley—because I haven’t had a single healthy example of a relationship.”

“So you just decided to never even try?”

I nod. “Yeah. I don’t need a man to make me happy. I’m happy with Riley, Olde Mug, and my friends.”

His eyes sharpen, his attention fully on me, but it’s his breathing I notice. He isn’t unaffected. So I do what feels right, I keep going. Giving him more than anyone has ever gotten from me.

“My sister, Emma”—I sigh—“was the dreamer. Where I just wanted to have my coffee shop and live a simple life outside of the social circles we had been forced into … she didn’t have the same thoughts. She thought she needed a man to save her. She was convinced the first one who gave her a second glance was perfect.”

“What happened?” he questions, something scratchy in his tone.

“You really want to know?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”

“He ended up killing her instead of loving her.” I know I sound detached, I can hear it in my own ears as well as see it in his features. I learned years ago that I have to be withdrawn or the pain of how I lost Emma would rip me in two, and I needed to be whole and healed from the sadness in order to be the guardian Riley deserves. Not only that, but I want Riley to see nothing but the love I have for her mom when I’m talking about Emma.