Stay with Me: The Moran Brothers Series

Chapter 8

Thanks, Baby

Reminisce

It’s beenthree weeks since I nursed Knight back to health. Unfortunately for me, I had to recover from whatever bug he passed on. I was out of the office for a week.

Saga and Bishop owe me big time. I’ve been working day and night to get caught up in the office. IP law may not be as exciting as prosecuting for the DOJ, but it keeps me more than busy.

“Do you miss me?”

I look up to find Knight standing in the doorway of my office once again. He looks much better than the last time I saw him. He’s cut his blond locks some. Although from the way it’s rumpled and the boots on his feet, I can tell he has been on his bike.

Now, Knight on a bike is something I’m used to seeing. Not driving a Mercedes. This man on a motorcycle is the thing wet dreams are made of.

I don’t realize I’ve licked my lips at the sight of him until his gaze drops to my mouth. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. Did I miss him?

Yes, but I’m not going to admit that. His words have been playing in my head since that night. He misses me.

Knight has always been intense. It’s what draws me to him. He says what he wants, what he feels, what he’s thinking.

I’m usually the one running or avoiding topics I don’t want to deal with. He knows this about me and that’s why we work when we hook up. He understands when I need to take a step back and he allows it without pressuring me.

“You’re making a habit of coming by here. Where’s dinner?” I ask with a teasing grin, avoiding his earlier question.

He shakes his head. “I want to take you out someplace tonight. A thank you. I heard you weren’t feeling well. I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing. I’m fine now.”

“Let me make it up to you. Come on, you look like you need someone to break you out of here,” he says with that sexy grin.

I rub my eyes. I am starving, and I do need to get out of here before I drive myself crazy with this case. I’ve dotted my Is and crossed my Ts. I’m just being anal at this point.

“Okay, let me just lock some things up, and I’ll be ready to go.”

“Take your time.”

I’m too hungry to take him up on that offer. I get everything locked up and shut down. In a matter of minutes, I have my purse in hand ready to go.

Knight places his hand on the small of my back as we walk to the elevator. It’s like I have a fever all over again as he keeps the connection between us. I try to ignore the feeling, but the butterflies in my stomach won’t allow it.

“What are you feeling like tonight?”

I jump a little when he says the words close to my ear as we stand in the elevator. I wasn’t expecting his words to be so near. His cologne has wrapped its way around me, causing my thoughts to carry me to memories of us locked together as I buried my face in his neck.

“It’s late. How about the pub down the block. They have these great nachos and flatbread pizzas. Nothing too heavy,” I reply as I collect myself.

“Sounds like a plan.”

When we step out into the lobby, he slips my hand into his. The warmth feels too good. I consider pulling away, but he tightens his hold as if reading my mind.

“We’re not going to make a habit out of this,” I warn.

“Right,” he says nonchalantly.

I don’t like the sound of that. I look up at him, ready to make my point clear. However, when he locks his eyes on mine, I’m rendered silent by the look I see there.

Again, I note that something has changed with Knight. This isn’t the same guy I started to get to know four years ago. I knew of Knight when I was in high school, but I really got to know him when he was tossed into my life due to a case.

“Just dinner,” I manage to say.

I’m setting the rules for the night now. I can’t afford to fall into our pattern. I want something serious with someone I can start a life with. If I start up with Knight, that will distract me from that plan. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

“Right,” he repeats as he opens the door to the pub.

I groan. This is not going the way I want. Why is everything so complicated when it comes to this man?

* * *

Knight

Rem can forgetthe wall she’s trying to put up between us. That’s not happening. I’ve had time to think about what I want. It’s her. When I opened my eyes in that hospital, she was the first person I thought about.

While undercover I got to know some interesting guys and their women. I’ve never seen love so fierce. I mean, my parents are in love, but the level of intensity that I watched on a daily basis left me wanting.

“If you could change anything about us, what would it be?” I ask after we finish our food.

I’ve been observing Rem since we took our seats. She’s in her head, but she also wants to be here. That conflict is resting on the surface as always.

She thinks on my question for a moment before she releases a heavy breath. “I don’t know. Maybe the way we came together.”

I nod. I can see that being her answer. That was a tough time for her.

“I hope you don’t still beat yourself up over that.”

“I was cocky. I let it all get to my head.”

“You were amazing at what you did. You put bad guys away. You had a right to hold your head high. That was one of the biggest cases of your career at the DOJ.

“Hell, the more I learned about you the more I was in awe. You graduated at the top of your class and the DOJ hired you before the ink dried on your degree.

“They knew they had someone special. You walked into that courtroom kicking ass and taking names after. You would have been running that place by now,” I say.

“Yeah, and I would be looking over my shoulder at night. I regret a lot about that case and how you entered my life back then.”

“I don’t know if I regret that. If I wasn’t there, who’s to say someone else would have saved your life?”

“Which is why I regret it.” She looks down into her empty plate. “You took a bullet for me. I’ll never forget that.”

“It was only a flesh wound, and I was doing my job.”

“But that’s just it. It’s your job to put your life on the line for others. That bullet wound is always a reminder for me. When I bathed you that day, I saw it. You placed that tat over it, but I could still make it out,” she whispers.

“Hey, baby. I’m still here. I’ve been through a hell of a lot since, and I’m still kicking,” I reply.

“You mean like that wound on your back? I wasn’t going to bring it up, but I know your body. Probably better than you do. That’s new.”

I sit back, working my jaw as the memory of how I got that wound surfaces. Knowing how she feels about my job, her seeing the new wound doesn’t help. I wish I could tell her that this will never be a problem again, but I can’t make her that promise.

Everything is up in the air. If I could go back to what I love, I would. However, the chances of that don’t look the greatest. Although as long as there is a chance, I’m not closing that door.

“Yeah, that wasn’t one of the greatest moments in my career.”

She shakes her head. “How long before the next case? How long before you disappear again? God, Knight, you were gone for over a year.”

“You were keeping track? Does that mean you did miss me?”

“Don’t. I hate when you do that. Your job is a reality. I can’t just pretend you’re someone you’re not.”

“I’m not asking you to. I’m asking you to give me a chance to show you who I am. My job is a small part of that?—”

“Oh, no it’s not. Your job is a huge part of that. Knight, I want more. I don’t just want someone I can call in the middle of the night to warm my bed if he’s not busy chasing bad guys. I’m thirty. I want what Bishop and Saga have.”

“What makes you think that’s not what I want?”

She locks eyes with me. I allow her to take a long hard look. While I may be uncertain about my career, when it comes to us, I know exactly what I want.

“I think we should call it a night. Thank you for dinner.”

“No, thank you, baby. I love how you took care of me. You have to admit we feel right when we’re together.”

“It’s fun when we’re together,” she says. “But fun isn’t what I’m looking for. I’m looking for stability and safety.”

Her words are like a blow to the chest. They sting more than any bullet I’ve ever taken. I nod and lift my hand for the check.

“I almost forgot,” I say after paying for dinner. “I found your earrings in my bathroom.”

“Oh my God, I thought I lost those. My dad gave them to me.”

“I’ll take you home. We can pick them up on the way.”

“How do you know I didn’t drive in today?”

“I didn’t see your car in your spot in the garage.”

“How did you know I was still at work?”

I grin at her. “Your sister told me.”

She gasps. “Is that why she kept texting me?”

“I plead the fifth.”

Folding her arms over her chest, she glares at me. “I’ll be having a talk with her. Where’s the loyalty?”

“Sometimes the people around you know what’s best for you before you do.”

“And you’re what’s best for me, Detective Moran?”

I just barely hold myself back from flinching. That name is a double-edged sword at the moment. Instead of answering her question, I get up and hold my hand out.

“Let’s get you your earrings.”