Chapter 21 #2
Jason had called Henrik early that morning to tell him he could come take the boat back and thanked him for his help, but Henrik had insisted they keep it another day.
"Take it out for a spin," he'd said. "Go fishing.
" He offered it as a thank-you, because in helping Drakos retain The Mandeville, they'd really done a huge favor for the entire island. Henrik felt grateful.
WhiteRock scheduled an in-person debriefing in Houston for the next afternoon, but Jason thought Tayla might want to go for a boat ride before heading back to Texas. So they took Henrik up on his offer.
Allie joined Knox at the railing and nudged his arm. "Okay, my turn for the binoculars. I brought them out here to spot dolphins, not to spy on Jason and Tayla."
Knox grinned and handed over the binoculars. "You still want to go to lunch?"
"Yes. I was thinking about that restaurant on the second-floor veranda here at The Mandeville. Does that sound okay?"
Knox faced the ocean, resting his forearms on the balcony railing. "Yeah, that sounds good. Jason and I ate brunch there once. On our last mission here. We were meeting with a suspect though, so it would be nice to enjoy the view and the food without thinking about work."
Allie grinned. "Then it's a date."
She lifted the binoculars and scanned the waves, hoping to spot dolphins.
Or a sea turtle. Two pelicans floated near the small boat pier, then flew off when Jason started the engine.
He and Tayla looked deliriously happy. She wondered how soon he would propose.
Would he do it here? Today? Or wait until they got back to Houston?
She was about to ask Knox his prediction when she felt his eyes on her. She lowered the binoculars to meet his gaze. "What's that look for?"
His lips pressed into a thin line, something serious churning behind his eyes. "I was thinking about the last time I was at that restaurant."
"Brunching with Jason and your suspect?"
"Before the suspect got there. Jason and I were talking. About you, actually."
She set the binoculars down on a small end table. He looked so serious. She wasn't sure where this was going. "What about me?"
He pivoted from the railing to fully face her. "It wasn't long after you were shot. You were still healing. And I . . . I was still struggling."
What? "What do you mean, struggling?"
He glanced out to sea and back to her. He let out a humorless laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm in a good place now, but when you were shot . . . those first few days and weeks . . . maybe longer . . . I was angry at myself for letting it happen—"
She placed her hands on his chest. "That wasn't your—"
"I know." He gently held her wrists. "I'm not saying I couldn't have anticipated better, but I've learned I can't control everything. I need to use the skills God's given me to the best of my ability, but ultimately I need to trust God with every mission . . . and with you. Especially, with you."
He lifted her hands from his chest and laced his fingers through hers.
"It's a good thing—a very good thing—that God explained all that to me before this mission.
If I was still in that place, confused and angry, I couldn't have been the man you needed me to be the past few days. Not that I've been perfect but—"
"You've been exactly what I needed, Knox. God taught me a lot about trust and perspective during this mission. And He used you to do that." She tried to say thank you without crying. But tears filled her eyes. And the words stuck in her throat.
He pulled her to him, held her against his chest, and lowered his mouth to her ear. "I love you, Allie," he whispered.
Words still wouldn't come, so she stood in his embrace for a few moments, drinking in his strength and thanking God for bringing them together.
Eventually, she stepped back, wiped her eyes and met his gaze. "I love you, too. But have you thought about what you're getting yourself into? I mean, with my family? I don't . . . I don't even know how innocent my parents are . . . the FBI—"
"I know. And I'm in. I'm standing with you no matter what happens with your family and the investigations. Yeah, I'd rather your parents not hate me for what the FBI is putting them through. But regardless of their opinions, I want a life with you, no matter what."
This time, she smiled through her happy tears. "Good answer."
His attention jumped to something over her shoulder. "Hey, your dolphins showed up." He pointed to the ocean behind her.
She grabbed the binoculars and focused on the gentle, shimmering waves until she spied the acrobatic pair leaping repeatedly across the horizon in perfect unison, as if they were performing solely for her and Knox.
She remembered her thoughts on her first day on Isadora Island, hoping she and Knox could work in sync again as well as those beautiful dolphins.
She knew their lives might not look as smooth as the dolphins' performance, but as long as she and Knox trusted God, they would have a beautiful life in every way that mattered.
Knox really loved her. That fact—that undeniable fact—settled over her again, warming her to her core. And past mistakes, bullet wounds, or even her complicated family didn't stand between them now.
Returning the binoculars to the end table, she turned to face him.
"Can we keep working together? On the same team, I mean?
If we're . . . together? I know we were before, but we were keeping our relationship quiet back then.
Only Jason knew. Does WhiteRock have a policy about a couple working on the same team? "
Knox grinned. "There's no official policy against it. It's up to the team leader, so as long as we're on Jason's team, or if the team leader is you or me, then we're fine." He pushed some rogue hairs out of her face and placed a kiss on her head. "I'm glad. Because I really love working with you."
"I love working with you, too. I know people say some couples can't work together, but I would hate working a mission without you. I think we make a good team."
He cradled her face in his hands. "We do. And I want to always be on your team, at work and at home."
Cue the happy tears. She placed her hands over his. "A home with you sounds perfect."
He pressed his lips to hers with a tender confidence that sent a ripple of warmth down her spine, all the way to her toes.
She hadn't studied different kinds of kisses in all her training on body language. But Knox's kiss clearly promised a lifetime of unwavering love. No room for doubt. Message received.
He ended the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers. "If Jason wants to propose to Tayla before I propose to you, he'd better hurry." He eased back and looked into her eyes. "Am I rushing? I don't want to rush you. It's just that I'm sure—"
"You're not rushing." She rose on her tiptoes and kissed him with her own promise. Because when you know it's right, you just know.