Chapter 7 #3
“In shock, but most are fine. The winners of the pageant will be announced at a later date, as the rest of the schedule has been canceled. The hotel is working with everyone to try to facilitate getting them home…shuttles to the airport, helping those who were injured figure out what they need, that kind of thing.”
“Our flight is wheels up at oh-five hundred tomorrow,” Echo said.
Shadow could feel Brinley tense against him. It was crazy that the first thought he had was that he didn’t want to leave her.
“When’s your flight scheduled?” he asked her.
“Not for another two days.”
“You should be able to change it. Get out earlier,” Echo told her.
He and Grinder got into the front seats of the SUV, and Shadow opened the back door for Brinley. She got in, and by the time he walked around to the other side, joining her in the back, she had her phone in hand, looking up flights.
Echo pulled out of the parking space in front of the police station, and they were all silent for a few minutes as he headed down the road.
It was early evening now and would be dark soon.
It was amazing how much time had passed since the shit hit the fan.
At the time, it seemed as if things were moving at warp speed, but obviously not, as the day was just coming to an end.
“My ticket’s nonrefundable,” Brinley said, almost as if talking to herself. “I’d eat the cost and just book another flight, but there aren’t seats available on any of the ones leaving tomorrow. Probably because there are so many people trying to get off the island. The resort is safe now…right?”
Shadow pressed his lips together. He didn’t want her to stay. Wanted to know she was safe back in Alaska.
Grinder reassured her that the hotel had plenty of law enforcement officers patrolling the grounds and that all the pageant guests remaining would be completely safe.
Of course, he couldn’t guarantee that, but Shadow appreciated him going out of his way to make Brinley feel more comfortable with staying.
It felt as if he blinked and they were pulling into the hotel’s parking lot.
Echo dropped him and Brinley off at the main entrance and then went to park.
Shadow put his hand on the small of her back and followed her into the lobby.
There were people everywhere. Some with suitcases, some sitting on the many chairs and couches scattered around.
They all looked a little shell-shocked. And it was no wonder, they’d just been through something horrible and traumatic.
He steered Brinley toward the bank of elevators and they got in without a word. She pushed the button for the second floor. They exited, and Shadow walked her to her room.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked.
She nodded.
“You sure?”
Brinley took a deep breath. “I like that saying you shared with me. You know, the one about being strong when you don’t have any other choice.
I can’t believe I did that today, but if I’d hidden in those bushes and done nothing, and those guys had left with the women they’d kidnapped…
I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself. ”
Shadow squeezed her hand tightly.
“All my life, I’ve been treated differently because of the way I look. My mom wanted a pretty daughter and got me instead. But you know what?”
“What?”
It was difficult for Shadow to not rip into her family. He hated to hear this woman talk about herself in such a self-deprecating way. He liked how she looked. She was beautiful. Special.
“I’m proud of myself.”
The words were almost a whisper. As if she was afraid to say them out loud.
“You should be. You did something a lot of people couldn’t or wouldn’t have done. Myself included. Will you send me your flight info?”
She blushed slightly. “If you want me to.”
“Wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t. You need anything before you get home, let me know and I’ll make sure you get it.”
“But you’re leaving tomorrow morning.”
“I am. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t still help you.
Promise me, Brinley, that if anything happens, if you need to talk through what went down today, or if anyone gives you a hard time about anything, you’ll text or call me.
Just because you’re strong as fuck, doesn’t mean you can’t lean on someone when you need to. ”
“Does that go for you too?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” he echoed. “Think about where you want to go on our first date when you get home.”
She grinned. “You mean today didn’t count as a first date?”
“Not even close. Although I do have to admit that I’ve gotten to know a hell of a lot about you because of the extreme circumstances we were under.
All of it good. You fascinate me, Brinley Deaton.
Intrigue me. Impress me. And I can’t wait to get to know you better when we aren’t dodging bullets and trying to stay alive. ”
“Me too.”
Shadow stood there, wanting nothing more than for her to invite him into her room, to spend the rest of the night showing her exactly how much he enjoyed being in her company. But he knew deep down she wasn’t the kind of woman who went to bed with men on a whim.
“I took some liberties today that seemed right in the moment, but in hindsight probably weren’t very respectful. I’d like to kiss you, but this time with your permission.”
In response, Brinley’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushed once more, and she gave him a shy smile.
Moving slowly, Shadow lifted a hand and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. Her eyes closed and she sighed. Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers. And immediately knew that wasn’t enough. He needed more.
His hand went to her nape, and he held her still as he slanted his head and deepened the kiss. Her hands gripped the front of his shirt and she leaned into him.
How long they made out in the hallway in front of her door, Shadow had no idea. All he knew was that when he finally forced himself to pull back, his entire life had changed.
Brinley’s eyes opened, and he swore they were a darker green than they’d been before. Her pupils were dilated, and it was all he could do not to kiss her again. “Stay safe.”
“I will.”
“If you can, avoid your mother and sister. I don’t like the thought of them saying shit to you.”
“It won’t be anything I haven’t heard before.”
“Don’t care. Still don’t like you not having someone at your back.”
“You sound like Cypress.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.”
Brinley smiled. “She’s protective.”
“Good.”
“Dash?”
Damn, he liked how his name sounded coming from her lips. “Yeah?”
“I’m glad we met.”
“Same.” He could stand here and talk to her all night, but she had to be exhausted. Shadow leaned forward and kissed her forehead reverently before forcing himself to step back. “Sleep well.”
“I’ll try. Will you text me and let me know when you get back to Fairbanks safely?”
“Of course. Don’t forget to send me your flight info as well.”
“I will.”
When Brinley licked her lips, it was all Shadow could do to step away from her.
“Go inside, Brin. I’ll talk to you soon.”
She nodded and turned to unlock her hotel room door. She looked at him for a long moment, giving him an adorable little awkward wave before shutting the door. He waited until he heard the deadbolt latch before walking down the hall toward the stairwell.
Today had been…shit. But it had also felt like the first day of the rest of his life.
The one thought he had as he climbed the stairs toward the room he was sharing with Zero was that he couldn’t wait to call his mom and tell her that he’d met the woman he wanted to marry.
Cheesy? Yes. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that Brinley was The One.