CHAPTER TWELVE
“I don’t like this, River. This is about me as well and I should be going with you,” she said pacing the cottage.
“Honey, I know how you feel but you heard the man on the call, he wants you.”
“He probably wants you as well, River. You’re risking your life for something that could be nothing,” she said.
“Priscilla, you’re not nothing. You’re everything,” he said making a move toward her. She held up both hands, shaking her head.
“No, no, no. I heard all about the instant love connections on this property and how you boys sweep in and take a woman by storm.”
“You did?” he laughed.
“It’s not funny, River! Someone murdered a woman whom I thought was my work friend and partner.
They may have tried to murder me, or you, or both of us.
We had to run, in the middle of the night to God knows where, and then you introduce me to four-hundred of your closest family and friends, including more than a dozen ghosts.
“I’m trying to remain calm and keep my head but this is a lot to take in. On top of all of that every time I look at you my stomach does back flips and my heart aches because I can’t believe you would want me!”
She circled the living room one more time and then took a seat on one of the bar stools. River walked slowly toward, taking the seat beside her as he turned her chair to face him.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. This is hard and confusing and I haven’t made it any easier for you. Here’s the most important thing for you to know. Somewhere between walking into the bureau on that first day, having coffee with you at the damn shop, and landing here, I discovered something amazing.”
“What’s that?” she asked with tears.
“That I love you, Priscilla. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and I want you in my life. Long term. Not a fast thing. I’m talking lifetimes here. I know that probably freaks you out even more but you are the woman for me. I just know it.
“Now, the rest of this nonsense will get solved because I have faith in my family, friends, myself, and you. You will be involved in this but you will be involved from a distance because I can’t risk losing you when I’ve just found you.”
“River,” she sniffed, “how can you know you love me over coffee?”
“Didn’t you listen to Miss Ruby and the others?” he smirked. “Priscilla, I started falling in love with you the moment we started working together. I could count on you to provide the information I needed, especially when Celine, or Natalia, didn’t give me what I needed.”
His hands enveloped her own, rubbing her palms with his thumbs. She looked at him and nodded.
“When do you have to go?” she asked.
“We’re looking for Leopold right now. If we can get him while he’s broadcasting, we’ll be able to find him. It might not even be me that goes. But I will be involved in this sooner, rather than later. We’ll find Leopold first.”
“You won’t,” she said shaking her head.
“Babe, we’re really good at this,” he smiled.
“I know but you won’t catch him doing the show live. He records it and releases it on a timer. That’s why you never know where he’s located.” River frowned at her and nodded.
“Actually, that’s great information. Radio transmission puts out signals that we could pick up on. Wherever he is, recording for a radio or internet signal, will pop up and we’ll see it.”
“Now what?” she asked staring at him.
“I guess that depends on how you feel about what I just said,” he smiled. “I won’t keep you here if you don’t want to be here. It will kill me to let you walk away from me but I can’t force you to love me.”
“Haven’t you been listening, River? I do love you.
It terrifies me how quickly it happened, but I know I love you.
I think I was falling in love with you the whole time we worked together as well.
I worried that Celine would dig her claws into you and you’d be hurt.
When she told me she was going to ask you to her apartment, I wanted to warn you. ”
“But I got there first,” he smirked, pulling her even closer.
“Yes, you got there first and I was never so happy in all my life. I’m scared, River. I’m scared about me and you, about what’s happening here, and about whoever it is that wants me and what he wants from me.”
“Don’t be scared baby girl. I’m here. My family is here, my friends are here. No one will touch you.”
“What about you, River? Who’s going to protect you?” she asked. “What if someone touches you?”
“The only person that will touch me, is you.” She smirked at him, shaking her head.
“You’re so damn confident.”
“I’m confident that you and I are going to make beautiful babies together. Lots of babies. Hopefully, triplets.”
“Oh, geez!” she said clutching her throat. “Three at once? Maybe I need to rethink this.”
“Nope. Sorry, you already said you love me too. That’s it.”
“That’s not it,” said River. “I want to make love to you. Are you ready for that? Are you ready to make sure this is permanent? Because once we go to that bedroom together, this is as good as stamped in cement.”
“Then let’s write our name in the cement.”