Chapter 12 #2
She pulled up next to his house and stepped out of the side-by-side.
“Hey!” As she closed the distance, he didn’t miss her careful movements.
The doctor had warned her she’d be sore for quite some time.
He’d worried about her anxiety, of being outside, but she’d admitted to him yesterday that the wide-open space of the compound helped—a lot.
“Raven, how’s my girl?” He chuckled at the cute tilt of her head.
“Your girl, huh? I don’t think I remember an agreement on that.” The smile on her face told a different story.
He carefully tugged her into a hug, aware of her healing ribs. “I guess we’ll have to remedy that. But first, let’s have a seat.”
Raven joined him on the old-fashioned porch swing he’d insisted on installing.
He toed the floor and sent them on a gentle glide. “How are your accommodations?”
“You mean the gorgeous house you’re letting me stay in?”
“That would be the one.”
“It’s perfect. I’m going to miss it once I go home.” The longing on her face twisted his heart.
“I wanted to talk with you about that.” Oh, please don’t let him be making a mistake.
“Charlie Team would like you to consider staying permanently. We’d feel better about your safety in case the brainy cat leaps out of the bag.
Plus, you work from home anyway. We could create a space in the main office for you. What do you say?”
Her brows pulled together. “It is tempting. And it does make sense. But I don’t know.”
Liam struggled to understand her hesitation. They’d discussed her place in Benton Harbor. How it was her home, yet she felt isolated. He knew she loved the compound. She’d said so. Plus, the sparkle in her eyes and joy in her voice confirmed it. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just not sure.” She bit her bottom lip. He could see the war within.
He shifted and cupped her cheek. Her eyes lifted to his. In that moment, he realized his mistake.
“Aw, honey. I want you to stay permanently. I’d feel better about your safety. And I’m asking. Not the guys. Will you move here to the compound and be with me?”
“You’re serious? You’re not just trying to make me feel better?”
After all the time they’d spent together over the past few days and the missions they’d worked, she questioned his sincerity? Not going to happen. Not anymore.
Liam lowered his head. His lips, a breath from hers, giving her the choice. When she didn’t pull away, he pressed his lips to hers. Not rushed, but lingering in the moment.
Her hands slid to his chest, and her fingers curled into his shirt, anchoring them in the moment.
He drew back and rested his forehead against hers. “Does that answer your question?”
Raven closed her eyes and smiled. “Yes.”
Their first kiss had been everything Liam had wanted and more. “So, you’ll stay?”
“If you promise we can continue that.” She waggled her eyebrows.
His laugh filled the air. “Oh, of that you can be assured.”
“Good.” She tucked into his side.
He pushed them into motion. “Raven, I love you. I have since the first moment I heard your voice. There was always something about you that made me crave to get to know you. Now that I have, I can’t imagine life without you.”
“I love you too, Liam. And I can’t wait to see where this life leads us.”
Several more mind-blowing kisses later, they snuggled as a quiet settled between them.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. “I better check to see who it is.” But he didn’t move. Didn’t want to.
She tilted her head and gazed up at him. “I thought you were going to answer that.”
“Ugh. Fine.” He retrieved it and glanced at the caller ID while Raven laughed at his pouting session. “What do you want, Xander?”
“Well, what did she say? Stop keeping us in suspense.”
“You’re assuming I asked.” He grinned at Raven and winked.
“What? Get on it, bro. The team is dying here.” Xander’s whine sounded like a toddler.
“I’ll tell y’all in a bit.” Liam hung up without waiting for a response.
“What was that all about?” Raven snuggled back in.
“They want to know if you’re moving into the extra house, permanently.”
Raven sat up. “Are you telling me you’re their messenger boy?”
“As if.” He huffed. “I’m their boss, thank you very much. But each and every member of Charlie Team wants you to stay. But not as much as I do.”
“Good answer.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “Let’s go tell them before they send out a search party.”
“Do we have to?” Raven backhanded his stomach. “Oof. Thanks a lot.”
“Come on.”
Giving up his one-on-one time with the woman he loved, they took the UTV to the gathering place in the middle of the compound. Chairs encircled a large fire pit, and picnic tables peppered the surrounding space.
They strode over to join the team.
“It’s about time you came down here.” Boone teasingly scowled.
“I heard you boys have something you want to ask me.” Raven played coy.
The little minx. Raven working through her fears and relaxing allowed him to see a whole other side to her.
Dax’s wide eyes bounced between him and Raven. “Hasn’t he…?”
It took everything in him not to laugh and spoil Raven’s fun.
“Um, yeah.” Baffled by the assumption that Liam hadn’t talked with her, Xander picked up where Boone and Dax had left off. “We’d like to invite you to live here and work at our office building. I mean, if you want to, that is.”
“Smooth, brother. Real smooth.” Liam rolled his eyes.
Raven tapped her finger on her lower lip. “I don’t know. You all are a handful.” She shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
“Hold on. Wait a doggone second.” Rafe folded his arms over his chest. “Liam already asked, didn’t he?”
Raven’s shoulders shook with laughter. “Yes. But it was fun watching all of you try to figure out how to broach the subject.”
Liam wrapped his arm around Raven’s shoulder. “For your information, I did ask, and she agreed to stay.” He leaned down and kissed her, sealing the deal in front of his teammates.
Whoops and catcalls filled the air.
Letting go of her was the last thing he wanted to do, but the team wanted to welcome her into the BlackKnight family.
Liam watched as the guys and Raven teased each other.
Right here. Right now. This was what he’d wanted all along. A partner in life that would fit in with his team—his friends—his brothers in arms. Raven was that woman.
He lifted his face to the sky and closed his eyes.
Thank you, God, for this life you’ve given me. And for this woman who completes me.