Page 15 of Joel (Guardians of the North #6)
KYLIE
I bite down on my bottom lip hard enough to keep the building tears in the corners of my eyes from falling. It was foolish to think I found my true love so easily. It would have been a great story to tell our grandkids someday, but that’s all it is. A story. A fantasy.
It’s not real.
None of this was real.
Joel is just another man who went behind my back to keep leverage over me. Why else would he have paid off Todd?
I’m done owing men a damn thing.
The only way to truly be free is to spread my wings and fly far, far away.
“Leaving so soon?” Blakely asks, falling into the seat beside me.
The North Haven airport is incredibly small. The bag check is the terminal. There is no security. No place to hide after checking in for your flight. I’m not surprised someone found me before the only flight out today arrives. But her sudden presence manages to startle me nonetheless.
“I can’t stay.” I want to say more, but every spoken word risks unleashing those fucking unshed tears.
“We know.”
Blakley offers me a kind smile I don’t deserve. I didn’t have to go along with this prank. If I had any idea how wonderful everyone was, I would’ve told Joel he was crazy. If I’d known he would go behind my back to make a secret arrangement with Todd?—
“We know the whole thing was a sham.”
“What?”
“Joel’s not exactly the impulsive type.”
“Oh.” Somehow, her saying this makes it feel worse, somehow.
“That’s how we know he really loves you.”
“I don’t believe in love.”
“I don’t think you really believe that.”
I snap my head in her direction, my eyebrows drawn in confusion.
“Love is scary. It requires the biggest leap of faith you’ll ever take. But you want to know something? It’s worth it.”
Last night, I believed that.
“He went behind my back,” I tell her.
“I did.” My head snaps in the opposite direction at the male voice I thought I’d never hear again. How the hell is everyone just sneaking into this one-room terminal undetected? I already blocked his number. I planned to rip Petty Officer Joel Pierson from my memory like a duct-taped band-aid.
“But I had a good reason for doing what I did,” he says, no apology in those words.
A renewed anger bubbles in my chest, and it gives me the strength to stand toe-to-toe with this coastguardsman. “You wanted to control me next?”
“Of course not.”
“Owing you is no better than owing Todd.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Kylie.”
“Apparently I owe you about eleven grand.”
“No, you don’t. It was a gift.”
“What was?”
“The freedom you never should have been without in the first place.” He reaches a gentle hand to my cheek, and suddenly everything feels right in the world. I’m pinned by those ocean blue eyes, unable to run if I wanted to. I’m caving like the pathetic sap I’ve become. Dammit, I do love this man.
“I want to protect you, not control you. If you want to leave, I’m not going to make you stay.”
“And if I want to stay?” I ask, afraid I’ve already ruined things beyond simple repair.
“Then you’d make me the happiest man in North Haven.”
There are several objections from the J-Squad and their wives, and we both laugh.
“Guess there’s a club or something,” I tease.
“And I plan to be a lifelong member. Will you stay, Kylie?”
“We do need to break in that hot tub.”
The chatter erupts around us again. It sounds like shock and excitement that Joel’s finally using the hot tub he bought three years ago.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, Joel. I’m staying. I’m sorry I panicked.”
“Next time just talk to me before you run, okay?” He lowers his lips to the shell of my ear. “I bet the makeup sex after a good old-fashioned fight would be fucking out of this world.”
“Want me to pick a fight so we can find out?” I tease.
“Tempting,” he says, “But I have a better idea.”
“You do?”
“I do.” I think I know exactly what that mischievous twinkle in his eyes is all about. Maybe that beautiful ivory gown won’t go to waste after all.
He draws me in for a kiss that I immediately lose myself in. It’s a promise that this love between us is strong enough to weather any storm that might come our way. A promise that we are truly meant to be. It’s a promise that our life together begins today.
“I love you, Petty Officer Pierson.”
“Is that an order?” he asks.
“You bet your ass it is.”