Page 59 of Romancing His Heart

“SIA, Select Intelligence Agency,” I interrupt.

“Does SIA make you take psychology classes, too, Dr. Phil?” Her quip eases the tension in my shoulders, but I know I will help this girl find her voice.

Pulling my upper body back to give her a bit of space, I smirk. “You’d be surprised by the types of education I’ve had over the years. But that’s not why I see you, Red. I see you because I’ve spent years deep in avoidance, too.”

“What could you possibly be avoiding? You’ve faced your demons, Loki, and won.”

“Did I, though? Yes, my family is safe now. Hundreds of people no longer have to live in fear, but what do I have to show for it? I’ve run on hatred and loathing for so long I don’t even know how to fit back into the life I left all those years ago. Seeing Preston with Emory has really hit that home for me. Everyone moved on with their lives while I’ve been on the periphery. Watching from the outside, making sure they all stayed safe in their bubble.”

“You haven’t spent much time with them. It will all fall into place, Loki. They love you, and they’re not about to let you slip away again.”

Raking a hand through my hair, I sigh because I know she’s right. I place my hand over Sloane’s tapping fingers, and my body calms unfamiliarly. My life has always come with a certain level of anxiety. Standing in this eight hundred square foot cabin, holding her hand, I feel at home. I know I will regret this later, but for now, I allow us to relax into the comfort of silence.

Gently tugging her hand free, she lays it on my forearm, and it’s like an electric shock right to my cock. “I’ll help you adjust back into life. Being stuck here with me for God knows how long will be a crash course. If you can survive me, you’ll adjust back in Waverley-Cay just fine.” She smiles, and it almost reaches her eyes. There’s a sadness there still, though, and it tugs at my heart.

“There isn’t anyone I would rather be in hiding with, Red. I mean that.” I wait until she glances up. Making eye contact, I say it again, “I’m happy to be here with you, Sloane. Who knows, maybe we’ll be able to help each other.”

“Yeah?” Her face transforms, and something inside of me changes. When her eyes smile at me like that, I forget the hatred and hurt I’ve built my life on. She makes me want more than I ever imagined, and I haven’t even fucking kissed her yet.

No, Loki. Not yet. Not at all. You can’t kiss her—

“So, I wasn’t kidding about not being able to cook. It’s one of the many skills I’m working on, but until recently, I never had a chance to try.”

“Try cooking?”

“Try anything. My sisters worked their asses off, but they always took pity on me because I was the baby. I guess it started with Emory. She took the world on her shoulders, so the rest of us never missed out on anything. That trickled down to Eli and Tilly, but by the time I was old enough to help, they had a schedule. I just seemed to get in the way, so it was easier for everyone if I let them do it. The few times I tried to help with anything always ended in disaster.”

“So you learned to blend in, not cause any problems, and do whatever you could to make life easier for those around you”

She nods her head. “I guess.”

“What about now? You’re an adult, living on your own …”

“And making a mess of my life at every turn.” She smacks her palm to her forehead. “God, why does shit just fly out of my freaking mouth when I’m talking to you?”

My face beams, and I feel the happiness from my toes to my ears. “I guess I’m easy to talk to. Though, admittedly, you would be the first person in the world to ever say that.”

I’m rewarded with a genuine laugh. When she places her fingertips on the side of my jaw, I forget how to breathe.

“You are shockingly easy to talk to, Loki. Thank you for listening.”

“I feel like there is so much more I need to hear.”

“Some secrets are better left unsaid.”

“I disagree,” I growl. She releases my face, and I miss the contact. “To recap, your issues are that you don’t like to be alone. You put others first, even to your detriment. You don’t stick up for yourself, and you pretend to be happy to make life easier for those around you.”

“When you make a character map like that, I sound pretty fucked up. But, you forgot the biggest plot of all.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?” I ask, unable to tear my gaze from her shining green eyes.

“I run.”

Right, my runner.

“Baby, by the time I’m done with you, there will be nowhere you want to run to.”

“Are you saying you’re going to fix me, Loki Kane?” She smirks, but her eye contact is fleeting.