Page 79 of Rebel Protector
Her eyes widened. “You hijacked a plane?”
He chuckled. “A small one, but yeah. I’d do it again if it meant saving you.”
She stifled a sob, her eyes welling with tears. “No one’s ever done anything like that for me before.”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She was bruised, fragile, and smelled faintly of antiseptic, but to him, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. “I’ll be there for you whenever you need me. You don’t have to be alone anymore.”
She buried her face in his neck. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I’m so tired of running.”
“You don’t have to run anymore. Becca... I know we haven’t known each other long, but...”
He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his own words pressing down on him.
Just say it.
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Her eyes went wide. “You have?”
Shit, what if he’d misread the situation? But no, he didn’t care. He had to say it. He’d kept enough secrets in his life. He wasn’t keeping this one.
“I don’t know when it happened, but it’s the truth.”
A slow smile spread across her lips. “I have a confession of my own.”
His heart skipped a beat. “You do?”
“You had me the first time you kissed me on the deck of your cabin. The sun was setting, and I remember thinking, what kind of man is this? A dangerous mercenary? An honorable soldier? Then you kissed me, and I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you’re both. A delicious mixture.”
He grinned. “Even the dangerous part?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Especially the dangerous part.”
Heat curled in his stomach. It was crazy how she could affect him with just one look. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was playing hard to get.”
He laughed, shaking his head.
“I guess it worked.”
“Yeah, it did.”
He leaned in and kissed her, gently at first, then deeper as the warmth between them grew. It felt so right, like they were finally where they were supposed to be.
“I must look a mess,” she murmured, pulling back slightly. She ran a hand through her hair, but it didn’t do much good.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, meaning every word. Not just on the outside, but inside too. Her strength, her spirit, her loyalty, everything about her made him fall harder every day.
“I’m so happy right now,” she whispered, her voice soft with emotion. “I feel like my life might finally have a happy ending. Is that crazy?”
“It will,” he promised, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I swear it.”
He kissed her again, his lips lingering on hers, savoring the moment. They were still wrapped up in each other when the nurse came in to discharge her.