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“If there’s a pressing need, yes. Fortress is short-handed, and Maddox is constantly recruiting new teams. He just hired a team of brothers not too long ago, but they haven’t joined the rotation yet. It won’t be like when I was a SEAL and deployed for months at a time or whenever they needed my team.”
When she studied his face in silence, Rafe’s heart sank. Had Kristi decided he wasn’t worth the risk after all? “Have a question?”
“I’m not Callie,” she murmured.
He froze. Of all the comments he’d expected, that wasn’t on his radar. “Where are you going with this?”
“Callie enjoyed being a society princess and wanted a permanent escort to all the functions and fundraisers she attended. She worked hard for charity, but didn’t have an interest in pursuing a career. That’s not me, Rafe.”
His eyebrow rose. “You attend functions and raise money for charity yourself. What makes you different?”
“I have a business to run whether you’re home or deployed.”
“Does that mean you won’t miss me?”
She poked him gently in the chest. “You know better than that. I’ll miss you like crazy, but I won’t curl up in a ball and go into a deep depression. I’ll keep myself busy and look forward to text messages or phone calls from you each day. My point is that I can and will handle your absences. When you’re home, I’ll enjoy spending every minute I can with you.”
The longer she spoke, the faster the ball of ice in his stomach melted. Kristi wasn’t going to walk away. Thank God. “So, you’re not kicking me to the curb, huh?”
“No.” Another kiss from the beautiful woman in his arms, this one longer and deeper. “I’m keeping you.”
He tightened his grip. “I don’t want to escape.”
She smiled against his mouth. “Good to know. Kiss me.”
Rafe captured her mouth for a series of long, intense, and deep kisses. He craved her touch and taste, and feared he’d never get enough of Kristi Stewart.
He broke the kiss as the realization that he was in love with this woman hit him with the force of a hurricane. Telling her the truth of how he felt wasn’t an option. Definitely too soon to share the news. He needed time to win her heart before he bared his soul and begged her to spend the rest of her life with him.
“Is something wrong?” Kristi asked.
“Everything is exactly right.” All he had to do was convince Kristi that he was worth the risk to her heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
An hour later, Rafe walked with Kristi inside the house and upstairs to her bedroom. He paused at the doorway, wrapping his arms around her, reluctant to let her go.
She glanced over her shoulder into the bedroom. “Are you sure you found all the cameras?”
“Positive.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable sleeping in my own bedroom again.”
“Don’t let them win, Kristi.”
“I can’t sleep if the room is dark. That means someone watched me sleep.” She shuddered.
“That will never happen again.” When he found out who gave the order to place a camera in Kristi’s bedroom, Rafe’s conversation with him might involve his fists.
He longed to tell Kristi that he loved her, but this wasn’t the time or place. He also needed time to show the lady how much she meant to him. “I’ll be on watch from midnight to four. If you need me or if something spooks you, even a nightmare, come to me.”
Concern filled her eyes. “Three hours of catnapping on the couch doesn’t seem like enough.”
“I had less sleep than that each day for weeks at a time during BUDS.” He kissed her lightly. If he indulged in a deeper kiss, he might not be able to stop. Kissing Kristi was addictive.
“If something happens, come get me.”
“I will.” Rafe nudged her inside her bedroom. “Leave the door unlocked.” He stepped back.
