Page 92 of Rescuing Brinley

Brinley’s heart rate sped up. She could actually hear the machine at her bedside begin to beep faster, but she kept her gaze glued to Dash’s. She didn’t care that it wasn’t just the two of them alone in the room, having such a life-changing and intimate conversation. “You can’t decide to move me in, just like that.”

“I can, and I did.”

Just when Brinley was about to tell the man she loved that she wasn’t the kind of woman who’d allow him to make such huge decisions without consulting her, he stepped closer, sat on the edge of the mattress, and took her hand in his. His next words made the irritation she was feeling disappear in an instant.

“I love you, Brinley. So much it’s actually scary. I almost lost you, and I can’t go another day pretending like you aren’t the most important thing in my life. I don’t want to spend another night without you next to me if I can help it.”

Okay. Alrighty then. Hadn’t she decided out there in the woods that Dash was the man she wanted to spend her life with? Loving him was one of the main reasons she was there, in that hospital bed. Why she hadn’t lain down and given up. Moving in with him was what she wanted. With every fiber of her being. Why would she continue to resist?

“Okay.”

He smiled. “Okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll move in with you.”

To his credit, he didn’t say anything about how she didn’t really have a choice in the matter, since his friends were currently moving all her stuff to his apartment.

But she did. Brinley knew it, and she suspected he did too. If she’d held her ground and said she didn’t want to go to his place, he would’ve called his teammates and told them to stop what they were doing. But since being with him was what she wanted, why would she insist on staying with Cypress?

Dash dropped her hand but propped himself over her and leaned down until his lips just brushed hers, ever so gently. “I love you,” he said again, softly. It felt as if they were the only two people in the world. “I was so scared for you. I knew what the statistics said. That it was likely you were already dead. I vowed that if you were found, alive, that I wasn’t going to keep quiet about how I felt about you. What I wanted. And what I want is you, Brin. Exactly how you are. Freckles, crazy hair and all.”

She loved this man. So much. Loved that he seemed to think what she’d always thought were her worst attributes were actually her best. She’d never be a beauty queen. Would never be a cover model. But she didn’t care. How could she when a man like Dash Carlson was looking at her as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world? Especially when she was hardly at her best right now.

“Brinley Deaton?”

The newcomer to the room had a booming voice that made Brinley wince. And wincing made her face hurt, pulled on the stitches in her lip and made her head throb.

Dash moved immediately, sitting up and turning to scowl at the detective who’d just entered. “Keep your voice down. She’s hurting, and you yelling isn’t making it any better.”

“Sorry,” he said, and he actually sounded like he meant it.

“All right, everyone out except for you and you,” Heidi said, looking at Dash and the officer.

“Glad you’re feeling better,” Torch told her. “I’ll head to the store and pick up the things you texted me,” he said, with a nod at Dash.

“I’m staying here,” Zero retorted, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall of the hospital room.

“Me too,” Atlas echoed.

“No, you aren’t,” Dr. Price told him firmly.

“Yeah, I am.”

Zero and the doctor glared at each other for a long moment…and Brinley couldn’t help but wonder why the two seemed so at odds. They’d just met. Or so she’d thought.

At over six feet tall, Zero stood head and shoulders above the doctor, but she didn’t seem worried that he could probably crush her like a bug. She lifted her chin and stared him down, crossing her own arms and mimicking his stance.

Brinley was still getting to know the men on Dash’s team, but so far, Zero seemed the most…remote. Detached. Almost cold. But even with only one good eye and lying in a bed across the room, she could see that he wasn’t emotionless at the moment. He was staring at Heidi with an intensity that seemed anything but impassive.

Brinley, who’d had enough conflict to last a lifetime, spoke up. “He can stay. Both he and Atlas. I don’t mind.”

Dr. Price turned toward the bed. “Are you sure? Because I can call security to have them removed.”

“I’m sure.”

“All right. But if you change your mind—about anyone being in here, or if your pain level gets too high—just hit your call button. You are my only concern here. I’m not worried about hurting anyone’s feelings by kicking them out.”

Brinley nodded. “Thank you.”