Page 79 of Thirsty Bodyguard Summer

She shook her head, smiling again.

Then she touched the gold chain at my throat and curled it around one finger.

“I’m still scared,” she said.

“So am I.”

“You don’t act scared.”

“I got very good at turning it into charm.”

“I noticed.”

“I’m afraid you’ll decide my life is too much work.”

“I’m afraid you’ll decide mine isn’t enough.”

I bent until our foreheads touched.

“I want to come back to you, Cassi. That’s the part I know.”

Cassidy’s fingers tightened around the chain.

“I need you in my life too,” she said.

“I love you,” I said.

She kept one finger curled around my chain.

“I’m not ready to say that yet.”

“I didn’t say it to get an answer.”

“I believe you.” She rose onto her toes and kissed me once. “And I’m falling for you.”

I grinned.

“That may be the hottest thing you’ve ever said.”

“I’ve said significantly hotter things.”

“Those were also excellent.”

She kissed me again, deeper this time.

I tightened my arms around her.

Cassidy drew back just enough to speak against my mouth.

“I’m choosing this.”

“What are you choosing?”

“You. Me. The distance. The visits. The inconvenient phone calls. All of it.”

I smiled. “You make us sound dangerous.”

“We probably are.”