Page 112 of Night Watch
“Focus on being a groomsman and supporting Clay,” he told his reflection. “That’s all you have to do.”
He adjusted the tie. He and his brothers all owned basic black tuxes for client protection details in formal settings. Toni had insisted on Clay having a special tux, but thankfully she agreed the brothers could wear the tuxes they owned. Meant no fittings or hassle of picking up and returning them.
Not like Erik didn’t have the time. Since Kennedy had left with Finley, he’d been throwing himself into work and flying his helicopters to fill the days, but time still inched by as if in slow motion. He missed Kennedy more than he thought possible. Even more than when they’d broken up the first time. This time, he knew she loved him and they could be together if not for WITSEC.
A knock sounded on his door. He glanced at his watch. He was driving to the church with Drake, who was stopping by to get him, but not for thirty minutes. And the dude was never early. Maybe he had a problem with his tux.
Erik went to the door. “Need help with your bow—” But the words died at the sight in front of him. Kennedy. He stared at the green dress that clung in all the right spots. Her hair was swept up, little curled strands dangling by her face. Her freckly shoulders were bare. She was stunning, and standing in his doorway. He swallowed, tried to get some moisture into his mouth. “Kennedy?”
“Hi,” she said softly.
“You look…wow…just wow. I don’t have words.” He blinked a few times to be sure he wasn’t hallucinating. “You’re here. WITSEC. What’s going on?”
She smiled. “Can I come in and explain?”
“Um, yeah, sure.” He stepped back and closed the door.
She brushed past him, leaving a pleasant flowery scent that he recognized from one of the Veritas partners, but he couldn’t remember which person.
She went into the living room but didn’t sit, and he took a minute to admire her legs accented by strappy sandals.
“You look amazing,” she said. “I always figured you’d dress up nicely, but wow. That tux.” She stepped closer and lifted a hand as if she was going to adjust his tie but then let it fall.
“About WITSEC?” he prompted.
“I asked Tyrone to find us a temporary safe house while he did a threat assessment. I thought, if the danger was minimal, Finley would willingly leave the program.”
“What did he find?”
“Minimal risk, and he didn’t extend our agreement. Finley and I’ll live together to reduce costs and take care of her debt. We never did figure out where that cash in the safe came from, but it doesn’t appear to be illegal so we’ll use that.”
“Will she be moving to Virginia with you?”
Kennedy shook her head, one of the strands of hair crossing her cheek. He wanted to move it, but she swept it out of the way before he could. “I got a job here, and I’m moving after I give notice.”
She couldn’t have gotten a full-time position as a forensic diver. Not with the local agencies. “Where will you be working?”
“Right here. At Veritas. They offered me a full-time job as a forensic diver with a very generous salary.”
He resisted gaping at her. “Let me guess. Sierra’s doing.”
“Actually no. Maya’s idea. She thinks in addition to the work I can do for the lab, they can hire me out on other dives in the region, and my salary will basically pay for itself.”
He shook his head. “Is this for real? You’re staying?”
She stepped up to him and rested her hands on his shoulders. “I hoped you would want to start dating again. Was I right?”
“Are you kidding me?” He circled his arms around her slender waist and pulled her close, to inhale that perfume that was driving him crazy. “I want you right by my side now and forever.”
She smiled, a sultry kind of smile that got his blood boiling. “Then let’s seal this with a kiss.”
He lowered his head, and their mouths connected in a bonfire of emotions. He could hardly think about anything other than how she felt in his arms, and that he would be able to hold her every day.
Every day.
His brain cleared, and he lifted his head. “Wait here.”
He ran to his bedroom and opened the bottom dresser drawer, where he’d hidden the ring he’d bought for her back in college. He could only hope she would say yes to such a sudden proposal.
