Page 88 of Cold Silence
She nodded. “Next time, don’t wait so long, okay?”
With a laugh, he swooped her into his arms and crushed her to his chest. If only the police would finish setting up their portable lights, she could get a better look at his face and assess any hidden thoughts.
“I love you, Claire.” He tightened his arms even more. “And I promise there will never be a next time as long as I have anything to say about it.”
“Promises, promises,” she joked, suddenly too uncertain to voice her own feelings until the arc from a nearby flashlight caught his face, and she saw unrestrained love in his eyes. “I love you too, Travis.”
“I knew that.”
“Did you now?” She mimicked his earlier comment.
A floodlight clicked on next to them just in time to glimpse the confidence fleeing from his face. “Let’s say I hoped you did.”
She couldn’t bear his uncertainty. Had to fix it. Making sure her love burned as brightly as the floodlight, she peered deeply into his eyes. “I do. So much. Don’t ever doubt it.”
She laid her head on his chest and sighed in happiness. A sudden breeze kicked up, and despite his nearness, she shivered.
“Let’s get you to the ambulance so we can leave this place.” He stroked her cheek. “Can you walk?”
“I can, but…” She snuggled closer.
“Freeloader.” He swung her up into his arms.
He held her firmly but tenderly as he moved at a rapid pace to the ambulance. He lowered her gently to the bumper and stepped back. Shoved his hands into his pockets. Moved again and rested a shoulder on the vehicle.
He was still worried. Uneasy. She hated that for him, but couldn’t change it. The female medic with curly black hair disinfected and bound Claire’s wrists, then checked her vitals. Travis’s gaze remained fixed on the medic the entire time.
“You’re good to go.” The medic smiled and then climbed into her vehicle to stow her supplies.
Claire looked up at Travis and found that uncertainty still in his expression. She took his hand and twined their fingers together. He led her out of the spotlight.
She had to try to assure him of their future together. “I want you to know that I don’t care how dangerous your job is. I won’t send you away again. Ever.”
He looked deeply into her eyes. “Is that why you broke things off with us?”
“After my dad…I was afraid something like that would happen to you too.”
He tilted his head, still watching her. “Not that I’m not pleased, but why the sudden change of mind?”
“I get it now. After the last few days, I know I can’t eliminate danger. You could be hurt in everyday things like driving a car.” She ran her finger down the side of his face. “The only thing I ask is that we try to find a way to communicate in your long deployments.”
“About that.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “I was thinking I’m ready for a more stable job. One where I’ll be around for you and all the little Chapmans we might have.”
Perfect. Or was it? “You can’t do that for me. The Army needs you.”
“And they’ll have me. You know Colonel Lynch offered me a job at the institute. It’s time for me to leave the team. To be stateside all the time so I can be with you.”
She held Travis’s gaze. “I suppose this means you’ll have to kiss me to seal the deal.”
“Oh, yeah.” He grinned. “Now and copious times every day for the rest of our lives.”
He swooped his head down. His lips claimed hers in a bruising kiss.
Claire heard strains of “What a Wonderful World” coming from the medic’s phone, and she knew without a doubt every day would be wonderful now that her Green Beret was home for good.
20
Four weeks later.
