Page 135 of Under Her Protection

Too temporary.

Now Leo considered it.

“Yes.”

Vivienne lowered her cup.

“So am I.”

Leo reached across the small table and took her hand.

It was so easy.

That was the strange thing.

Not effortless. They were still themselves. Vivienne could be controlling. Leo could be stubborn. They argued. They negotiated. They irritated each other spectacularly.

But loving each other had become easy.

The choice of it.

The certainty.

The coming home.

Leo looked down at their joined hands.

“I used to think protecting you meant standing between you and a bullet.”

Vivienne’s expression sharpened.

“That is a deeply unpleasant breakfast topic.”

“Metaphorical bullet.”

“Better.”

Leo rubbed her thumb over Vivienne’s fingers.

“I thought that was the job. Identify the threat. Remove it. Keep you breathing.”

“That was, more or less, the job description.”

“Yeah.” Leo looked at her. “Turns out I wanted more.”

Vivienne’s throat tightened.

“You became exceptionally unprofessional.”

“I did.”

“Repeatedly.”

“No regrets.”

Vivienne smiled.

“Neither do I.”