Page 84 of Finding Lexie
“Are you chill about this?” Midas asked.
Lexie lay back down against him. “No,” she said quietly.
Midas ran his hand over the back of her head gently. “And that’s why I’m in the mood I’m in,” he admitted. “I never thought twice about leaving before. It was my job. It was just what I did. In fact, I looked forward to missions. But now it feels different. As if there’s more at stake. I guess that’s what happens when you love someone.”
The words had escaped without thought.
Midas tensed. Shit. Had he fucked up?
Lexie sat up again. She stared at him for a long moment. Just when he began to panic and was trying to think of a way he could backpedal and keep her from freaking out, she smiled.
“I love you too,” she admitted softly.
Midas let his breath out with a long whoosh. “Thank fuck,” he muttered.
Lexie chuckled and lay back down.
“Were you seriously worried?” she asked.
Midas shrugged. “I mean, if you weren’t ready to hear that from me, it might not have been good. Especially since I’m about to leave for a while.”
“I’d be stupid not to love you,” Lexie said. “And seriously, what’s not to love? You’re amazing in bed, you make sure I orgasm every time, you have a kick-ass body, you bring me my sweet coffee, you drive me everywhere, and you’ve been to all the tourist traps this island has to offer simply because I wanted to go.”
“Don’t forget that I put that hula dancer thing on my dashboard,” Midas teased.
“Yup. That too. But seriously, I’ve been on my own for a long time. I’ve dated in the past. I’ve seen examples of relationships that I don’t want to be in, and I’ve seen other couples who’ve been together for years and years. I know when I’ve got something good, and you, Pierce Cagle, are the best of the best.”
“I’m just a man,” he countered.
“Yes, you are,” she agreed. “My man.”
He grinned. “Yup.”
The angst that Midas had felt all day since learning they would be deployed soon drained out of him as he lay there with Lexie in his arms. After a while, he said, “You’ll be careful while I’m gone, right?”
“Yes,” she said immediately.
“I’ll leave my car for you to use while I’m away.”
She shook her head. “No need. Ashlyn said she’d take me anywhere I needed to go.”
“You talked about this with Ashlyn?”
“Well, not specifically. I mean, I didn’t know you’d be leaving so soon, but we talked about the fact that you’d be deployed at some point, and she offered. Of course, she assumes you’ll be gone for six months or more, since she doesn’t know you’re a SEAL.”
“You didn’t tell her?”
“Am I allowed to?” she countered.
“It’s not something we advertise, but it’s also not top secret either,” Midas said. “If you trust her, and it’s obvious you do, then you can tell her.”
“Okay.”
“But still, I can leave you my car.”
“Nope. With my luck, I’ll crash it. Besides, I don’t have that big of an interest in doing anything touristy if you aren’t here to go with me.”
“I’m sure Elodie will want to hang out when we leave.”
