by Violet Paige
“I can’t sleep because of the dream I had,” I admitted. “It was horrible.”
“Was I in it?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Then tell me.” He shrugged. “Whatever it was, it was only a dream, babe.”
“It’s stupid to let something like that bother me.” I tried to brush it off. I believed the words. I was too logical and rational to fall victim to a nightmare.
“Doesn’t matter. It’s keeping you from getting sleep. And I’m up, so let’s hear it. What happened in the dream? Why did you scream like that?”
The chill seeped into my veins.
“I watched you die,” I whispered.
“Whoa.”
I didn’t think I could look at him. “It was only a dream. I know that.”
He sat on the floor, his back pressed against the wall under the windows. “Is this because of tomorrow? Because I’m going to be fine. I’ve been doing this a long time now. I’m very good at my job.”
I knew exactly how good he was.
“You don’t have anything to worry about.”
“How can you say that? How do you know that?” I spat the questions.
“I just do. This is Paris. We’re going to eat croissants and see the Eiffel Tower. I’ll take you to the art museums. The food is—”
“I don’t care about French food. I care about whether you live or die. Whether all that changes tomorrow.”
He sighed. “I don’t know any other way to tell you. You’ll get used to it, Em. Once we get in a routine and you see how normal it can be, you won’t be worried like this. You’ll sleep again. I promise.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever sleep again.” I shoved myself from the chair and walked to the kitchenette to pour something to drink. I wanted water, but reached from the bottle of wine instead. We had opened it after dinner.
“What are you doing?”
“Having a drink.” The wine sloshed in the glass.
I didn’t know if he thought I was coming off the rails, but I did. I inhaled the wine, chugging until the glass was empty.
“Feel better?” He stood in front of me.
“Maybe.”
He took the bottle from my hand and placed it out of reach. “On the plane this morning you said you were excited. Did you mean it?”
“What?” My eyes flashed to his.
“Tell me. Are you excited about our life? Because if you’ve had second thoughts, I’ll send you back to DC. You don’t have to do this. I realize what I’ve asked of you. You could be in your own bed by tomorrow. You and Greer can catch up. Call your mom and tell her you’re sorry you missed Thanksgiving. They’ll forgive you. They’ll never know you left with me. Is that what you want?”
“You want to send me away?” I whispered.
“Fuck no.” He slammed his fist on the counter. “That’s the last thing I want. But I don’t know what to do. You’re scared. You can’t sleep. You have a few days before all hell breaks loose at the bureau. A few days left before they start to search for you and your identity is no longer your own.
“My job starts tomorrow. I can’t do it if you’re only half in this with me. This is your last chance to resume your life. Your old life as Emily Charles. Is that what you want? Do you want me to let you go?”
The wine tingled through my arms until my fingertips were warm. My mouth felt dry.
I pictured what he was saying. I could see his offer playing out. I’d board a plane for DC. I could use my fake ID one last time and no one would ever know I had left the country. I’d land and take a cab to our brownstone. I’d walk up three flights of stairs with my suitcase and come up with some lame reason for why I had to get away. Greer would understand I was still nursing a broken heart. She wouldn’t ask many questions. I would take her pity.
Once I blended into my life again the darkness would set in. The blackness that swallowed me whole when Vaughn was gone would take me to my knees. I swore I’d never make it if he left again. I couldn’t survive that kind of mind-splitting agony. I didn’t want to. I wanted him. I wanted this.
And this meant shedding my hold on morality. This meant learning to live with guilt. This meant loving him no matter what it cost my soul.
“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to go home.”
He exhaled. “Shit, Em. Don’t scare me like that.”
He pulled me against his chest and my hands wrapped around his back.
“I don’t ever want to leave. I swear. I’m sorry I’m scared. I’m sorry.”
He tipped my chin toward his lips. His mouth brushed over mine with the kind of tenderness that sent a rush of heat down my spine.
“Let me take you back to bed.”
I nodded as he scooped me in his arms, lifting my legs from the floor. My feet dangled as he carried me to the bedroom. I felt light in his hold. As if he would protect me from all the nightmares. From the dreams. From reality if he had to.
“Are you all in?” He laid me on the bed. “I need to know.”
“I’m all in. I don’t have any doubts about us. About you. I swear.”
As he peeled the shirt from my body, it was true—I had no doubt this was where I wanted to be. It didn’t mean I wasn’t scared. It didn’t mean that I didn’t need time to let the bruises on my heart heal.
I knew he had me. I knew there was only going forward.
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Naughty Notes
Would you believe me if I said I had been working on this book for over a year? Ok, actually that might not be exactly true. I’ve probably been working on it closer to fifteen years. Would you believe me if I said I dated a guy in Special Forces who left for a job and didn’t come back? Yeah, that was me. And no don’t worry—he didn’t die. He just didn’t come back. Crazy stuff I know. Please don’t tell him he inspired this book because Vaughn is so much more kick ass. And I’d hate for this whole thing to go to his head.
Vaughn loved Elliot beyond measure. And I loved writing every second of this book and exploring their relationship. It was cathartic. Definitely.
It has kept me up at night. I’m not a morning person, y’all, but I got up early to write because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Morning. Night. In my PJs. On the way to Pilates. I could not stop!
I hope you’re as excited about the sequel as I am.
Book Two will be here before you know it!