His gaze goes back to the binder. “I really need your eyes on it. I could give it to someone else but would rather you do this with me.”
He’s not talking about the review. He’s talking about the entire mission and I have to admit, I’m feeling so out of sorts, I’d love nothing more than to head off to Afghanistan or Syria or wherever they’re calling for our help. I’d love to just hang out there while Joslyn is filming her movie, so at least I can be so focused on something vital and probably dangerous, which means I wouldn’t be mooning over her too badly.
I take the binder in hand. “I’ll start it now.”
Jerico nods with a smile. “Thanks, buddy. Let me know what you think when you’re done.”
He turns to walk out of my office, only to be brought up short by August Greenfield. He’s a new hire, straight from the Las Vegas PD and since he’s the newest, he has “front desk” duty. We still haven’t hired a full-time receptionist and until then, the newer employees are taking turns to catch any walk-in traffic.
August peeks his head around Jerico. “You got someone in the lobby to see you.”
A jolt of awareness pulses through my body. “Who?”
He shrugs. “Some blonde woman.”
“In the future,” Jerico says blandly, “you really should try to get visitors’ names.”
August blushes and I push up from my desk.
Blonde woman.
Can only be one person that I know with blonde hair.
At least I hope.
Without a word acknowledging the two men standing there, I scramble up from my desk and rush past them. Down the hall, forsaking the elevator and taking the fire stairwell three steps at a time to the first floor.
I come bursting out the door, skid across the marble floor, and come to a rigid stop as I take in Joslyn standing there with her suitcase clutched in front of her with both hands.
It tells me everything I need to know.
“You’re not doing the movie,” I breathe out, and it is an exhale of pure relief. I didn’t realize how much I was dreading her leaving until that very moment.
She gives me a smile. “My mom is kind of pissed at me right now. I kind of need a place to stay.”
My strides aren’t nearly long enough to take me to her but I cover the lobby in just two and a half. I remove the suitcase from her clutches, drop it carelessly to the side, and frame her face with my hands. “You’re staying?”
“I’m staying,” she affirms. “I just—”
Her words are cut off with my mouth on hers and I almost bend her backward in half as I lean into the kiss to give it all my worth.
One of her hands slides into my hair and the other to my shoulder, and she gives it back to me just as good.
When I’m out of oxygen and filled with curiosity again, I pull away from her and just take her in. She’s even more beautiful than I remember and she’s been gone less than a day.
Taking her by the hand, I lead her over to a leather couch that I don’t think has been sat on yet. We take a seat side by side, and she angles in toward me. Her expression is distressed, the corners of her mouth drawn downward. “It was awful,” she says quietly and looks down at her hands resting in her lap. “It was the worst fight I’ve ever had with my mother.”
“Start from the beginning,” I tell her as I take her hands and give a squeeze. “Deep breath and tell me all of it.”
She inhales deeply, her nostrils flaring. The rush of air coming out is slow and steady and I get a brave smile from her. “I just couldn’t do it, Kynan. I know it might be career suicide and I know I may be passing up the opportunity of a lifetime, but I could not commit myself to something that I know I would hate with a passion. My career is supposed to fulfill me and this wouldn’t. I just know it deep in my heart, and no matter how much you or anyone else told me to go for it, I just couldn’t.”
“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “I told you to do what was best for you and you did. But I’m sure as fuck happy for myself.”
That gets a tiny mirthless laugh from Joslyn as her expression turns grim once again. “I don’t think my mom is ever going to talk to me again. Of course, she blames it all on you. Thinks the only reason I’m doing this is to stay with you.”
“Is there any part of that statement that’s true?” I ask curiously, because I’m damn proud right now that Joslyn made a business decision all on her own that was in her personal best interest.
I see a tinge of chagrin in her eyes. “Maybe a little. I mean... the part I said I’d hate it with a passion took into consideration that part of what I’d hate is being away from you. I know that might be stupid and immature—”
“Don’t,” I say gruffly, taking her chin in my hand. “Don’t put yourself down like that. I think you made a decision that was incredibly difficult and I don’t think you did it flippantly. If you had wanted it, you’d have gone for it.”
“Would I?” she asks skeptically.
“Let me ask you this... if you’d been giving a great recording contract and had to go halfway around the world to cut an album, and it would take you away from me for an extended period of time, would you do it?”
She considers, nibbling on her lower lip. Fuck if I don’t want to nibble there, but that will come later.
She finally nods. “I think so. I mean, if the offer was right.”
“Then stop worrying about if you made a silly decision based on love,” I tell her.
She blinks at me. “Love?”
“I love you,” I tell her simply. “And you love me too. Frankly, we’re kind of barmy arses not to have said it to each other yet. I figure you have enough on your mind and have been worried about all this bloody movie stuff, I thought I’d make the declaration of love first. Sort of take the pressure off you.”
“You’re oh so kind,” she drawls sarcastically then she gasps as I pull her to me for a hard kiss.
When we break, her eyes go soft. “I love you. More than I ever knew was possible.”
“Same here, Jos. What we have here is the real opportunity of a lifetime. I’m glad neither one of us is going to let it pass us by.”
“So I can move in with you?” she asks with a dimpled grin.
I stand up from the couch, drawing her up with me. “Yes. In fact, let’s go move you in right now.”
Because I think we should re-christen my bed as now belonging fully to both me and Joslyn. I lead her back to where I dropped her suitcase and nab it from the floor. I get halfway to the door when I hear Jerico calling me.
“Taking the rest of the day off?” he asks slyly.
I look over my shoulder, see him exiting the elevator. “Yup. I’ll be in tomorrow and will get right on that project.”
He waves me off, shaking his head with amusement. “Bright and early,” he commands.
“Bright and early,” I acknowledge. And I’ll be eager to hit the day running, because my life just started for real.
With my love.
My Joslyn.
Epilogue
This was no joyous homecoming. When Madeline Meyers opened the door to her darkened apartment, her shoulders were sagging with weariness and her heart was heavy.
It was also very angry.
How dare she do this to me? she seethed inwardly.
Dropping her rolling suitcase in the foyer, she kicked off her shoes and shut the door, not even bothering to turn the lock. She was far too preoccupied.
Grabbing her phone from her purse, she dialed Ian McMichaels because she was dying to see what he’d accomplished since she left L.A. a few hours ago.
Answering on the second ring, he started filling her in without them even exchanging a greeting.
Madeline listened and the more she listened, the lighter her shoulders felt. Ian was going to have no problem procuring what she needed to set things right. It would take a few days, but that was okay. Ian was stalling on the movie deal offer so they had time.
Smiling to herself, sh
e started making a mental list of the things that needed to be done. By the time she hung up with Ian, she was practically walking on cloud nine.
Joslyn was going to do that movie. She just didn’t know it yet.
Code Name: Genesis
A Jameson Force Security Novel
COMING MAY 7, 2019
Click here to purchase
Joslyn and Kynan’s story isn’t over. Journey forward nine years to find out what happens to this couple and whether they can be given a second chance at happiness in an exciting new romantic suspense series by Sawyer Bennett.
Code Name: Genesis (A Jameson Force Security Novel), the first full-length novel in the Jameson Force Security Series, releases May 7, 2019.
The alpha men of Jameson Force Security have seen their fair share of nasty stuff, none more than Kynan McGrath. But when he’s asked to protect his first love, Joslyn Meyers, from a hell-bent stalker, Kynan is determined to do the job he’s hired to do, regardless of their shattered past.
Even though she broke his heart nine years ago, he will stop at nothing to keep her safe. Even if it means giving up his own life in return.
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