Irresistibly Mine

by Stephanie Rowe

  Blue sighed, raising his eyebrows at Chloe. "Your call. I'd be happy to pretend that I didn't hear her, and that I don't see her, and just throw you over my shoulder and take you upstairs."

  Chloe burst out laughing. "You don't know Emma well enough. She would just follow us upstairs, and things would just get awkward. It's probably best to go along with it."

  "Damn right," Emma said. "Let's go." She winked at Chloe. "Trust me. It's worth delaying naked time by a couple minutes. I promise you."

  There was something in Emma's voice that piqued Chloe's curiosity, and suddenly she wanted to know who was waiting for her in the kitchen. She glanced at Blue and saw that he was looking toward the kitchen, a stunned expression on his face, as if he heard a voice he recognized.

  He let go of her hand and headed for the kitchen, not looking back.

  Chloe glanced at Emma as she hurried after him. "Who is it?"

  Emma just grinned. "You'll see."

  Chapter 21

  Blue stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, his gaze alighting on a fifteen-year-old boy with dark skin, short hair, and a Birch Crossing sweatshirt. Robbie. The boy he and Harlan had tracked down in Los Angeles last summer. The last time Blue had seen the kid, Robbie had been shivering, skinny, and hiding in an abandoned building in Los Angeles. Robbie and his sister, Mattie, were the two foster kids that Chloe had helped Harlan and Emma adopt.

  The youth was in deep conversation with Harlan, the two of them facing each other, their heads bent as they spoke in earnest. Robbie's shoulders were relaxed, his expression full of trust as he spoke with Harlan. His shoulders were wider than they'd been the last time Blue had seen him, and his arms were more muscular, no longer bone skinny like they'd been before.

  But most important were Robbie's eyes. They'd been dead and scared when he and Harlan had found him, but now they were alive and brimming with life. There was no fear in the youth's eyes. Just confidence and connection.

  Robbie's gaze flicked over toward him, and the moment he saw Blue, he grinned, the kind of huge ass, teenage grin that knew no boundaries. His face literally lit up, and Blue couldn't help but smile back. "Hey, Robbie. You're looking good."

  Robbie grinned, and stood taller. "Hey, Blue."

  Blue strode across the room, and held out his hand to shake Robbie's. The moment the teen's hand closed in his, however, suddenly the barriers were broken. He hauled the kid into his arms at the same moment Robbie moved, and he hugged him hard, well aware of the feel of Robbie's arms wrapped around his waist. He stood like that for a long moment. He didn't know how long, but there was no way in hell that he was going to cut it off until Robbie was ready.

  It was several minutes before the teenager finally let go, and Blue was surprised to find he was reluctant to do the same, but he did. Robbie stepped back, leaning against the counter, his shoulder up against Harlan's. "I don't think I ever said thanks," Robbie said. "Harlan's told me about a zillion times how you went into every building with him, looking for me. Thanks for that. I didn't know how to come back, and I probably wouldn't have, if you guys hadn't tracked me down."

  Blue's throat was suddenly tight, and he nodded. "We weren't going to give up on you. You had people here that wanted you back, and we were going to make sure we brought you home."

  Robbie glanced at Harlan, then back at Blue. "I didn't have a home. There was nothing to come back to, except Mattie. But you guys… You guys made that okay. Thanks."

  "Anytime. Anytime you need anything, Robbie, you name it. You have a posse around you now."

  Robbie smiled, glancing again at Harlan, and then at Emma who had walked in and was standing beside them. "I know. I'm good."

  Blue took a deep breath, satisfaction strumming through him. He'd rescued so many people in his life, but his involvement ended the day that he dropped them off at their home, or at the hospital, wherever their end point was. He'd never seen the aftermath until this moment.

  Not that Robbie had been kidnapped. He'd run away, a foster kid who'd been so damned scared that he'd taken off. It was Emma's love for his little sister that had driven Harlan to decide to track him down, and Blue, as his partner, had gone with him. It hadn't been a kidnapping, but there had been a lost boy all the same. As Blue watched Robbie with Emma and Harlan, he felt the strangest sense of completeness, knowing that not only had he helped bring Robbie home, but that Robbie had healed, or was at least well on his way.

  Robbie's gaze flicked behind Blue, and he knew Chloe had walked in behind him. Robbie's face lit up again, then Blue looked over his shoulder to watch Chloe. The moment her gaze fell on Robbie, her face softened, and the warmest smile he'd ever seen in his life lit up her face.

  "Robbie," she said, surprise in her voice. "It's so good to see you."

  Robbie grinned, and ducked his head, as if he were embarrassed. "Hey, Chloe."

  Blue chuckled at Robbie's reluctance to talk to Chloe. Fifteen years old, and already embarrassed around girls. Chloe, however, didn't seem to mind. She just put her arm over Emma's shoulder and squeezed her, a look of intense satisfaction on her face. Then her gaze flicked to the other side of the room, and he saw the kind of love on her face that he'd never seen before.

  He looked over his shoulder to see what she was looking at. In the doorway stood a little girl, maybe six years old, who looked very much like Robbie. He knew it had to be Mattie, the little girl that Chloe had brought into Emma and Harlan's family.

  Mattie squealed Chloe's name, as Chloe crouched down and held out her arms. "Mattie!"

  The little girl raced across the room and flung her arms around Chloe's neck, hugging her tightly. Blue's throat thickened as he watched the little girl's delight as she chattered excitedly about something that one of her friends had done. Chloe's smile was so heartfelt as she listened to Mattie, nodding and asking questions, that Blue could feel the love emanating from her.

  Robbie and Mattie weren't Chloe's children, but in her heart, they belonged to her, just like all the other foster kids that went through the system. He could see the pride in Chloe's eyes, her connection to these two kids that she had helped bring together with their forever family.

  He knew then that she was never going to turn down that interview in northern Maine tomorrow. No matter how much Chloe wanted a home for herself, she would never be willing to take it if it meant she wouldn't be available to help even a single child who needed someone to look out for them.

  He understood that, because he was going back to his job in the morning as well. But as Mattie turned away and climbed into Emma's arms, he saw a flash of regret on Chloe's face, an understanding that she had been a facilitator, but the forever home belonged to Emma, Harlan, Mattie, and Robbie. No matter how much satisfaction she had bringing that family together, it wasn't her family, and it wasn't her home. When night fell, she would still go to bed by herself, sacrificing her own heart to try to help others.

  Silently, Blue walked across the kitchen and slid his arm around Chloe's shoulders, tucking her up against his side. She shot a grateful glance at him, giving him a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. With a sigh, he brushed a kiss across the top of her head. "You did good," he said gently, keeping his voice low so it was just for her. "They're a real family. You can see it in those kids' eyes. Harlan and Emma are their mom and dad. You did it. They aren't foster kids anymore. They're home."

  Chloe nodded, her eyes shimmering as she slid her arms around Blue's waist, and tucked herself against him. Emma was holding Mattie on her hip, and she was talking to Harlan and Robbie, clearly engaging in a family discussion about whether to stay there for pizza, or to head home for movie night.

  Family movie night. A sudden image flashed through Blue's mind of a time in his life when his family had had family movie night. He remembered sitting on the couch with his little brother, a superhero comforter draped over both of them while their parents sat on the opposite couch, each with a glass of wine, and several shared bowls of popcorn being pas
sed around. He hadn't thought of family movie night in a long time. They'd ended after his brother's kidnapping, but suddenly he was back in that moment, that moment of utter relaxation, security, and peace, wanting to be nowhere else than where he'd been in that moment.

  He looked down at Chloe, and saw the yearning on her face as she watched the little family discuss their plans for the night. He realized that she'd never had movie night, not the kind with kids, wine, popcorn, and parents. Her movie nights had probably been sneaking in an exit door at a local theatre, because she hadn't had the money to buy a ticket.

  His throat tightened, and suddenly he wanted to give that to her. He wanted to give her a family movie night, security, that sense of knowing that when she went to bed, she would wake up loved, safe, and in the arms of someone who would be there for her forever. Even for one night, he wanted her to know what that felt like. Family move night was a good thing. It had been a good thing. A good thing that he'd long forgotten about.

  For a split second, he felt guilty that he'd had a family, exactly what Chloe had always wanted, and he'd squandered it, by taking his eyes off Brian and then letting his family disintegrate in the aftermath. He wondered if Chloe would've let go, if she would've given up, and he knew the answer. Never in a million years would Chloe give up on a family if she ever got one. She'd hold on tight, and do whatever it took to survive, no matter how tough things got.

  She looked up at him, and her brow furrowed. "What's wrong?" she asked. "You look serious."

  He smiled then, his heart softening. "You do realize you're the only one who ever notices that, and then calls me on it. I work very hard to have a stoic, impassive expression at all times, so no one ever knows anything is going on in my head."

  She laughed gently, a laugh that made him smile. "Yes, well, aren't you a lucky guy that you found me? Everyone needs to have someone in their life who notices when they're off, and calls them out on it." She patted his chest. "Feel free to send me tokens of your deep and heartfelt admiration whenever you feel the urge. I accept just about anything in return."

  He grinned, the grin that seemed to start deep inside him. "How about a kiss? Or nakedness? Or a foot massage?"

  Her cheeks turned red, and she slapped his chest. "Shut up. There are kids in the room. Seriously."

  He looked across the kitchen, at the family that was in deep discussion. "I really don't think they're paying any attention to us."

  Her gaze followed his, and when she saw them, he saw that same flash of envy on her face, but it was gone almost before it was there. She managed a smile, but this time it didn't go to her eyes. "Oh. You're right."

  Emma looked over at them, her eyes narrowing when she saw Chloe's expression, and Blue knew that she'd seen the same sadness in Chloe's eyes that he had. She said something to Harlan, who nodded, then she walked over, Mattie still in her arms. "Let's go get some of the pizza Astrid brought, Chloe," she said. "Astrid's husband has a café in town, and I promise you it's the best pizza you've ever had in your life. Totally worth it." She took Chloe's arm and nodded at Blue. "Is it all right if I steal her for a minute?"

  Blue's instinctive reaction was to say she wasn't his, so she couldn't be stolen from him, but just as he was opening his mouth to divest himself of responsibility for her safekeeping, he realized he didn't want to. He wanted to be connected with her, both privately, but also publicly. So instead of denying his claim to her, he gave a dramatic sigh. "I suppose," he said, "but I'm only going to give you ten minutes, and then I need her back. Can you work with that?"

  Chloe's eyebrows shot up, and for a split second he wondered if he had offended her with his display of testosterone, but then she grinned, the tiniest little sparkle dancing in her eyes. "You're such a Neanderthal," she said. "Claiming me? Really?"

  He grinned. "Damn right I am. I've got you for the next ten hours, and I'm not going to give you up easily. Got a problem with that?"

  Chloe's smile widened, and she shook her head. "Nope. I definitely don't have a problem with that. I mean, if I had to deal with your overly protective male dominance issue indefinitely, I would probably have to stand up for myself right now. But since it's just the next ten hours, I actually find it kind of delicious."

  His eyebrows shot up. "Delicious? My claiming you is delicious?"

  She grinned. "Yep."

  Emma rolled her eyes, and groaned. "For heaven's sake, this is a family gathering. You guys need to keep it together for ten minutes, okay? Just ten minutes and then you guys can go off and be by yourselves, and be all goofy and silly." She dragged Chloe out of the kitchen and into the shop, but Blue grinned when Chloe tossed a silly smile at him over her shoulder before disappearing into the other room.

  Blue folded his arms over his chest, unable to keep the smile off his face, anticipating the moment when she came back in the room, and he had her to himself.

  "Hey." Harlan came up to him. "Got a sec?"

  Blue glanced at his former partner and nodded. "Sure. What's up?"

  "Grab your beer. Let's head out on the deck. It's a great night." As he spoke, Blue saw Robbie had followed Chloe, Emma, and Mattie into the front room, leaving just the two men in the kitchen. "We need to talk."

  Chapter 22

  Blue grabbed his beer off the counter, and followed Harlan out onto the deck. The sun was low in the sky, but it wasn't quite sunset yet. It was a gorgeous, quiet evening. The men were wrapping up construction work on the house next door, and he saw Jackson talking with his crew before he dismissed them for the day.

  Blue leaned against the same railing that he leaned against last night at this time, when he and Chloe had been eating dinner. Last night had been about anticipation, and unwillingness to leave. Tonight, things were different. He was riding the high of last night, spent with Chloe in his arms. It had been the best damn night he'd had in a long time. And in the morning, he would be gone, which was like a shadow looming over him, which meant he was hovering in the air between last's night's heaven, and tomorrow's loss. Maybe he'd come back to visit, but more likely he wouldn't. She probably wouldn't be here anyway. They were both going to move on for the jobs that had kept them going for so long.

  Harlan leaned against the railing, looking out across the trees. With the right angle, Blue could almost see the lake through the trees, but not quite. He was pretty sure he'd be able to see the lake from the top floor of Chloe's house, just as he'd been able to see it when he'd been on the roof of the house next door. So close to the beauty of the lake, and yet it was completely invisible.

  "You going back to work?" Harlan asked, his voice deceptively casual.

  "Renée called today. I'm flying out tomorrow." As Blue spoke, he felt an unexpected weight on his shoulders, an emptiness in his chest. "New team."

  "You sure you're ready?" Harlan didn't look at him. He just kept staring out at the woods and mountains behind the deck.

  "She told me it wasn't my fault. His gun jammed."

  Harlan looked over at him then. "You knew it wasn't your fault all along. You didn't need her to say that."

  Blue shrugged. "Yeah, but it still felt good to hear."

  "Why are you going back?"

  Blue frowned. "Because it's what I do."

  Harlan turned to face him, his beer sitting untouched on the railing. "There's a time we all have to quit that job. We have to leave that lifestyle behind. It's a young guy's job."

  Blue narrowed his eyes. "Are you calling me old? Because I'm only two years older than you are."

  "No. I'm calling you done." Harlan's gaze was steady and unwavering. "It's a hellish lifestyle. There's no end. It's just one mission after another, an endless supply of people in need, but no closure." He jerked his head toward the family room. "Robbie and Mattie need me. They need a dad. They need me as their dad. And Emma needs me as her partner, her husband, her support. That's real life, Blue. I thought my life had meaning when I was out rescuing people, but that's nothing compared to what it's like to have
a family."

  Blue shifted restlessly. "I'm glad you found your place, but that doesn't mean it's where I need to be. I don't have anyone waiting for me."

  "No? Really? Because I saw the way Chloe was looking at you, and I sure as hell saw the way you were looking at her."

  Instinctively Blue glanced toward the main house, but he couldn't see Chloe. Just the empty kitchen through the half-open door. "She's an amazing woman."

  "She is," Harlan agreed. "But Emma tells me that she's been through hell and back, especially as a kid. She's strong and tough, just like Emma, Mattie, and Robbie, but that doesn't mean she doesn't need someone. It doesn't mean she doesn't need you."

  Blue shifted again, torn between wanting to bail on the discussion, and wanting to grab Harlan by the shoulders, sit him down, and make him keep talking. "I don't have anything to offer her."

  Harlan snorted. "Don't give me that bullshit. You're just making up excuses, because you think the only thing that matters in this world is saving a bunch of strangers. You know damn well that Renée has a full team, and if you walked away, there's not a single person who would go unrescued. You aren't needed there anymore, Blue. But you're needed here, with Chloe."

  Irritation flooded Blue, and he glared at his former partner. "You don't know what you're talking about. That's not what Chloe and I have. She's leaving town tomorrow, too. We're each going our own way. She's going to take care of those foster kids and get them homes, and I need to go rescue people who get kidnapped and bring families back together. We're having fun with each other, and that's all it is." But even as he said it, he knew he was lying. Not the part about both of them leaving town, but about the part that it was only about having a little fun.

  Chloe had changed his life. Hell, he noticed flowers now. He knew what eucalyptus smelled like. He knew what it was like to make love to a woman all night long, wake up in the morning, and want nothing more than to stay right where he was for the rest of his life. She made him feel. She made him laugh. She made him think about his past in a way that he hadn't before, at least not for a long time. It was a hell of a lot more than casual fun, but that didn't change the end result.