Flint’s Battle (Team KOA Bravo #3)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Ten days later…

Emery jolted awake, blinking a few times to bring the room into focus. Dark shadows lined the space, only a hint of moonlight spilling in through the windows. Whispered voices murmured in the distance, the low din barely reaching her.

Flint and his team.

She didn’t need to hear the conversation to know they were discussing their “situation” again. Debating on whether they returned to duty or retired. Flint hadn’t told her too much — couldn’t from what she’d gathered — but she’d overheard snippets of intel when they’d talked in her hospital room last week. Enough to know it wasn’t a matter of choice, but of honor.

Emery lifted the covers, wincing when the motion aggravated her shoulder. The doctors had finally decided to take the damn plate out, and while it had eliminated the stabbing pain from the metal and screws, the surgery had caused other issues.

Namely swelling.

Enough that Flint had been worried about simply holding her. She’d threatened to kick his ass if he tried to sleep in one of the other rooms, but he’d limited their contact to just that. Holding her. And it was high time he held true to his other promise. Especially when he might have to leave in two weeks.

God, she hoped his CO would come through. Find whatever he was searching for. But she needed Flint to understand she was in it, regardless. That they’d find a way to make it work, even if that meant temporarily relocating.

It took a couple tries to actually stand, but she managed it, making her way to the door then down the hallway. Flint was at the entrance, joking with his buddies as he leaned against the doorframe. His muscular silhouette making her skin tingle. The man was far too handsome for her well-being.

She copied his stance, leaning against the wall while he tossed insults out to the other men. A couple engines revved in the distance, followed by the sound of tires fading away.

Flint turned, humming to himself before he stopped cold, his gaze settling on her. Emery didn’t know if it was the way she smiled at him, or the fact she was only wearing his tee, that got his chest heaving. His narrowed eyes telling her everything she needed to know.

He smiled, nearly buckling her to the floor with the sexy tilt of his lips, then ambled over. Not quite a swagger but it was close. Had her heart tapping triple time against her ribs. He stopped a breath away, placing his hand above her head on the wall. A hint of cottonwood teased her senses, paired with the salty freshness of the ocean.

Flint leaned in, nuzzling her nose. “Did we wake you?”

“You’d have to talk above a whisper to do that. I guess I was just missing you.”

“Perfect timing, then. I was just on my way in.”

And there it was. The tension in his muscles. The tightness around his mouth. He obviously hadn’t liked whatever decision he and his buddies had come to. Though, she suspected it was more of the same limbo — waiting to see if their clocks would run out and essentially make the choice for them.

Emery lifted her good arm, gently palming his face. “That bad of a talk, huh?”

His eyes widened for a moment before he chuckled. “Can’t get anything past you, detective. And it wasn’t bad, just indecisive.”

“Which means, you still don’t know if you’ll be leaving in two weeks.”

Flint closed his eyes, his breath huffing in and out through his nose. It took him a minute before he finally looked down at her, all that warmth she’d admired, gone. “I don’t want to go. You know that, right?”

That’s all she needed to take that next leap of faith. Lay it all out for him because he wasn’t the only one who’d been trying to work a deal. She’d made some enquiries, too.

She smoothed her thumb across his jaw, loving how her skin caught on the thick stubble. “I think it’s time we cut through the bullshit, yeah?”

He frowned. “The bullshit?”

“You know, the part where you seem to think there’re only two options here. You either stay, and we’re happy, or you re-enlist, and I freak out.”

“I didn’t think you’d freak out, but…” He eased back and ran a hand through his hair, tousling the brown locks all over his head. “I know it’s a lot to ask. This job… I’m always on call. I can’t guarantee I’ll make to all the important events, and I’m not even stationed in Hawai’i.”

Emery nodded. “Yup. No doubt about it. I’d really rather you didn’t have to go back. But…” She interrupted when he went to open his mouth. “It’s not a deal breaker. It’s not like my job is that much different. Sure, I don’t go to exotic countries and live the high life…”

She smiled when he rolled his eyes. “But have you forgotten we have that factory shit show to thank for bringing us together? I’m on call, too. And I missed Christmas dinner last year because some asshole decided to rob the only open diner.”

Emery placed her hand on his chest. “What I’m trying to say is, I’m in. Whether you retire or not doesn’t matter. I just want you, coming home to me, for the rest of my life. That anchor position you said was free. Because I was kinda hoping you’d want to be my anchor, in return.”

He kissed her.

No warning, no leaning in and waiting until she was so desperate she took control.

This was instantaneous. Them talking one second, his mouth possessing hers the next. All tongues and lips and him tugging her against him. She opened her eyes to find them already in the bedroom, that moonlight somehow brighter than before.

Flint stopped when her legs hit the bed, seemingly coming back to himself. He looked around, shaking his head as he rested his forehead on hers. “Do you see what you do to me? Neanderthal, sweetheart.”

“Then, it’s a good thing I love a guy who can swing a club.”

He laughed, then sobered, palming her cheek so gently she nearly cried. “Are you sure?”

“That you’re a Neanderthal? Positive.”

“I won’t be around nearly as much as I’d like if I have to go back.”

“What if I relocated close to your base? Then, you could be home whenever you weren’t deployed. Give us way more time together.”

That got him inhaling. Staring at her as if she’d spoken in tongues. “Relocate? You’d leave Hawai’i?”

“Not permanently. Like a temporary assignment.”

“You can do that?”

“You’re not the only one with connections. Though, all I had to do was talk to Porter. He made a few calls and if it turns out you do need to re-up, then he’s got verbal authorization for me to be part of an organized crime task force. It means I’ll be on temporary loan to the Marshal Service, but that’s okay.”

“You’re going to head up a task force? In organized crime? With the Marshal Service?”

“Breathe, baby. You’re going blue.”

“Breathe? You’re willing to do all of that for me?”

“Why is that so surprising?” She tiptoed up and kissed him. “You risked your life for me. Were willing to go to jail in order to have my back. And it’s not like it’s forever. We put in a few years, then, once you’re free and clear, we come back here. Settle in for the long run. If that’s what you want?”

“You’re what I want. And I gotta admit, I love it here. Besides having the most beautiful girl on the island to come home to, there’s the prospect of working for Hawk and the Brotherhood Protectors. Bowie and the guys just a few miles away. Definitely paradise.”

“Then, stop agonizing over this decision. We have two weeks before you might have to go, and I’m sidelined for all of it. Which means we have lots of time to make up for any we might be apart. Assuming you hold true to your promise.”

“What promise?”

“The one you broke because I have not seen a single star since the crash.”

Flint balked. “You’re hurt.”

“And you said you could make love to me without exacerbating my injuries. Were you all talk, sailor?”

“Oh, that sounds like a challenge.”

“Then, get on with it.”

Flint grinned, then grabbed her shirt, slowly lifting it over her head. A few swipes of his hands, and his clothes were gone. Pooled on the floor beside hers. A lift and a step and they were on the bed, his massive form looming over hers. Making her feel safe and loved.

He leaned in, dropping a kiss on her nose. “This house has three bedrooms, right?”

She frowned. “I’m naked in your arms and you’re wondering about how many bedrooms there are? And yeah, three. Why? If you don’t like this place we could get something else. I was thinking we’d rent it out if we have to relocate for a bit, so it’d be here when we were ready. But it needs to feel like home to you, too.”

“It’s perfect. I just wanted to make sure there was room to grow.” He dipped down for a quick kiss. “Just in case.”

Grow? Was she smiling like a fool? Crying? Begging him to start right now? Because she hadn’t thought having kids would be part of her life, but knowing he was game…

She pressed into his hand when he shifted to one elbow in order to caress her cheek. “Plenty of room. I don’t suppose you’d like to start now?”

“That’s a deal I can get behind. As long as you think you can still fight crime when you can’t see your toes.”

“That sounds like a challenge, sailor.”

“It was. So, hold on tight, detective. This is going to be epic.”