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He touched her chin with the tip of his finger and then kissed her almost as if he couldn’t resist Then he let his hand slide down until his palm rested over her heart

"I’ inward on her chest Then he lifted his hand to her teently "And in here"

He kissed her again, this time on the forehead

"The physical scars don’t change who you are, PJ The emotional ones do Those are the ones I want to help you with I don’t give a damn that your body has a few more scars Hell, I’m riddled with thehtened and heat rose up her neck

He picked up her hand, the one resting on his chest, and he laced their fingers together, holding their hands between the as it takes, PJ I’ll do whatever I can to help you Whatever it takes for you to heal physically and e anywhere, and it’s tiled back into his eainst his chest as she processed the words that still floated around her mind Such beautiful words, and she knew he hthearted and fun when the occasion called for it, but at the end of the day, he was a straight shooter He was blunt and spoke his mind

And now that he had spoken precisely as on his mind, she was bloay by the implications

Here was a s for her Not only that, but he was also willing to wait for as long as it took her to get her head on straight and heal from the trauma she’d endured

Hell, evenhis life, his reputation and his career in order to help her seek justice

He was helping her find a way to ht of taking him doith her She couldn’t bear it Couldn’t bear it if the teah the mud with her

She closed her eyes, secure in the knowledge that she was safe Cole was here, surrounding her Offering her unconditional support

He’d been up front with her Had told her as in his heart Now she had to figure out as in her own heart and sort out her s for a man who infuriated and enticed her in equal measure

The future was a very scary prospect when she didn’t even know if she had a present What scared her theup a relationship with soround

Cole deserved soive hiive herself without any reservations He was a good man Loyal Fiercely protective A man any woman would be lucky to have

She could see herself as that woman, and maybe that hat scared herthey fit and then living happily ever after They had their tea on them They couldn’t afford to fuck it all up because their eot in the way

As much as she wanted to be selfish and let tomorrow take care of itself, she knew she had to remain objective and make the mission her priority For her own sanity as irls

CHAPTER 24

COLE carried PJ onto the plane It was almost as if he’d reached the end of his patience or just blown his resolve to let her do as much on her own as possible

She’d lie with Cole’s help, and admittedly he’d pretty much carried her then too, but he’d allowed her the illusion of et out of the vehicle at the airfield, but after three painful steps, he muttered a curse and siued, because to be perfectly honest, each of those three steps had been agonizing and she was too exhausted to care if she looked weak to the rest of the team

It was stupid of her to care anyway Her teaone down before and they hadn’t shown their ass or insisted onShe didn’t want to seem like she needed help, because she felt like she had more to prove

Ridiculous, but there you had it She was a woman, and her team didn’t even care It was her with the chip on her shoulder and for no reason

Cole settled her on the back couch and made sure she was comfortable while the others took their seats and belted themselves in

"I’m okay, Cole," she said, after he’d placed a pillow underneath her leg "Go sit down and buckle up"

He scowled and ignored her, taking position at the end of the couch He placed a hand over her knee to steady her so her leg wouldn’t be jostled in takeoff

She sighed, knowing it was fruitless to argue with him He was one hardheaded male

As soon as they were airborne, the others filtered back There were only two ar with the couch, and Dolphin and Renshaw took those while Baker slouched on the floor Steele stood in the doorway, and it was evident he had so on his mind

Donovan was conspicuously absent, and she didn’t know if it was because he wanted to give the team privacy to hash out their issues or if Steele had told hiht with you, PJ," Steele said "You’re going to take it easy for the next feeeks You aren’t going back to your apartot a hit out on you And if I don’t think you’re ready for action by the tirounded"

She started to protest but he shut her down before she could say the first word

"I’ll tie you up and have Sam sit on you if I have to," Steele said in a terse voice "You’ll be a liability to the teaer you’d place yourself in"

She bit her lip and didn’t offer arguood And if she told hi behind while they went after Brumley, he’d do just as he threatened and have Sam or Garrett play nanny

So instead, she nodded stiffly and kept heris, you’re not staying alone while you’re recovering"

Again she opened her mouth and he damn near sliced her in tith his stare

"This isn’t up for negotiation You aren’t going back to your apart duck if Bru So here are your choices You stay with me or you stay with one of the tea solo"

"You can stay with me," Dolphin offered

"Or me," Renshaw broke in

Baker also offered his place

Cole was the only one who relance sideways at hi expressionless, his hand still cupped over her knee

It was ale He’d laid his cards on the table Noas her turn toto offer He wanted her to make the next move