Chapter Fifty-Eight

Colton was blown away by Angel’s revelation. Finding out she’d killed her partner and survived a childhood with a demon psychopath hadn’t surprised him as much as this last admission.

Angel—tough as nails, take no prisoners—Larson wanted…a family?

Sure, she hadn’t come out and said that, exactly. But the soccer game comment hinted at such.

Could it be they were standing on opposite ends of the spectrum? She wanted what he had, a quiet life, and he wanted what she had, action and adventure?

Okay, maybe he didn’t want what she had right at the moment, but what she would have once she was cleared of murder and could go back to work as a deputy marshal.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, they wanted each other. Or at least he wanted her.

“You could have that, you know.” He brushed her hair back from her face so he could look at her more clearly. Her cheeks were pink. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was blushing.

Was the independent woman in his arms feeling embarrassed that she wanted something as mundane as a family life?

“I have to clear this up first,” she said, quickly brushing it off.

“I’m coming with you,” he reminded her.

“We’ll see.”

It wasn’t a straight out no. He was wearing her down. He knew she would try to shake him when the time came, but he was prepared. He would be there when she faced this asshole. Whether she wanted him there or not.

And then, when she was free…

He was surprised to realize that the mundane life didn’t seem so bad if she was in it with him.

Hmm. Maybe it wasn’t the danger and adrenaline he craved. There were different kinds of action and excitement. Like the kind he felt with her. She made him feel alive even doing the simplest, everyday things.

He cleared his throat, a little stunned by that revelation.

“Maybe we can work together to clear your name,” he suggested carefully, “then we could both work on that other thing together. The part with the groceries and the soccer games.”

Nothing.

“Or maybe you had someone else in mind for that job…?” he hinted.

Nothing.

“Angel?”

He noticed her head felt heavier on his chest and felt her steady breathing against his skin.

She was asleep.

Well, damn. She’d completely missed his proposal…of sorts.

He laughed at himself and turned off the light. “I think your purpose in life—why you survived everything—is to drive me fucking mad,” he whispered into her hair before he kissed her and followed her to sleep.

When he awoke, she was gone. And that familiar fear washed over him.

They’d talked about some pretty heavy issues in the middle of the night after her nightmare. What if she couldn’t handle it? Again.

What if she ran? Again.

Throwing off the covers, he rushed out into the living room. And found her sitting cross legged at the coffee table in front of her computer.

His dog’s head was resting on her knee. Everything was normal.

“You okay?” she asked, worry in her eyes as she reached for the gun sitting next to her laptop.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. I just—” He shook his head. “Never mind. Is there coffee?”