Chapter Thirty

Aja Blue awoke to see a familiar tousled blond head. She wanted to run her hands through the short, silky strands, but Christian was holding her hand. The other arm was attached to an IV. Her eyes were drawn to the bloody lump on his scalp, courtesy of Eleanor Sinclair, and she remembered the overwhelming fear that had gripped her when she'd seen him crumple to the floor. If Nicole hadn't gotten to the socialite first, Aja Blue would've attacked her like a rabid she-cat.

Though the ordeal was over, she didn't want to consider never seeing him again. Aja Blue had been waiting for him her whole life. She didn't know it before, but now she did. Somehow, they had to make it work.

Aja Blue had been thinking about it and could do her job from anywhere. She no longer had an office, and the last few days had taught her that her employees could work remotely. That's what phones were for. She knew Christian loved his job and was good at it. She would worry when he went on a case or mission or whatever they called them, but she would trust that he could take care of himself.

She noticed the bump again and frowned. He obviously hadn't rechecked himself into the hospital, but then, she hadn't expected him to. He needed someone to watch over him, and she was the woman for the job.

What would he do if she asked him to marry her? Would he accept? Sure, usually the guy did the proposing, but she didn't feel like waiting. She'd always gone for what she wanted, and her goal was a life with the man of her dreams.

The events of the night came flooding back to her. She'd managed to block them out, but the image of Polly covered in blood made her eyes well with tears. Though they'd grown apart, they had been as close as sisters once. Knowing she lost her life so violently and senselessly was almost more than she could bear, especially on top of Jay's murder.

The thought of having to attend their funerals in the next few days was excruciating. How was she supposed to say goodbye to two people who'd impacted her life so significantly?

"Hey, babe, why are you crying?"

Aja Blue hadn't realized Christian had woken up. His thumb stroked the wetness from her cheek and then caressed the one without an icepack.

"I love you," she blurted out. Though she'd felt it for a while now—and if she was honest with herself, it was from the first moment she'd met him when she'd jumped into his muscular embrace—she hadn't planned on telling him that way. Not very romantic when she was hooked up to machines and slightly doped up. Still, she didn't regret it. She wanted him to know how she felt. If this week had taught her anything, it was that life was short.

Aja Blue had avoided looking at his face, afraid she'd see horror or at least shock. Instead, his lips curved into one of his beatific smiles. "I love you too."

"You do?"

He nodded slowly. "I think I have since the first moment we met."

"Oh, my gosh, me too!"

He leaned down and kissed her, and she sank into the contact. This right here was her lifeline.

Someone cleared their throat, and they broke apart and turned toward the door. Christian dropped her hand and sprang to his feet.

Aja Blue smiled and waved at Christian's bosses as they sauntered in. She snuck a peek at Christian to see a blush staining his cheeks. He was embarrassed they'd been caught kissing. Little did he know his bosses had already figured out their relationship.

"Hey, Luke, Logan." Christian turned to her. "This is Aja Blue LaLonde."

"We know," Luke told him. "We've met."

#

Christian's gaze shot from his bosses to Aja Blue. She was smiling. "When did you meet?"

"That would be when she accused us of being Heathcliff Sinclair's henchmen out to harm you."

Christian's eyes bugged. "What? When did this happen?"

"We visited you when you were the one lying in the bed," Luke explained. "As we left your room, Aja Blue confronted us with her claws out."

"She verbally ripped us to shreds," Logan added.

His gaze shot to her.

She shrugged. "I did."

Oh God, he loved this woman. With all his heart. Funny, but he didn't care that his bosses knew it. In fact, he wanted to shout it to the world. He leaned down to kiss her when Logan interrupted, and he pulled back.

"How are you feeling, Aja Blue?"

It warmed Christian's heart that they addressed her by her first name.

"I'm okay, but not happy that Christian isn't the one being monitored. He has a head injury. He should be lying here."

Christian frowned at her. They were supposed to be a team, and she was selling him out?

"To be fair, we'd have done the same thing," Luke admitted.

"And have," Logan added.

"Knock, knock. Can you handle a few more visitors?"

Christian turned to see Kayne, Presley, and Nicole.

"Sure," Aja Blue said. "The more the merrier."

"Actually, we need to borrow Christian," Luke told them. "We've held off the authorities as long as possible, but you must give a statement."

He hated to leave Aja Blue but knew he couldn't put it off forever. "All right. Let's go so I can return as soon as possible."

"What about me?" asked Aja Blue. "I'm sure I'll have to do the same."

"We'll keep them away from you while you're here," Logan said.

"I want to get it over with."

"I don't blame you," Luke said. "We'll bring them in once Christian is done."

Christian wanted to lean down and kiss Aja Blue before he left, but he didn't want to embarrass her in front of his bosses, coworkers, and Nicole. Instead, he said, "I'll be back soon."

She gifted him with a radiant smile, which he returned.

Once they were outside in the hallway, headed to the elevator, Logan clapped him on the shoulder. "Welcome to the club."

"What club?"

"The HMMC," Luke replied. At Christian's blank look, he explained, "Happily Married Men's Club."

Christian stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't deny the relationship but clarified, "We're not at the marriage stage."

Logan chuckled. "Yeah, you are."

#

Aja Blue was eager for Christian to return. She enjoyed spending time with Kayne, Presley, and Nicole, but she needed to see him. She was still unsettled after their individual brushes with death, and he calmed her.

Though the nurse had removed the ice, Aja Blue's cheek was numb. There was no pain yet, and she hoped there wouldn't be any.

When Christian returned, it was with several people she didn't know who turned out to be from the FBI, the local police department, the Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies. She would never keep track of everyone's name.

Each one took turns asking questions, so she had to relive the horror repeatedly. They wouldn't allow Christian or anyone else in the room except for an occasional nurse, but she knew Christian was outside the door. He made sure to check on her after each person left.

When it was finally over, she was wiped. She wanted to stay awake and be with Christian for as long as possible. He would leave soon. They needed to discuss their relationship and how to make it work, but she fell fast asleep.

She expected to see him when she woke, but the room was empty. Panic flared. He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, would he?

The door opened, and it was as if a light switched on to brighten a dark room. He did that to her.

"Oh, hey, you're awake."

He walked over and kissed her.

"My bosses had to leave. They wanted to say goodbye, but we weren't going to wake you."

"I wish you would have," she murmured. "They are incredible men."

"They are."

"What are we going to do, Christian?"

She didn't mean for the words to come out so panicked, but that was how she felt.

He kissed her again and took her hand as he sat beside her bed. "How about I stick around a couple of days to get you settled, and we take it from there?"

Aja Blue sighed. A reprieve. She'd take any time she could get with him. In case he needed a reminder, she said, "I love you."

"I love you too, babe."

Then he rose to his feet, bent over, and kissed her.