Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

CONNOR

I sat in front of my laptop, the screen filled with search results, reports, and bits of information I'd been collating for a case Oberon had thrown my way. Some CEO was embezzling funds, and it was up to me to dig up the dirt. This was my downtime now, piecing together clues and tracking people down from the comfort of my place over the diner.

It wasn't like the old days, out in the field, but it kept my skills sharp and me busy. Oberon and Trick had their security firm, and every so often, they'd throw me a bone—like this one. I picked up jobs here and there, the real heavy lifting handled by Carter, who ran their systems. He was damn good at what he did, a real finding-a-needle-in-a-sea-of-needles kind of guy.

Not that I needed the money—the retainer Quinn paid me as his security guy was insane, but it wasn't as if he needed me—but I needed direction.

I couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness that had been gnawing at me for weeks as I clicked through files and scanned data. The danger to Quinn had passed, and with it, the purpose I'd clung to for so long. Quinn didn't need a trained former SEAL with a particular set of skills hanging around him anymore. He was safe, settled, and happy with Levi. And that left me … bored.

What the hell was I supposed to do now? Move into security full-time? Guarding the rich and famous? Taking a bullet for people I didn't give a damn about? The idea made my skin crawl. I didn't want that. But the truth was, I didn't know what I wanted. I was rootless, restless, drifting without an anchor.

Oberon knew that, and when I phoned in the results of what I'd found for this case, he was on me like white on rice.

"Have you thought more about the offer?" he said before I managed to get off the line.

Oberon had offered me a third of the company alongside him and Trick. It was a solid offer, something I could rely on. But it wasn't what I wanted.

"I do nothing but think."

"And?" Oberon asked, his voice steady.

I sat there, staring at the wall, trying to find an answer that would make sense. "I don't know," I admitted, the words bitter in my mouth.

"You should get out of small-town Wyoming," he said, always practical. "Head to LA. I've got a place you can stay until you figure things out."

Leaving Whisper Ridge… The thought twisted something deep in my gut. It would mean leaving behind the friends I'd made here, those I called family. It would mean leaving Neil behind .

Neil. I couldn't get him out of my head. The way he challenged me pushed me in ways I hadn't expected. He was a big reason I'd stuck around this long. Hell, maybe the only reason. But what kind of future did I have here? Rootless, restless, and with no clear direction. Could I keep drifting like this? Or did I need to take Oberon up on his offer, leave it all behind, and start fresh somewhere new?

A thought gnawed at the back of my mind, refusing to let go. Is Neil something I actually want, or is he just something to pass the time because I'm bored? It was a brutal question, but I'd never been one to shy away from the hard truths. The chase, the tension, the way he always kept me on edge—it was intoxicating, sure. But was that all there was to it? Was I searching for a distraction, something to fill the void now that Quinn didn't need me anymore? Was Neil just another challenge, something to conquer because I didn't know what else to do?

Despite my attempts to believe otherwise, the pull I felt toward Neil wasn't solely about filling the empty spaces in life. It was about him, about the way he made me feel, about the possibility of something real. And that was scarier than any enemy I'd ever faced.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen without seeing it. I was torn between the need for something more and the fear of losing what I'd found here in Whisper Ridge. I didn't know what I wanted, but I knew one thing for sure—I wasn't ready to leave. Not yet. Not while there was still something worth sticking around for.

"Thank you," I began .

"It's still a no," Oberon finished with a chuckle. "Offer always stands."

"Thank you," I repeated.

And then he ended the call.

Now what?

The rain had started again, a steady downpour that seemed to soak the world in shades of gray. I grabbed a to-go cup from the diner, nodding at Merle as I headed out. The plan was to take a walk and clear my head. It was a loop around town, nothing special. But as if I had no control over my feet, I stood outside the sheriff's office only to see him getting into his SUV.

Where was he heading?

What did I have to lose by trying to follow him?

Something inside me kicked into gear, and before I knew it, I was jogging, cutting through alleys, taking the shortcuts I knew so well. I stuck to the trees, leaping over stumps and puddles, my breathing steady, the thrill of the chase pulsing through my veins.

I watched the rain come down harder, sitting on his porch when Neil stopped in his driveway. For a moment, I didn't think he'd seen me as he ran through the rain, hood on his coat up, then trying to shake off the water when he was under the porch cover, and I couldn't help but stare as he spotted me and stiffened. His footsteps faltered as he reached the first step. He looked at me as if I was the last person he expected to see, and maybe I was. His eyes were so damn blue, like the sky after a storm, and I wanted nothing more than to drown in them.

Desire hit me hard, a wave of want so strong it almost took me out at the knees. I'd been drawn to Neil since I met him but seeing him like this made me ache.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, exasperation clear in his voice.

I shrugged, playing it cool despite my pounding heart. "I went for a run."

"In your coat?" His eyes narrowed, suspicious.

"It's raining," I replied, as if that explained everything.

Neil sighed, clearly frustrated. He climbed the steps, shaking his head, and I stood to meet him. This time, Neil closed the distance, crowding me into the shadows of the porch. The rain drummed on the roof, creating a private little world for us.

"Why won't you leave me alone?" he asked, his voice low, almost desperate.

"Do you want me to? Really?" I asked, my voice soft, but the challenge was there.

He hesitated, his eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I thought he might say no. But then he breathed out, "Yes."

"Okay," I remained calm, although everything inside me screamed at the thought of walking away.

"What?" His confusion was unmistakable, as if he hadn't expected me to agree.

"I just need to get my goodbye kiss," I said, and before he could respond, I reached out, grabbed him by the hood of his coat, and pulled him closer. He was a breath away, and I released my hold and waited for him to step back or punch me. He did neither. He stared at me, his expression unreadable. "You can stop me," I murmured, kissing him and waiting .

His hands were on me in an instant, gripping my arms as he kissed me, then holding me as if he couldn't get enough. The kiss was rough and desperate, leaving me breathless and aching for more.

I let my hands wander, wishing I could feel the solid muscle I knew was beneath his coat, desperate for the heat of his skin beneath my fingertips. He would be so warm, and I wanted to lose myself in him, to forget everything except how he made me feel. But as quickly as it started, he pulled back, breathless and confused.

"That was some goodbye kiss," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, and then I turned and walked away, the rain swallowing the sound of my footsteps.

As I left, I could still taste him on my lips, feel the press of his body against mine.

What was I playing at?

And why couldn't I stop?