“That’s not the kind of healing I meant.”
She sighed. “I was a covert agent. Sort of. I shouldn’t have been so scared. I should’ve known better how to handle myself and been all cool and calm under pressure.”
“Instead, it turns out that you’re a human being.”
“You only say that because you’re a superhero.”
He chuckled. “I’m a what?”
“You heard me.” She tugged her hand from his and folded her arms. Being irritated—or just acting like she was—made her feel better, because she could push back. This wasn’t about her inadequacies anymore.
He was still laughing. “I could train you, you know. If you want.”
“We tried sticking together, and look how that worked out.” She pushed out a big breath. “You probably should. Just in case. Not for superhero missions. I don’t want to go on any of those.”
“Noted.” He glanced over, smiling at her. “It would be good for you to be able to protect yourself, and your family.”
She wondered what family he was talking about.
“When you have one.”
This handsome man beside her, this superhero, a warrior who would lay down his life for the people he cared about, was the person she wanted to do that with. She wanted to ask him if he was available.
Instead, she bit her lip.
Spending her life with a man who gave his time and energy to make this city safe for the people he cared about was everything she’d ever wanted or been looking for. The kind of man who would do that for his family.
“We’re here.” He cleared his throat.
She’d been about to ask him if he wanted a family when he pulled the truck over to the side of the road. Kira had given him the address, because if bad guys had found the shelter, then it would definitely need to be moved. But first, they needed to make sure everyone was safe.
The white farmhouse was set back from the street and barely visible through the trees that lined this side of the road. Down a short dirt lane, the house had a big front yard but not much except a patio at the back. The red metal roof could be seen through the trees.
Two gunshots sounded in quick succession.
Luca met her at the front of the truck, wearing a bulletproof vest. He held a second vest out toward her. “Put this on. But you’re still going to stick behind me.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.” She spotted more than one cop car beside the house, in front of the separate garage, and lowered the vest over her head.
Luca didn’t head toward danger. He turned to her, fixing the straps on her vest, then slid his arm around her back—his gun in his other hand—and leaned down with his face close to hers. “I love you. You face what comes at you with grace, and you have this ability to stand strong and still be vulnerable at the same time. It’s amazing. You’re sweet and beautiful and stronger than you know.”
“I love you.” She slid her hands from his chest to the sides of his neck. “Thank you for making me feel safe. For understanding who I am when sometimes I don’t even understand it.”
He tugged her close and touched his lips to hers, tipped his head to the side and asked her to accept everything he felt for her. Kira received it like the best kind of gift. Something she hadn’t expected at this point in her life, and yet, how good was it to be blessed by God this way? All of it wrapped up in a surprise that blew her away.
She matched him every step of the way, showing him right back how she felt about him. What she wanted and what she hoped they could be.
Luca pulled back and kissed her one more time quickly. “Stay behind me.”
They headed for the house, running toward the front door, which stood open. Up the porch steps. He slowed as they approached the door.
Kira ducked behind him, holding on to his belt. Grateful she usually lived a life where she didn’t need to own a bulletproof vest in her size. Did they come in sizes? She wouldn’t ever need to know, hopefully.
She was going to stick with this man and her job at the hospital. Take the blessing God had given her and work on it, building something beautiful that she would never want to let go of.
Luca entered the house, and she kept pace with him, watching on the sides for people she could help. Another gunshot echoed through the house, followed by three answering shots.
Kira winced. God, keep them safe.