Deciding to move at least some of his stuff to Lorelei’s place was easy. She made him feel, which was exceptional. After his mom had died and he’d not had a home, he’d learned to stuff everything, keeping his feelings closed up, his words few, his life hidden, but Lorelei made him want to live in the open. He wanted to let her see inside his soul. Before Lorelei, he’d thought he was too damaged, but now he felt different about everything.

They fit well together. His job was crazy, but not once had she demanded to know more when he said he couldn’t tell her about his missions or what happened at work. He’d moved most of the clothes he liked over to her place and a few other things he needed to get ready in the morning.

When he’d decided to tell Ghost and the rest of the guys about Lorelei, he’d been so nervous his hands had been sweating and shaking. Beatle told him he was crazy, but Ghost pulled him aside and congratulated him. Having Ghost’s approval felt good. Maybe he shouldn’t think of Ghost as a father, he was his boss, his commanding officer, but he was so much more. He looked up to the man and was inspired by him.

“You know, it’s tough. You have to work at it. I love Rayne, she’s the best and though we have to work at our relationship, I wouldn’t give up my time with her for anything. It’s taken some getting used to on her part—you know, with the missions and stuff, but she’s an amazing woman.”

He nodded slowly then turned and met Ghost’s gaze. “Lorelei is an amazing woman.”

Ghost’s lips twitched up. “Good. Then do what you can to keep her.”

That night, he held Lorelei closer than usual. When she questioned him, he said he couldn’t bear to let her go.

The preliminary hearings for the men who’d survived robbing the bank had started. It was a sore spot for Lorelei. She didn’t want to think about the robbery, but she would have to give testimony along with some of the other people who’d been there. She was terrified, and though she didn’t say the words, he could see the worry all over her face and in her eyes. When he asked, she put up a brave front and told him she was fine, but he knew better.

The two men had pled not guilty. They’d been caught red-handed, but the jerks were going for trial. He didn’t like that the survivors would be put through another round of reliving the events from that day. For him, it had been normal, for people like Lorelei, the fear was still there. Lorelei had come through fairly well with little to no trauma, but sometimes he saw a haunted look in her eyes. He knew she hadn’t asked him to move in because of the robbery, but he sensed she felt safer with him there.

He was trying hard to talk more around her. There were times when she’d ask a question and he would shrug. She would roll her eyes and kiss his forehead, then cup his cheeks and tell him he needed to state his preference. But he didn’t really have any preference for some things because he’d never really been allowed to have one. Decisions like chicken tacos versus beef weren’t things he gave a second thought to. He’d learned to eat what people put in front of him. In the military, he had no choice. You ate food for fuel, that’s all. He got that she liked giving him choices, but he really needed to sit down and have a talk with her about how he didn’t care what they ate, as long as he got to eat with her.

They’d just finished a four-mile run and a light PT session with their hands zip-cuffed in front of them when he headed to his bag to check his phone. He saw one message from Lorelei. The trial started. I’ve been called as a witness. I’m up in an hour or so. My phone is in my car. Love you.

He stared at the words for a long while. She hadn’t said love you to his face, and this was the first time she’d sent a message telling him she loved him. Was it the trial, or were her sentiments true? He had to take her at her word. All the little cues had pointed to her loving him.

“You gonna marry that phone?” Beatle asked.

He glanced up and hit the power button, blanking the screen. Beatle’s question didn’t really warrant an answer so he just rolled his eyes and shook his head as he grabbed his towel. After stowing his clothes, he hit the shower, wondering if Lorelei would want to go out, or better, he should pick up something and they could stay at home where she could relax and talk. Unlike him, she could talk about her day. In the comfort of her home she could talk openly. They could stay in and allow her to work through her emotions about the trial.

“See you guys around,” Liam called out before he left the building. He decided on calling in an order when Lorelei texted that she’d finished testifying and was going back to work for a bit. He sent her a note, saying he would pick up food for them after he stopped by his place to pick up a few things. He was planning on leasing his place since he and Lorelei were getting along so well. He wanted to get the house ready over time instead of devoting one weekend to moving out and cleaning it.

One of his neighbors, Marie, stopped him and asked for help changing a lightbulb in her entryway. Marie was fairly old, and he knew she didn’t have anyone around to help her so he agreed. He had to dig her ladder out of her garage since he’d already moved his to Lorelei’s place. Then Marie started talking, asking him questions about where he’d been, what he was doing, and what his plans were for his house.

He felt his phone buzz and smiled. Lorelei was done at work. Marie kept talking, and he was half listening as he decided between Mexican food and Italian. Lorelei really liked baked ziti and there was a place not too far away that made an awesome ziti, and as a bonus, the restaurant usually was fast.

It took him another twenty minutes to break away from Marie. When he got to his truck, he pulled out his phone and called in the order. At the restaurant, he had to wait because they were busy. Though he’d texted Lorelei, he hadn’t heard back from her. Hopefully, she was drinking a big glass of wine or something stronger. Tonight, he would treat her to a massage. After getting the food he rushed out to his truck, ready to get this ball rolling.