“Want some?” His eyes were innocent.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You need to learn to not get between me and my first cup of coffee each morning.”

He stilled, his eyes widening a fraction. “I will?” he asked quietly.

“You will what?”

“Each morning. Not get between you and your coffee.”

She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “I’d like you to,” she whispered, knowing they weren’t talking about coffee.

“You barely know me.”

She shook her head. “I know plenty. You’re a man who cares about others, risks his life for people he barely knows and fights to find truth when he knows something isn’t right.” She held his gaze, pulling the words from her heart. “I know your brother’s death hurt you deeply, but I swear you came to peace with it while we were out in the woods. You had the chance to kill the man who killed your brother. Instead, you risked your life to save him. You joined our group for your own purpose, but you became a part of our tight-knit little family. Even Thomas likes you. Thomas doesn’t like anybody.”

Alex coughed and grinned. “You think so?”

She nodded.

“You’ve given this some serious thought.”

“I have. I had to figure out why I fell for you within days, when I’d been with Liam for years and never felt as I did in the woods. Locked in that tiny plane with seven other men, you were the one who attracted every sensor in my body.”

Alex looked at her, transfixed.

She blinked hard.

He gave a slow smile as he sat up, put his coffee back on the table, pulled her head close, and kissed her softly.

“The first time I saw you in that dripping rain, a fire lit inside me. Something flared that’d been cold since Samuel’s death. You made me feel alive, and I didn’t recognize the feeling. It’d been too long.”

He ran a finger down her cheek, following it with wondering eyes. “I was so focused on that killer, I’d shut out everything good in my life. I couldn’t remember what it’d felt like to be happy or content. You made me want to be the man I’d been years ago. The man I thought I’d never be again.” He pressed against her, and arousal flared in her veins.

She rested her hand over his heart and marveled at the powerful, rapid beats. “I don’t want you to be empty again,” she whispered.

“I’m only looking forward,” he promised. His gaze held hers in its steel grip. “I see myself bringing you coffee every morning for a very long time.”

She swallowed hard, happiness tightening her throat. “That sounds perfect.”

His grin widened. “And I’ve always wanted a dog…”