before. “I can help. Where do you want to meet?”
My chest warmed at that. He didn’t need to ask for details or why I needed help, he simply helped because I needed it. “Are you home? I can pick you up.”
“No, I’m at BCA Headquarters. You wanna pick me up from here?”
I didn’t like going near the BCA, but that didn’t matter right now. “Sure. I’m about fifteen minutes away. Does that give ya enough time?”
“Yeah, I can work with that.”
“Good.”
“Hiro?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for calling me. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up before I could respond.
Shaking my head, I threw my phone in my cup holder and pointed my car toward the BCA HQ. A little guilt niggled in my mind and my heart knowing that he’d felt the need to thank me for calling him. He shouldn’t feel that way, but I knew I’d done that to him after countless times of pushing him away or not letting him in. I really needed to get the fuck over myself. Basil had done nothin’ but show me he was a good man; it was time I offered a little trust. Especially after everythin’ he’d done to help with Rasha the other day.
As I drove, a plan came into mind.
Pulling up to the BCA, I smiled when I saw Basil already standing outside waiting for me with the ever-present Blaze on his shoulder. I slowed to a stop, and he came over, jumping into the passenger’s seat. After he shut his door, I leaned over, gripped his chin, and tilted his head to bring his lips to mine. He grunted in surprise, but sank into the kiss immediately like he always did. I was really starting to love that.
When I pulled back, I gave his lips a last peck and said, “Hey, love.”
He offered a small smile. “Hey, dimples.”
I snorted at the ridiculous nickname, having no idea why he’d started calling me that. “How’re ya doin’, shadow boy?”
He rolled his eyes as he settled in the seat and buckled his seat belt. “I’m fine, how are you?”
“Pretty good now.” I gave Blaze a pat on the head and caught Basil’s smile before I pulled back out on the road.
“How’s Rasha feeling?”
“She’s feelin’ better, but she still hasn’t been able to take the oxygen tube off.”
“I’m glad she’s okay.”
Hearing the hesitancy in his voice, I glanced at him and realized he seemed uncomfortable, so I concentrated back on the road and asked, “What’s wrong?”
He sighed. “I thought you might yell at me for asking about her.”
My jaw clenched in anger—not at him, at me. I’d made him so unsure about our relationship, about me in general, that he couldn’t even ask how my daughter was doing without bein’ afraid I’d lose it on him. I had no one to blame but myself. “You’re allowed to ask me whatever the hell you want.” There, that should do it. Hopefully.
He was quiet for a whole minute before asking, “Are you sure?”
I sighed. “Yes, witch, I’m sure. I want you in our lives, okay? Both of us do.”
A happiness that wasn’t mine filled my chest, and I couldn’t help but smile. He was pretty damn easy to make happy, it seemed.
“I wanted to ask you somethin’,” I said after another minute.
“What?”
“Ulma’s goin’ out of town to see her new grandbaby in a few weeks. She’s gonna be over two hours away, and I don’t like the thought of Rasha not having a backup plan if I’m stuck at work or somethin’.”
“Okay…?”
I shot him a small smile. “Is it okay if I add your number to our emergency phones and give the school your name?” When he didn’t say anything I rushed to add, “You won’t have to do anything. It’s a just-in-case kinda thing.”
His hand squeezed my forearm. “I would love to be added, Hiro.”
Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, I patted his hand. “Thanks.”
He squeezed my arm again. “Thank you for trusting me.”
I lifted his hand with mine and pressed my lips to his skin before releasing it. When he went to pull away, I changed my mind, grabbed it, and placed it on my thigh. He squeezed my leg and sighed in contentment.
“So you wanna tell me about this job or am I running in blind?”
I chuckled. “I guess that would help, huh?”
“Probably.”
If I wasn’t driving, I’d poke him. “There’s a few orcs on the edge of town. One of ‘em’s wanted for murder. Apparently, he killed an incubus up north and now