Rebecca Ross

The call to fight for something so fervently that death holds no sting over you.

At first it was a “tactic,” because she was his competition and he wanted to know as much about her as possible. But then he realized he was reading them because he was deeply moved by her writing and the memories she shared

because I trust you. A glint of falling steel, because I feel safe with you

He couldn’t protect Del when she had needed him most, but he would try his best to protect Iris now.

The reassurance was like a warm blanket, and he suddenly realized how sore and weary he was. He wanted to fall asleep with Iris on his mind but resisted her taunting draw

I’ll be here, waiting for whenever you’re ready to see me.

Roman stood in the sunshine and read every word of her article. He forgot where he was, where he was standing. Where he was going. Where he had just come from. He forgot everything when he read her words, and a smile crept over his face when he reached the end.

Damn, he was proud of her.

That fire in her eyes could have brought him to his knees

He wedged his bag next to hers and then reached for her hips, guiding her back to sit on his lap.

Her determination lasted all of ten minutes. The captain was right; the roads got bumpier, rutted from weeks of rain, and she had no choice but to relax, aligning her spine with Roman’s chest. His arm slid around her waist, and she rested in the warmth of his hand, knowing he was keeping her from bashing her head against the windshield.