Isaac pulled in a sharp breath, bent his head to hers, and captured her mouth with his own. Light and joy filled her as they kissed without restraint. Isaac’s lips took command of her every thought, and there were no worries about the future with him. Of course they’d be together. Something this wonderful didn’t come along every day. What kind of idiots would they be to not make it work?
Isaac slowed the kisses down and then ushered her head to his chest and held her close.
“Can we make it work?” she asked, not looking up. If he wanted to reject her, it would be easier without her staring at him.
Isaac released one hand from her back and tilted her chin up. His palm cupped her cheek, and he tenderly drew his thumb across her bottom lip. Cosette trembled from his touch.
“We’ll make it work,” he promised.
“I love you.” She gasped, realizing that it was probably far too early for such talk.
Isaac didn’t look shocked or like she was crazy, too impulsive, or out of line. He gave her a tender kiss and whispered against her lips, “I love you too.”
Cosette gave a happy cry and then kissed him fiercely. He chuckled against her mouth and returned each kiss with passion and love that she knew wouldn’t dim. So a long-distance relationship would be awful. It didn’t matter. They’d have time together when he was on leave, and they’d savor it.
She felt a weird buzzing against Isaac’s hip. Ignoring it, she kept kissing him. But the buzzing was insistent.
“I’d better get that,” he said.
Cosette bit back the disappointment and eased back enough for him to pull his phone out.
“Jewel,” he answered sharply. His gaze stayed focused on her, but that gaze went from tender to concerned to horrified. “Excuse me?” he said. “Who are you again?” A pause. “I understand. We’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Cosette felt the fear of whatever was coming before Isaac ended the call. He kept one arm around her, the other clutching his phone.
“Cozy.” His voice was reluctant, worried. “Lansky has your dad.”
Cosette’s legs wouldn’t support her. Isaac held her against his side. He quickly dropped his phone in his pocket and swooped her up into his arms, cradling her close.
She let out a cry. Vance had her dad. How could this be happening? Bile rose in her throat as she imagined her dad being held down by those brutes while Vance carved up his back. “No!” she screamed. “No!”
“It’ll be okay,” Isaac tried to reassure her, but she could hear the emptiness of his reassurance. “That was the FBI. One of his private investigators noticed he hadn’t been checking in, and when he couldn’t get a response via email, text, or phone, he went to search your dad’s house. There was a note left on the counter with instructions for when and where you should meet Vance to get your dad back. The FBI’s involved. I’ll be right with you. It’ll all be okay.”
Cosette appreciated his levelheadedness and calm, but she’d never been either and she wasn’t about to start now. “He’s all I have left,” she groaned.
A fierce light came into Isaac’s eyes. “No,” he corrected. “You have me too. And I promise you I’ll rescue your dad and Lansky will pay. I promise you.”
Cosette nodded at him, then cuddled against his chest. Lansky could be torturing her dad even now. The thought made a sob rip from her throat. She screwed her eyes tight and said a fierce prayer. Her faith and Isaac’s strength were the only things she could rely on right now.