Avalyn’s eyes stung with tears and her throat tightened at his tender words. She wanted to throw her stupid month to the wind, but she had to be sure he would be true to her. She had to. She’d worked too hard to create, maintain, and implement her charity to throw it all away on a dream of a man who might not stay by her side. At the moment, though, she simply wanted Bridger. She cuddled into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I hope you don’t,” she murmured.
Bridger kissed her forehead, then simply held her close. Avalyn savored their connection even more than normal. A month apart was going to be more miserable than being in Ramsey’s power.
ChapterTwenty
Avalyn fell asleep in his arms. Bridger had no desire for sleep, only for her. He cradled her against his chest and prayed hard. Prayers of gratitude for them both being safe. Prayers of forgiveness for Ramsey and his stupid, crazy challenge and him making Bridger hit him hard enough to probably kill him. Mostly prayers for Avalyn’s heart to soften and trust him. It sickened him that he’d hurt her so many times throughout the years. He’d kissed many other women to try to forget about her. He’d had no clue his actions were the reason he couldn’t be with her. Hopefully over the next month he could prove to her that she was the one for him.
A month without her? He rubbed his hands along the curve of her waist. How was he going to survive?
The plane started its descent, and Avalyn stirred. She glanced up at him, her beautiful face irresistibly close. Bridger couldn’t resist one more tender kiss. Avalyn moaned and kissed him back. His heart raced.
A throat cleared. “Please buckle in for the landing,” the flight attendant said, laughter in her voice.
Avalyn pulled away from him, climbed into her own seat, and smoothed down her hair. “Thank you, Ivy.”
The woman nodded and exited the cabin through the back door.
Bridger extended his hand. Avalyn secured her seat belt, then rested her palm against his. Bridger wrapped his fingers around her hand. “You sure about this month idea?”
Avalyn didn’t smile. She nodded quickly. “At least a month, Bridge.”
He squeezed her hand. “You’ll be calling me to come to you within a week.”
Avalyn did laugh then. “Always with the overconfidence.” She squeezed his hand back. “Thank you for giving me time.”
He nodded. “I’m going to hate it, but I’d do anything you asked, Ava.” He hoped she hated their time apart as much as he knew he would.
“I know you will, Bridge.”
The plane touched down, and Bridger wished they didn’t have to face the real world. They exited the plane and were ushered through the airport. As soon as they cleared the security gates, their families and reporters rushed around them. Bridger clung to Avalyn’s hand, but they were separated as they hugged family and reporters tried to elbow their way in.
Bridger’s mom was sobbing, and he held her close until she calmed down. “First Creed gets captured, dies, and comes back from the dead, and then you have to do these insane challenges. You boys will be the death of me.”
“I’m sorry, Mama.”
“It’s not your fault, love.”
Plainclothes FBI agents pushed their way in and took Bridger and Avalyn to a back hallway in the airport. Bridger watched as Avalyn was escorted toward a room. She raised her hand and said, “See you in a month.”
His chest tightened. He made a heart with his hands. “You’ll be calling me sooner.”
Avalyn simply smiled, and then she was gone.
The agents ushered him into a different room; luckily, they allowed Creed to come in also. Bridger told them everything that had happened the past four days, and they explained that Ramsey started releasing the videos yesterday morning, so they’d seen Avalyn’s near drowning and her being thrown from the helicopter. They’d been scrambling to trace Ramsey and his yacht. This morning, they’d gotten a notice from Ramsey’s attorneys that Avalyn and Bridger would be flying into the airport between two and four p.m. After confirmation from Avalyn’s pilot, Creed had taken a flight back.
The other agents and several of Sutton Smith’s men were trying to track down Ramsey and his men, while others were interviewing his accountants and lawyers, who all claimed innocence.
Bridger smiled. “I’m sure they are innocent, or Ramsey would’ve given them an escape hatch like he did his men.”
Creed arched an eyebrow. “Such as?”
“Ten million each, and they’re all disappearing. I wouldn’t waste time going after them.”
“You wouldn’t?” one of the FBI guys asked.
Bridger thought of Mike and Klein. “You can, but you’ll waste a lot of time and resources on guys who were just following orders.”
“You’re sure Ramsey’s dead?” Creed asked. “This could all be a ploy so we don’t search for him either.”