That was when I moved because it came over me. I didn’t know what it was because I’d never felt it before. Nothing like it. But it was there and I had no control of my actions.

I just moved.

And I did it quickly.

So I forged through the abrasive atmosphere of the Lucas brothers’ mood and in the middle of Brock growling something low in response, I ran down the stairs, took three long strides, and then ran up the steps to the kitchen.

Brock’s eyes came to me, his mouth snapped shut, and Levi turned in the direction of his brother’s stare.

I ignored Levi and launched right in.

“I don’t believe you,” I hissed at Brock.

“Tess—”

I shook my head and made it to him. Planting both hands in his chest, I gave him a shove. He went back on a foot, his head jerking in surprise as his hands came up and clamped on my wrists.

I got close and went up on my toes to get in his face and snap, “I told you I didn’t want you to change for me.”

His face went soft and he whispered, “Baby—”

“No.” I shook my head again, tried to yank my wrists out of his hold, failed, and gave up. “I don’t need you to be anything but what you are. Hell, when I fell in love with you I didn’t even know your…” I got closer to his face. “Fucking…” I got even closer. “Name.”

He let my wrists go but only for his arms to fix around me. I pulled at them but he held tight, murmuring, “Tess, darlin’—”

“Unh-unh, no way, Brock. I don’t need a nice apartment where I don’t take my life in my hands walking up the rusty, rickety staircase to get to it. Don’t you see? I’d walk through fire if you were what I was walking to.”

“Fucking hell,” Levi breathed and I watched Brock do a slow blink but I was in another zone. Totally in pissed-off la-la land and there was no going back.

“If you had a dangerous job that took you away from me, it would suck and I’ll admit, I would hate it because I had three months without you and that was enough. But if it meant something to you, I’d suck it up. I’d deal. Because I’d know you were doing something you believed in and you’d eventually come back to me so that would be enough for me.”

His arms separated, grew tighter, gathering me closer, his eyes so warm they were liquid mercury, and he whispered, “Baby—”