CHAPTER 25
Jesse strummed his fingers on the wooden desk. He was supposed to be concentrating on writing this report, but he was distracted. Really fucking distracted.
Because Aspen was here.
He had a late shift tonight, and no part of him had wanted her home by herself, and she hadn’t liked the idea of a babysitter—her words, not his—so here she was. Working in a room down the hall…within walking distance.
The station was quiet. It was just him, Luke, Claudia and Margot. Although, Luke was due to finish any minute now.
His chest rose and fell as he looked back at the screen.
Concentrate, Jesse. Jesus Christ.
The problem was, he knew exactly why he was itching to go to her. For days now, he’d wanted to tell Aspen that he loved her.
Love… He hadn’t said that to a woman he’d dated…possibly ever. But hedidlove Aspen. And seeing her fit in so easily with his family last weekend had just confirmed exactly how right for him she was.
Would it scare her when he said the words? Would she run from him again? Shit, the thought terrified him. It had taken him a long time to convince her that she could trust him.
A knock on the door sounded, and he looked up as Luke walked in. “Hey, boss.”
“Hey. You going home?”
“I am.” Luke’s phone buzzed with a text, and he looked down, only to cringe.
“Everything okay?”
“No. I fucked up.”
“Fucked up how?”
Luke closed the door and dropped into the seat opposite Jesse. “There’s this girl—”
“Of course there is.”
“I’ve known she’s had a thing for me for a while, and over the weekend, we went to the bar. I had a few drinks, so she offered to drive me home, and we…”
“You didn’t.”
Luke cringed. “I did…and I think I told her I loved her.”
“Youthink?”
“We were in bed. It was getting hot and heavy. She said she loved me, and I just…I mumbled an agreement.”
“Luke.”
“I know! I’m a terrible person! I was drunk and she was naked and…anyway. She’s been blowing up my phone ever since.”
“You have to be honest with her.”
“Yeah. I know.” Luke scrubbed his face. “I’m an asshole.”
Yeah, in this instance, Jesse agreed.
Luke sighed and rose before moving to the door, only to stop and turn before he walked out. “Things are going well between you and Aspen?”
“They are.” Really fucking well.
