By the time the pizza had been consumed and the brownies and ice cream devoured with enthusiasm, they'd settled in to watch a movie. Everyone piled comfortably in the living room. Terry felt the weight he'd been carrying around for the past week finally lift from his shoulders.
The movie was an animated adventure Emma had chosen, and Sandra had curled up at one end of the couch while the kids sprawled on the floor with pillows and blankets. Terry had claimed a spot next to Sandra, close enough so that his thigh rested against hers. His gaze drifted between the screen and her profile as she laughed at the same jokes that delighted his children.
It was after nine o’clock when he finally nudged his kids toward bedtime, knowing they'd pushed the boundaries of a Saturday night bedtime. They both offered Sandra hugs withoutany prompting from him, and she returned them with a natural warmth that made his heart do complicated things in his chest. Watching Emma and Toby accept her so easily and seeing her respond to them with affection felt like pieces of his life clicking into place in ways he hadn't known were possible.
As Emma and Toby headed down the hall toward their bedrooms, Sandra started toward the kitchen, apparently intending to clean up.
Terry lifted an eyebrow and fixed her with his most intimidating glare, the one that usually made suspects reconsider their life choices. "You even think about saying you're going home, I'm going to tackle you and handcuff you to a chair."
She laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep in her chest, and crossed her arms over her body in a gesture that was probably meant to look defiant but instead drew his attention to the curves hidden beneath her sweater. He forced his eyes upward, reminding himself that patience was a virtue and that rushing things now would be the height of stupidity.
"This was a good night, and everybody enjoyed themselves," he continued, his voice carrying the weight of everything he couldn't quite put into words yet. "But we're not done. I want to talk more, make sure we're on the same page."
Her smile softened into something that looked like understanding mixed with relief. She stepped closer, placing her palm flat against his chest, right over his heart. The warmth of her touch seeped through his shirt and straight into his bloodstream.
"I've had a wonderful time tonight, Terry, and I have no plans of leaving right now," she said, her voice carrying a certainty that made his pulse quicken. "I know this was an important night. I know that you inviting me here to spend time with your kids wasn't just dinner, but was so much more."
"Damn straight it was," he agreed, relief flooding through him that she understood the significance of what had just happened.
"While you say good night to them, I'll open that other bottle of wine, and we can get comfortable.” Her eyes held promises that made his entire body tighten with anticipation.
He dropped his head back and looked up toward the ceiling, a sigh of pure relief rushing from his lungs. "Thank God!"
She giggled, a sound that was purely Sandra rather than the composed attorney, and leaned closer to place a light kiss on his lips. The contact was brief but loaded with intention, a preview of what he hoped was coming once they had the house to themselves.
Just then, his phone vibrated against his hip with the insistent buzz that meant work was about to intrude on his personal life in the worst possible way. His brows drew together as he pulled the device from his pocket, and the name of the sheriff on the screen made his stomach drop.
"What the fuck?" He jabbed his finger on the connect button and barked into the phone, "Colt, this had better be good."
Terry knew from experience that Colt didn't make social calls on Saturday nights. The drug task force covered the only two counties on Virginia's Eastern Shore, and while Colt wasn't his direct supervisor, their cases overlapped frequently enough that late-night calls usually meant bad news.
"Sorry as hell, Terry," Colt's voice came through the speaker, carrying the kind of weariness that meant he'd also rather be anywhere else. "Jeremy and Pete are already on their way. A party at a beach house rental, south of Baytown, was just busted after a noise ordinance call came in from a neighbor. My deputies found a bunch of college kids, a lot of alcohol, and a room with a cache of drugs."
Terry closed his eyes, already knowing where this was heading. Colt would never call him in for something that could be easily handled by the sheriff's department or even his best detectives. "And let me guess, way too many drugs for just one party."
"You got it," Colt confirmed.
Scrubbing his hand over his face, Terry felt the perfect evening crumbling around him like one of Toby’s beach sand castles. "All right. I'll head out as soon as I can sort something for my kids."
"I know you're not close to me, but you want to drop them off with Carrie?" Colt offered.
Carrie was Colt's wife, a real sweetheart, and the kind of woman who wouldn't mind taking in two extra preteens even on short notice. She had their teenage son plus two younger ones, so Emma and Toby wouldn't be any trouble. But the logistics made Terry's head hurt. He hated to drag his kids out late at night, driving twenty minutes out of his way, then doubling back to the scene. By the time he got there, Jeremy and Pete would have been working the case for over an hour.
"No, I'll figure something out," he said, his mind already racing through alternatives. "Thanks for the heads-up."
As he disconnected the call, he turned to find Sandra standing closer, her expression alert and focused in the way that meant she'd been listening and was already processing the situation.
"I know I've only just met them, but I'll stay to make sure they're okay," she said without hesitation.
Her words nearly brought him to his knees. The simple offer was delivered with matter-of-fact certainty that characterized everything she did. He reached up and cupped her face with both hands, marveling at the way her skin felt like silk beneath his palms.
"You don't have to do that?—"
"Terry, shut up." She interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I want to. I can watch TV. I can read a book. I can even snooze on the sofa until you get home."
The image of coming home to find Sandra sleeping on his couch sent warmth spreading through his chest. "Babe, if it goes that long, you go to sleep in my bed."
She laughed and shook her head with the kind of smile that suggested she thought he was being ridiculous. "I don't think on the first night that I had dinner with your kids that I would be comfortable sleeping in your bed, even alone. I'm a big girl, so don't worry about me. Go tell your kids what's happening, and let them know I'm here."
