Page 50 of Dime's Dozen

He takes my hand and spins me out, then pulls me back against his chest. We start to move, slowly at first, just swaying to the music. His hand is warm on my lower back, and I rest my head against his shoulder, breathing in the scent of him. Leather and motor oil and everything uniquely Dime.

"I used to dream about this," I murmur against his shirt. "When I was married and miserable, I'd dream about finding someone who would dance with me in the kitchen. Someone who made ordinary moments feel extraordinary."

"You deserve all of that and more."

"I have it now. With you."

We keep dancing even after the song ends, moving to the next one and the one after that. The food is definitely ruined by now, but I don't care. This is more important. This moment, this feeling, this man who makes me believe in happy endings even when the future is uncertain.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"For what?"

"For being honest with me. For telling me the truth about who you are, even when it was scary. For trusting me with Grant and Dime and all the parts of you that you keep hidden."

He pulls back just enough to look at me, and the expression on his face makes my breath catch. It's tender and vulnerable and so full of love that I feel it in every cell of my body.

"You make it easy to trust," he says. "You make everything easier."

He leans down and kisses me, soft and sweet, and I taste the promise in it. The promise that no matter what comes next, no matter what choices have to be made, we'll face it together.

When we break apart, we're both smiling.

"We should probably try to salvage dinner," I say, even though I don't want to move.

"Yeah, probably." But he doesn't let go of me. "Or we could order pizza and keep dancing."

"That's a terrible idea."

"The best ideas usually are."

I laugh, and the sound fills the kitchen, mixing with the music still playing on the radio. "Okay. Pizza and dancing it is."

He kisses me again, deeper this time, and I feel myself melting into him. When we finally pull apart, he grabs his phone and orders pizza while I turn off all the burners and put away the ruined food.

We spend the rest of the evening exactly like that. Dancing in the kitchen, eating pizza on the couch with Whiskers between us, talking about everything and nothing. It's perfect in its imperfection, and I wouldn't change a single thing.

Because this is what love looks like. Not grand gestures or perfect moments, but this. Dancing in the kitchen with overcook pasta forgotten on the stove. Laughing over pizza while a cat steals pepperoni from your plate. Holding each other close and promising to face whatever comes next together.

And as I fall asleep that night in Dime's arms, I know that no matter what the future holds, no matter what choices have to be made, this is real.

We are real.

And that's all I've ever asked for.

Twenty-Two

Lee

I'm sitting in my living room, trying to relax from a rough day at the garage when my phone buzzes beside of me. Glancing down, I see a message from Chief Harrison.

Chief Harrison: Meet me in Calvert City. It's time to put our plans into motion. Are you ready?

My stomach is nervous and my hands are shaking as I text him back.

Me: Ready as I'll ever be.

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