I woke to sunlight and the smell of coffee.
Brian's side of the bed was empty but still warm. Watson had reclaimed his territory at some point during the night, curled into a gray ball of fur at the foot of the mattress, watching me with an expression that clearly communicated he had not yet forgiven us for the exile.
"Morning," I murmured.
He blinked slowly. Unimpressed.
I stretched, feeling muscles I'd forgotten I had, and couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. Last night had been real enough. Brian loved me. I loved him. And for the first time in fourteen years, I'd let someone all the way in.
It was terrifying.
It was wonderful.
"Hey." Brian appeared in the doorway, two mugs of coffee in his hands, wearing nothing but sweatpants slung low on his hips. "You're awake."
"I'm awake." I sat up, pulling the sheet with me. "Is one of those for me?"
"Depends." He crossed to the bed, held the mug just out of reach. "What do I get in return?"
"What do you want?"
He pretended to consider. "A good morning kiss. And maybe you stay in bed for another hour."
"I have a shift—" I started, then stopped. Checked my phone. "Actually, I don't. Day off."
"I know." His grin was smug. "I checked your schedule."
"That's creepy."
"That's romance."
I laughed. The kind of laugh I hadn't heard from myself in months. I pulled him down onto the bed, coffee sloshing dangerously. He saved the mugs at the last second, setting them on the nightstand before turning back to me with a look that made my stomach flip.
"Good morning," he said softly.
"Good morning."
He kissed me—slow and sweet, tasting like coffee and happiness and everything I'd been too afraid to want.
Watson meowed pointedly from the foot of the bed.
"Five more minutes," Brian said against my lips.
"Five more minutes," I agreed.
The Langs were still out there. The case wasn't over. The danger hadn't passed.
But right now, in this bed, with this man, none of that mattered.
I had Brian. I had Watson, grudging forgiveness and all. I had this strange, unexpected family that had formed around me without my permission.
I had everything I never knew I wanted.
And this time, I wasn’t letting go.
CHAPTER 13
Brian
