“Don’t shut me out. We’ll find a way.”
He was convinced that she’d turn away. That she’d march to her car, gun her engine, and peel out before he could slam his door shut.
But she didn’t.
She leaned into him instead. Grateful, he held her close, bent to nuzzle in her hair. Then he led her inside.
He made love to her slowly that night. In the morning, he reluctantly watched as she got ready to leave for her shift. He walked her to the car.
“Find me at the festival, Sylvie.” He kissed her.
“I will if I can. But my job has to come first, but only for now. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Please understand.”
“I do.”
Alex kissed her one last time, hating that he understood.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
The next day passed in a blur.
Sylvie had gotten next to no sleep, though spending the night playing with Alex was the very best way to stay awake. She drove to her townhome to change into her uniform, hating the way the place felt extra empty without Chewie.
Without Alex.
The real estate agent was coming by to take exterior photos later. Sylvie thought that would make her sad, but it didn’t, not in the least.
It wasn’t her home anymore without them. But soon, she’d have a new home with the man she loved.
She smiled at the thought and finished getting dressed.
* * *
When she gotto the station, she took one look at Carla and that was enough for her partner to understand Sylvie knew what Carla did, and she didn’t want to talk about it.
But it was Carla, so of course she tried to bring up the subject.
“Cookie, I did what I thought was right by you,” she said in the cruiser an hour into their shift—her partner’s personal record for staying quiet, Sylvie was sure.
“Doesn’t matter. You overstepped.”
“No, I didn’t. He needed to know that he was part of the reason you got kicked off.”
Whoa.
Sylvie pulled the car over. “He wasn’t. Really.” She turned to Carla. “But I understand now why you did this.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. You want to blame him.”
Carla’s head reared back and her fingers touched her heart. “Excuse me?”
“You still think Watchdog is sketchy.”
