Nothing like a mother’s love and a father’s wisdom to put your ass in check.
“I’m with you.”
He lets go of a long exhale. It sounds akin to relief and that guilt nips at me a little more. “Your brother filled me in on what’s going on. You good?”
“I’m good.”
A pause then a grunt.
“You’re sure?”
I gaze up at Selena, my heart hammering against my ribcage. “Positive.”
“Good. Call me if you need me. I got your six. You know that.”
“I know. Tell Mom I love her and I’m sorry. I’ll call her back soon.”
“You better. Or I’m bringing my ass down there.”
The underlying threat has me shifting on my feet. “Copy that.”
“Over and out.”
Once I end the call, Selena walks slowly down the stairs, her feet a little uncertain, cheeks flushed and rosy. I slide my phone back into my pocket, smiling at the goddess before me. Fresh face, rosy cheeks, a smile just for me.
“Is everything okay?” she asks once she reaches the bottom step.
“It is now,” I reply. “Shall we?” I offer my arm because that’s what you do when you want to throw yourself down at a woman’s feet.
I’ll throw myself over the edge of a fucking cliff as long as she keeps smiling at me like that.
We almost make it to the door before she stops. “Hold on, I almost forgot!”
She scurries to the counter, the flats of her sandals slapping against the hardwood to collect the apple pie she baked.
Jesus.
Can this woman be any more perfect and beautiful?
“Come here,” I tell her, and she floats over to me without an ounce of hesitation. Wrapping one arm around her waist, I pull her close and kiss the side of her neck, not wanting to mess up her pretty lip gloss, but then my eyes land on her lips and all bets are off. I take her mouth in a heated kiss that lasts a lot longer than I intended.
We are both breathless when I summon the strength to tear my lips from hers.
“What the hell are you doing to me?” I ask, pressing my forehead to hers.
“I do not know, but whatever it is, I never want it to stop.”
“Me neither, baby.”
***
“When do you go back to work?” Jimmy asks, flipping the burgers on the grill. I take a sip of the only beer I’ll allow myself today since I have to drive home, gazing across the yard at Selena. I’m not ready to go back to work yet. Not until I know there’s not a threat against her.
I look over at Jimmy who has his attention focused on the task at hand. We met right after I joined the department. He was in his second year, cocky and thirsty for life on the beat. Bastard wasn’t afraid of anything. Fearless as they come.
We both were.
Funny how things change with a little perspective. Like your best friend being shot and nearly killed by a thug robbing a convenience store. The thug was brought down but Jimmy was on life support for two weeks. It was touch and go there for a minute, but thankfully, he pulled through. Recovery wasn’t easy for him either. It was a year before he came back to work. He’s a lot better now and has since been promoted to another division but we’re still tight. He’s the luckiest son of a bitch I know.
