I chuckle despite myself because there’s nolikewhen it comes to Gwen. Cullen fell ass over tea kettle for that woman, and aside from his daughter, that woman is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
“Sorry to call so early.”
“Not like you to call unless it’s important.”
“I crossed a line with Kat.”
“All right…” he hedges and I sigh, dragging my hand down my face.
“I…felt something for her early on. Ignored it,” I tell him, swallowing roughly as visions of us on the couch flood my memory. “And then yesterday she was almost run off the road by our perp. I was with Grimm interviewing a suspect and she snuck out while Jace was in the kitchen.”
Cullen lets out a low whistle. “She all right?”
“She is. Jace called as soon as he realized and we were able to get to her in time, but the perp took off so she and I had to relocate.”
“Am I to assume that’s when theline crossinghappened?”
“Yes.”
“Well, technically you don’t work for me,” he says, amusement in his tone. “So as your friend, I’m happy to know the man behind the job still has all his working parts.”
“I’m not even going to respond to that.”
“You know you shouldn’t have slept with her,” he says, putting it together without me having to say the words out loud. “But Tom, I’ve known you a long time. I’ve never seen you make an impulsive decision about anything.”
“I got emotional when I saw her in that car, the side all smashed to hell and?—”
“And you reacted,” he answers. “It’s normal, healthy even.”
“But she’s still my client.”
“And now you’re extra motivated to keep her safe.” I grunt and he chuffs out a laugh. “Did you just do it to let off some steam or is it more?”
“It’s more,” I respond without thinking, the silence between us solidifying his point.
Kat Harrington isn’t a fling. The idea of another man touching her has me clenching my fist even though I haven’t eventalkedto her about any of this.
Which is what I should probably do now.
“How’s Jace?”
“I told Grimm and Ozzy to take him for a few rounds. We’ll see how he manages but I think he’ll be fine.”
“And you will be too,” he says, his not-so-subtle redirect making me smile.
“Thanks.”
“I’m happy for you, Tom, and looking forward to meeting her.”
“Probably need to get her up to speed first.”
“You do that. I’m going to go and apologize to my wife for being up before the birds.”
“Thank you. Truly.”
“Life’s too short not to spend it with the people you love.”
It’s true. I just hope she feels the same.
