Spencer stared at me for another long moment.“Why would you want me to come home with you if you think I was using you for information?”
“That wasn’t what I was saying.”I winced because I had kind of said that.“Or that wasn’t what I was trying to say.I… I was trying to lay down some ground rules, that’s all.It came out all wrong.I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.I don’t think you’re devious.”
He narrowed his eyes.“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”I let out a shaky breath.“I was simply trying to make it clear that I have to be really careful, or I could lose my job.I wanted to be sure we were on the same page, but obviously, I went about it all wrong.”
“Oh.”Some tension left his shoulders, and he looked less angry.“Well, I guess it’s okay.”
“Is it?”I held his gaze.“Is it okay enough for you to forgive me and come home with me?”
He hesitated.“Maybe.”
“You sure?”
“You’re the one who needs to be sure.”His voice was rough.His eyes dropped to my mouth and came back up.“You’re the one worried about your job.”
Truthfully, I wasn’t sure about anything.I wasn’t sure this wasn’t a terrible idea.I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t regret it in the morning, or that it wouldn’t complicate every professional interaction we’d ever have going forward.What I was sure about was that I’d been thinking about Spencer for weeks, and I was tired of pretending I wasn’t.
“Is it a great idea?Who knows.But it’s what I want,” I said.“I don’t think I made that very clear earlier.I was too busy insulting you.”I grimaced.“Sorry.I haven’t done this since being in Coral Cove, and not that often back in Portland.”
He held my gaze for a beat, and something shifted in his expression.The surprise faded, and something more along the lines of longing took its place.“I didn’t think this would ever happen with you.”
“Well, it’s happening.”I laughed gruffly.“Do you want to do it?”
His lips suddenly quirked upward.“Yeah.I do if you do.”
I gave a relieved grunt.“Then let’s get the hell out of here.”
I left cash on the table because I didn’t want to wait for a card to process.Spencer did the same.We walked out of the Salt & Cleaver side by side, not touching, but close enough that I could smell his shampoo in the cool night air and hear his soft breaths.
When we reached the parking lot, I realized I hadn’t thought about the logistics of things until that moment.“I drove here.”
“I walked,” he said.
“Then I’ll drive us both to my place, if that’s okay with you.”
He nodded.“That works.”
The ride to my house was five minutes that felt like fifty.Neither of us said much.Spencer sat in the passenger seat with his hands on his thighs.I focused on the road and tried to remember the last time I’d been this nervous about taking someone home.It had been a while.Years.The last man I’d been with was in Portland, a one-night thing with a guy I met at a bar in the Pearl District.We’d both been drunk, and neither of us had exchanged numbers.This was different.This was someone I knew.Someone I liked.That made it better and scarier in equal measure.
I pulled into the driveway of my modest three-bedroom house and cut the engine.The motion-sensor porch light clicked on, bathing the front of the house in yellow light.
Spencer looked at the house.“So this is where the chief of police lives.”
“It’s the town’s house, not mine.”I laughed.“Comes with the job.”
“It’s nice.”
“It’s fine.”I smiled.“It’s a place to sleep.If I end up staying in Coral Cove, I’ll probably buy a place of my own.”
He frowned.“If?”
I shrugged.“I don’t plan on leaving, but who knows.”I laughed roughly.“A sexy reporter might end up getting my ass fired.”
He cringed.“Shit, Declan, don’t saythat.”
We got out of the car and walked up the brick path.I hadn’t brought anyone home with me since moving to Coral Cove, and now, seeing the house through Spencer’s eyes, I realized how unimpressive the place was.It was a white cottage-style home with blue shutters.Near the porch, there were a couple of rectangular planters that held marigolds and geraniums.Overall, the impression was generic and boring.
