“Emily is fostering Baby Doe.” I brace my ankle on my knee.
“I heard that.” Chief Carter leans back into his seat, causing the springs to squeak.
“I’m hoping it’s not a conflict of interest for me to spend time with Emily and the baby. Because we’re seeing each other.”
Seeing each other? That sounds so insignificant. And insignificant is not at all what she is to me.
Last night after installing the baby seat in her car, I followed her inside, but we never made it to the kitchen island. The second the door snapped shut behind us, I had her caged against the wall. Then I had her under me on the sofa. And on the bed where we collapsed in exhaustion.
Even after all that, I can’t wait until I get her alone again. I’m obsessed with her mouth. Her body. Her eyes. Her–
“Jake!”
“What?” I blink and refocus my attention on my boss. Shit. Heat crawls up my neck and flames across my cheeks. “Sorry about that. I was thinking about something else.”
“Clearly.” He smirks and crosses his arms over his chest. “No, there’s no issue with you spending time with the baby. With no leads regarding the biological parents, I’ve closed the case.”His face loses all signs of the humor it held moments before. He shakes his head. “We’re not getting anything out of Mackenzie or that Lucas kid, and no one else has come out of the woodwork to claim the baby. There’s nothing to go on. The case will be left in the hands of Judge Keller.”
Judge Keller has presided over the Children’s Division cases for years. She used to be a guardian ad litem which gave her a clear understanding of the importance of providing children with a permanent home as soon as legally possible.
“Good.” I swipe my palms over my thighs and drop my foot to the floor with a clunk. “I don’t mean it’s good that the baby has no family, but…. I can’t wait to see Emily in protective momma mode.”
I’m excited to see her in every mode. Even the ‘I’m so tired of you not putting the toilet seat down’ and the ‘you snore too loud’ mode because that means I’m seeing her every day.
I didn’t lie when I told her I missed her over the last four years. And all because I was stupid and pushed her away without realizing it. Why didn’t I ever consider that she might’ve heard the rest of our conversation? If I had, then all these years of anger and bitterness could’ve been avoided.
Maybe it was meant to be. If I was that quick to distrust her, maybe I wasn’t ready for a relationship. I needed to get over Amanda’s betrayal before I could give Emily my heart.
“I didn’t peg you for a settling down, family man kind of guy.”
I frown at his statement. “Why? I’m a good person. I obey the laws. I’m good to my mom. My sisters. My friends. Hell, I’mfeeding that scraggly cat every night that comes to my door. How does that not make me husband and father material?”
Does Em think that? Is that why she originally freaked out last night?
“Whoa, son.” He raises his hands in defense. “I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that you’ve never been known as a one-woman kind of guy, and that kind of goes in the face of being ready to settle down and raise a family.”
“I’m tired of people thinking I’m this asshole player that treats women like disposable silverware.” I crack my neck from side to side. “Here’s the deal. Emily and I had a misunderstanding several years ago, or that would be our kid she’s picking up at the hospital today.”
For some reason, I can’t stop the words from continuing to come out of my mouth. Even a few days ago, I would’ve sworn that starting a family was down the road.
All I know is that I can’t imagine someone else having a family with her. I refuse to imagine someone else having a family with her. She’s mine. And any babies she has will also be mine. I don’t care if they occur naturally or through foster care and adoption. Today, or ten years from now.
“I can’t predict the future, but I anticipate…. No, I intend to be that guy for her.”
“Good. Emily is an amazing woman, and you’re lucky to have her.” He unfolds his arms and braces his hands on his chair arms. “Have you told your mom? I know Emily and your mom have been on the outs for a while now.”
“Right, small towns.” I chuckle and shake my head again. “She knows a part of it, but we haven’t spoken with her or Emily’s mom. We only straightened everything out between us last night.”
“Happy to hear it. Married and content police officers with supportive spouses make the best officers.”
Sweat pools on my palms as Chief Carter strides around the end of the desk. “We’re not quite ready to get married. At least not yet. We don’t even know which side of the bed the other person sleeps on or how we like our eggs.”
“Are either of those things going to end your relationship?”
“No.” I’m not going to let anything get between us. I don’t care if she’s the one that snores so loud it’s like a freight train in my ear. Not that she snores. Well, maybe she makes a few soft huffs of breath in her sleep but there’s nothing annoying about it.
He arches an eyebrow as he squeezes my shoulder. “Do you know which way she does her toilet paper?”
“Yes.” I chuckle and join him in a standing position. “We both roll over.”
