“It’s okay, Em.” I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly as her shoulders shake. “She’s safe.”
“I know.” Her arms slide around my waist as she rests her cheek against my chest. I inhale her familiar scent. Jasmine with a hint of vanilla.
I rub my palms along her back, savoring the moment in time where she’s allowing me to hold her close. The woman who never needs anyone. It won’t be long until she remembers we don’t get along and disappears.
“I’m so glad you found her. I don’t want to think of the alternative, but I can’t keep it from popping up in my mind.”
I’m the one who pulls back, but not away. I settle back onto my heels and cup her face. “She’s safe. She’s okay.” I rub my thumbs along her silken cheekbones. “You’re okay.” I keep my voice low and soothing.
The corner of her mouth arches upward. “I’m not sure this is police procedure.”
“Yeah.” I smile weakly in response. “It probably isn’t.’
Her enormous hazel eyes blink up at me, and the room tilts. It would be so easy to kiss her. To lose myself in her. But I don’t want her to regret it. Or to think that I’m using this situation to take advantage of her.
Not to mention, Ramirez is due to show up anytime to check in. He’s probably talked to twenty people by now, so it won’t be long until the place is teeming with concerned citizens.
After clearing my throat, I drop my arms to my sides, putting more distance between us. “You did amazing. I’m proudof you. You were upset, as we all were, but you maintained your professionalism.”
Her cheeks flush pink as she crosses her arms over her chest. “Thank you. You’re a pretty good police officer yourself.”
“Thanks.” I wink, trying to lighten the mood. She shifts from foot to foot as if she’s trying to figure out how to get out of this conversation without appearing weak, and that’s the last thing she should feel.
“I’m sorry about earlier when I came in.” She swipes her palms on her pants. “I shouldn’t have asked if you were the baby’s father. It just popped into my head. For once, I wasn’t meaning it in a catty way.”
“If we’re in the apology section of today, I’m sorry I yelled at you. I shouldn’t have gotten angry.” It’s time to clear the air between us.
All along, I thought the fear of her rejection was worse than an actual rejection. Now, I know the fear of it is worse. I could have the other side of the coin. I could have her. And that’s worth all the pain and rejection in the world.
“You had every right to.” She licks her lips and straightens her spine. “You told me that you hadn’t been with anyone, and I popped off at the mouth, accusing you of lying. Something I seem to continuously do.” She gives me a halfhearted smile. “Just because you made your feelings for me clear years ago doesn’t mean that I should treat you like shit. That’s my problem, not yours.”
What’s that supposed to mean? How did I make my feelings clear? “I–”
The doorbell chimes as Kaleb stomps into the room. “What’s going on? Why didn’t you call me when you found the baby?”
She spins on her heel. “Why, is it yours?”
“No, but I’m your brother and Jake’s best friend. I should’ve known what happened before I ran into random people, rushing to fill me in on the details.”
“I haven’t discussed official police business with anyone.” Jake crosses his arms over his chest. If Officer Ramirez didn’t tell everyone, whoever was listening to their scanner this morning obviously did.
“And I haven’t talked with anyone or had time to talk to anyone. I left here, went straight to the hospital, and came back here to talk to Jake.”
Kaleb waves his hand toward the door. “Well, it’s all over everywhere that my best friend and my sister are snuggled up over an abandoned baby.”
“Do you see any snuggling?” Emily braces her hands on her hips as Dale charges through the door.
“I don’t see any snuggling now, but I did see Jake holding Emily, and for a moment, I thought they were going to kiss.” Dale stops in the middle of the room with a shit eating grin on his face.
“Who was kissing?” The door slams against the wall as Ora, our dispatcher, marches inside to join the chaos. Her thick hair is piled high on her head as she stops dead in her tracks. “It’s true?” Her eyes widen as she shifts her attention from me to Emily and then back to me. “You and Emily are together?”
“Ora.” My voice isn’t as stern as I intended, as my face burns with embarrassment.
She claps her hands. “I knew that’s why you moved back here. I told Iris and Josephine, as soon as Chief Carter told me that you were moving back, that it was to claim Emily. I knew all those rumors about you and that Amanda girl getting back together were a bunch of hogwash.”
“Jake and my sister aren’t together. He thinks of her as a pesky little sister. He made that clear four years ago. Right, Jake?”
What in the ever-loving fuck? My head is pounding. How did I make it clear? What did I say that night?
