Page 123 of Floodgates

The muscles in Cord’s jaw clenched.

“Awww c’mon, that was funny,” I teased him as Lucien was dragged to his feet. “Give me a kiss.”

He looked like he wanted to punch me out.

I puckered up. “Please, baby.”

He didn’t move.

“Because I’m not Breckin Alcott’s love. I’m yours.”

I got one for that.

THE CHIEF and two of his deputies met me, Cord, and Celia at the hospital. I was fine, but we had to make sure she was okay. Plus the fact that the woman did not want to let go of my hand. She was certain I had saved her life. And even though I knew it was crap, she assured everyone who asked that I was a hero.

Breckin and his family arrived, and I was pleased to see him go right to Celia. I was an afterthought, and I found that fitting. When he finally checked on me, all he got for his trouble was Cord in his face, so he retreated quickly. I watched my savior fume as he paced in front of me, me sitting in one chair, my feet on another.

“Why don’t you come hold my hand,” I suggested.

“I should go over there and explain to Breckin’s family that he cheated on you, and that’s why they have a grandchild on the way.”

I grunted.

“He’s a piece of shit, and because of him, you were almost fuckin’ killed!”

“That’s one way to look at it,” I agreed.

He pivoted to face me.

I shrugged. “Another is that Breckin cheated, showing me the kind of man he really is, and because of that I finally realized that the right guy was here the whole time.”

Moving quickly, he took my face in his hands and kissed me, long and hard. I wrapped my hands around his wrists, and when he finally eased back, my eyes drifted open, and I smiled at him.

“You freaking out yet?” he questioned me.

“About us?”

“No,” he said irritably, squinting. “Why would you be freaking out about that?”

Giving him something new to worry about was not a good idea. “I wouldn’t be.”

“Then why would you––”

“What were you going to ask?”

“Well, I was thinking that almost getting shot might have given you a slight scare.”

I chuckled because his voice could not have been dripping with any more sarcasm if he tried. “No, not me, I’m a rock.”

“Is that right,” he said drolly.

“I am,” I insisted, noticing how focused on me he was. “I swear.”

He didn’t seem convinced.

“I promise.”

“Okay, fine. But after this, after we talk to the police, and after I talk to my captain again, you’re going back to the motel. I’ll go get our stuff from the Alcotts. We’re not going back there.”