Page 53 of Taking What Was His

She finally opened her eyes, tilted her head back to look at him. “That was quite the welcome.”

“You can get that whenever you come to see me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said and grinned.

They pulled apart when someone knocked at his door.

Roman moved back around his desk as she started to pull food from the bag.

“Come in.”

One of the cops stuck his head in. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you had your wife here.”

“Beth, this is a new recruit I got ... okay, I admit it, I begged for,” making both laugh. “Aiden, this is Beth.”

Beth looked at him with a raised eyebrow when Roman didn’t correct the young man but didn’t say anything. She walked to the young man and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You, too, ma’am.”

Roman caught his attention. “What do you need?”

“I did what you asked,” Aiden said.

“Good. After Beth leaves, I’ll call you in. Thanks, Aiden.”

“Yes, sir.” He turned to Beth. “It was nice to meet you.”

“You, too, Aiden.”

He closed the door.

Roman stood and pulled his chair around his desk and then pulled up one for her, then grabbed a few bottles of water.

“Thank you.” Beth handed him a sandwich. “I got one that has everything and figured you could pick off what you don’t like.”

“I’ll eat about everything.” He held up his. “These look good.”

“It’s from my favorite sandwich place.”

Roman bit into it, chewed and swallowed. “These are the best subs I’ve ever had.”

“Most people don’t know it’s there. It’s in a grungy little store on South Eighth Street. I found it by accident. I ran in to get a bottle of water on my way home from the stables, and the smell hit me in the face. I had to try some, so I took some home for Jayden and me, and now we have to have them a couple of times a month.”

“I don’t blame you.” Roman continued eating until his sandwich was gone.

She chuckled. “I’m glad I got the twelve inch one for you.”

He opened a bag of chips. “Sweetheart, I’m six foot five and two hundred and forty pounds. I eat a lot.”

“I’ll remember that. Do you want the rest of mine?”

“No, baby. But thank you.”

She wrapped her sandwich up and stuck it back in the bag. She gasped when he pulled her onto his lap. “What are you doing?”

“I want my dessert.”

Beth snorted. “I didn’t bring any. I’ll remember next time.”