Page 59 of Lone Star Witness

Just as Marise said, “I’d rather he just kiss me. Actions speak so much louder than words.”

Jericho chuckled, and with Nash and Caroline by his side, they started toward the road. It would be a muddy, wet trip, but Marise didn’t mind. Slade might not have been a sweet-nothings kind of guy, but he was a great hugger, and he snuggled her back in his arms as they walked.

“FYI, I might need a butterfly bandage on my ass cheek,” she said to break the silence that settled between them. “You think you’re up to the job?”

Slade looked at her, and some alarm went through his eyes. “How bad are you hurt?”

“Not bad.” She dropped a quick kiss on his mouth. “In fact, it might not even need a bandage, but I like the idea of you playing nurse with me.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “I like the idea of that, too.”

He pulled her even closer to him and managed to kiss her while they trudged along the side of the trail past the vehicles. Even though it was a kiss on the move, Slade managed to leave her breathless, lightheaded.

And wanting a whole lot more.

Then again, she always seemed to want more when it came to Slade.

“I’m not sure we can go back to our friends-only status,” she said. “In fact, I’m positive about that. And trust me when I say that scares me a little.”

“We can be friends and lovers,” Slade was quick to confirm.

That eased some of the worry that was settling around her heart. “Frequent lovers?” she asked.

His smile widened. “I’m counting on it. Counting on putting that bandage on your ass cheek, too.” He paused. “I’m counting on a lot of things, Marise.”

Oh, she liked the sound of that so she just went with it. A full-on babbling confession. “Good. Because I’m in love with you.”

Slade stopped and seemed to do a mental doubletake. Her heart sank. She was about to launch into having some major regrets about her confession.

But then he kissed her.

And everything became right with her world.

“Nice. Very nice,” he said with his mouth hovering right over hers. “Ready to hear a shocker?” Slade didn’t wait for her to answer. “I’m in love with you, too.”

There it was. That kick of pleasure, heat and extreme happiness all rolled into one. Some would probably question the timing of such a declaration, what with them on an active crime scene and less than an hour out of a shootout.

The timing was perfect, though.

Everything about this was.

“So, does this mean…” she started. “…that we can ride off into the sunset together?”

“Let’s start with walking in the rain together and going back to my place. We’ll save the sunset for another time. Trust me, Marise, we’ll have a lot of time for sunsets. And sex. And a lot of time for just us.”

She hadn’t thought her happiness level could get any higher, but she’d been wrong. This felt like the nirvana of happiness levels.

Marise leaned in, kissing Slade, as they continued their journey.

Together.

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