Page 117

It was time to let Colson know how she really felt about him.

That holding back her emotions hadn’t worked.

So no reason to hold back the words.

Her buzzer went off, she walked to the door and opened it. He was cleared to enter the building now without them calling her first.

“Hey there. Long time no see,” she said, leaning in for a kiss.

“The same. And look at your transformation. Damn.”

Her dress was off, her heels in the closet, leggings on, an oversized years-old sweatshirt, one shoulder hanging down, her feet bare and her hair up.

“You still are dressed for work.”

Her eyes moved over his black pants, black shoes, light green button-down shirt. His badge was clipped to his belt along with his gun.

“I don’t have the time to go home and change, come back here, then get Bella.”

“I’m not saying anything bad about it,” she said. “How much time do you have? Dinner should be ready in ten minutes.”

“That’s fast,” he said. “I’ve got about ninety minutes.”

“Ahh, we did well with ninety minutes last time.”

He gave her sides a squeeze. That little playful move he’d done when they were younger.

When he wanted her attention but didn’t want to be serious either.

“Come into the kitchen. The water is boiling, so I’ll drop in the pasta and the garlic and shrimp in another pan. Fast dinner.”

“Garlic, huh?”

“If we both have garlic breath, it’s good.”

“I’ll take your word for it, and am thankful I’m not cooking.”

He made his way to the fridge, got himself a bottle of water while she went about dinner.

“Are you feeling better about the conversation from earlier?”

“Which one is that?”

“The one with the chief.”

“I wasn’t feeling bad about it. Just sharing it.”

“Which I’m glad you did,” she said. “I appreciate it. I guess I should ask if you’re okay with the fact that it even happened. We talked about this before. That’s my job.”

His hands went up. “Stop right there. I know what I’m getting myself into. You know who you are with me. That’s more than any other woman I’ve been with could say.”

Hmm. “Meaning?”

“Meaning that other times they thought they knew what my job entailed and then decided it’s too much for them. The divorce rate for those in law enforcement is high.”

“It is, but it’s not a guarantee. My parents are a prime example. A good example.”

“They are,” he agreed. “But me, I’ve had some colossal failures and some small ones.”