CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Danielle

“Oh, honey, yes. When we were first together, it was a huge problem because I couldn’t just vent to him about the assholes I had to deal with. He’d actually go and have a “conversation” with them before I could work it out. He was constantly getting in my business and making things a lot harder for me. We had a come to Jesus meeting and when he still continued to do it, I dumped his ass.”

I gasped. “You didn’t.”

“I totally did.” She set a plate on the counter. “I needed him to understand that I was a grown ass woman and for the most part, could fight my own battles. I’m an officer of the law so to speak, I couldn’t have my man breaking it in order to make my life easier. I still have to be careful sometimes with how much I tell him, which is hard, because he’s my best friend, but he’s also much better about letting me work stuff out myself.”

“What if you can’t work it out?”

Emily bit her lip. “Then I have asked him not to use his fists.”

“Ohmigod, Em. Seriously?”

She nodded with a grin. “Sometimes it’s nice to have a badass husband willing to defend your honor.”

“I guess so.”

Emily leaned against the counter. “Give me this guy’s info and I’ll run him through the system.”

I sighed. “Kimmie said I should do that, too. Of course, she said I should make Elliot do it.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “I wonder if there will ever be a woman able to resist him.”

I shrugged. “Doubtful.”

“We don’t need to get the men involved,” she said. “You and I can handle it on this end, I think.”

I grinned. “You’re the best sister ever.”

“Back atya.”

Family dinner wrapped up and after hugs all around, I headed home.

I arrived to find Austin waiting for me in the parking lot. He was standing next to one of the prettiest Harley-Davidsons I’d ever seen (limited exposure, of course, but it really was pretty) and he was dropping his phone into his jeans pocket as I stepped out of my car.

“Hi,” I said.

He lifted his chin. “Hey, babe.”

He closed the distance between us and leaned down to kiss me.

I smiled. “I thought you were busy tonight.”

“Had a break. Wanted to see my girl.”

This sent a thrill down my spine. “And who might that be?”

He chuckled. “How was dinner?”

“It was good,” I said, and started up the stairs. “How long’s your ‘break’?”

“I’ve probably got about an hour.”

“Want to come in for a drink or something?” I asked.

“Or somethin’.”

I unlocked my door, leading him inside. I shrugged out of my coat and hung it up, while Austin dropped his onto a chair and planted himself on the sofa. I grabbed him a beer, poured myself a glass of wine, and sat beside him on the couch. In the light, I could see the stress on his face and frowned.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Shit day.”

“Want to talk about it?”

He shook his head. “I can’t, babe.”

I sighed. “You look tired.”

“I am.” He took a sip of his beer.

“What time did you get to bed last night?”

“I didn’t.”

“Seriously?” I frowned. “Mack dropped me off at eleven. You didn’t go home after the meeting?”

“Had a thing.” He smiled tiredly. “Got about two hours of sleep this morning.”

I set my wine on the coffee table. “Have you eaten?”

He checked his watch. “Not since this morning.”

“Austin,” I admonished, and rose to my feet. “I’m going to fix you something to eat at least.”

His phone buzzed and he nodded. “Appreciate it, baby.”

He answered his call and I headed back to the kitchen. I pulled out bread and cheese, figuring grilled cheese was quick and easy to prepare, and it would tide him over for a little while.

I was setting the food on the table when he walked back into my apartment, his face grim… well, grimmer than it had been twenty minutes ago.

“You okay?”

He nodded and sat at the table, devouring the food in record time. “Thanks, babe,” he said, and dropped his plate into the sink.

“Got time to sleep for a bit?” I asked.

Austin shook his head, sliding his hand to my neck.

“What can I do?”

“You’re doin’ it, babe. You make everything better,” he said, and pulled me close.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. A familiar scent registered and I leaned back. “Why do you smell like gun powder? Please tell me you were at a firing range.”

“Sure.”

“Are you carrying?”

He stroked my cheek. “I’m always carrying.”

“You’re scaring me a little, honey. What’s wrong?”

“Nothin’ that won’t be handled tonight, so I just have to deal.”

“Are you in danger?”

“Not currently, no.”

“That’s not what I mean,” I said.

“I know, baby, but I can’t talk about it.”

“Fine.” I settled my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head and we stood like this for a while. Our peace, however, was disturbed when he answered his phone again.

“Yo.” He tried to pull away, but I held him tighter, so he settled and wrapped an arm around me. “Yeah. No. What do Crow and Hatch say? Shit. Yeah, I’m here. No. Okay. Fuck me, Mack. Yeah. Fine. Okay. If that’s the case, then I’m gonna grab some shut-eye. See ya.” He hung up and dropped his phone in his pocket again.

“Are you staying?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Kind of you to offer, baby.”

I smiled up at him. “Well, you pretty much announced you were going to, so I have benevolently decided not to kick you out.”

Austin laughed. “Appreciate that. I’ll lock up and meet you in the bedroom.”

“Um, no,” I countered. “I’m going to bed. You’re sleeping on the sofa.”

“You’re fuckin’ hilarious, baby.”

“I’m serious, Austin.”

He frowned and shook his head. “Not sleeping on your fuckin’ sofa, Dani. Also, not gonna fuck you if you don’t want me to fuck you. What I am gonna do is hold my woman and sleep until I’m called up again.”

“I am not a slut, Austin.”

“Never said you were.” He scowled down at me. “What the fuck, Dani?”

I bit my lip. “This is just going too fast.”

“Jesus, Dani.” He set me away from him and left the kitchen to lock up the apartment, returning quickly, and grabbing my hand. He led me back to my bedroom and faced me. “What side?”

“Excuse me?”

“What side of the bed do you want?”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Window.”

He laid his gun and phone on the nightstand by the door and promptly removed his clothes, graciously keeping his boxer briefs on. I swallowed at the sight of his body. God, it was still as magnificent as I remembered. He pulled the covers back and flopped onto the mattress, linking his hands behind his head. “You comin’?”

“I… um… have to take my makeup off and brush my teeth.”

“Be quick, babe, yeah?”

“No funny business.”

“I’m too tired for funny business.”

I shook my head, my attempt at keeping him out of my bed a big fat failure, and headed to the bathroom. After removing my contacts, washing my face, and brushing my teeth, I opened my closet, found some pajama bottoms and a cami and changed into them in the closet. I flipped off the light and made my way to the bed, pulling the covers back and slipping inside. I was promptly pulled onto Austin’s chest and kissed to distraction.

He rolled me so his chest was to my back. “’Night, baby.”

“Goodnight,” I whispered.

I scooted closer and his arms tightened around me. I smiled as I closed my eyes. This was pure bliss.

***

I was awoken Monday morning by my alarm. My bed was empty, but the delicious smell of Austin was still attached to my sheets.

I rubbed my eyes and stretched. I had parent-teacher conferences all day, so I needed to get my butt up and moving, but all I wanted to do was turn back time so I could snuggle up to Austin again.

“’Mornin’, babe.”

I turned my head toward the door to find Austin standing at the threshold. He wore jeans, sans shirt and he was positively edible.

“Mmm, hi.” I sat up and smiled. “I thought you’d be gone by now.”

“Didn’t get called up.” He stretched out on the bed and pulled me on top of him. “How’d you sleep?”

“Better than I ever have.” I ran my fingers over his chest. “Why?”

He gave me a sexy smile and shrugged. “Nothing.”

“Um, no. We don’t play the nothing game, remember?”

Austin chuckled. “You talk in your sleep.”

I sat up with a gasp. “I do not.”

“You absolutely do.”

“What did I say?”

He grinned and slid off the bed. “That I’m not gonna tell you.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because I don’t have to.” He leaned down and kissed me. “Now, get ready for work and I’ll drop you off.”

“You have your bike.”

“A recruit dropped off my truck.”

“I’m fine to drive. Then I don’t have to find a ride home.”

“I’ll pick you up when you’re done.”

I smiled. “I thought you were busy tonight.”

“Plans changed.”