Chapter 7 #2
“Will you come home with me tonight?” he blurted.
He probably sounded like a lunatic, interrupting her mid-sentence, but he didn’t care.
It had been too long since he’d gotten to hold Atlee, and he needed that tonight.
Especially after talking to a few people whose houses had been broken into.
They were nervous and upset, and Simon had been feeling guilty all day that he hadn’t yet caught whoever it was making his people feel that way.
He could use the comfort of Atlee’s arms.
“Really?”
Her reaction made him feel awful. She sounded surprised. As if she was somehow questioning his feelings toward her.
“Yes, really. I’ve missed you.”
“We’ve seen each other every day in the last month.”
“Right. But I’ve missed holding you.”
Simon loved how her cheeks pinkened at his words. “Just to be clear…you want me to stay the night? Or just come over and hang out while we watch TV or something?”
He loved how blunt she was. “I want you in my bed. I want to hold you all night, like I did in the hotel.”
Her blush deepened. But he saw the desire in her eyes. “I’d like that. I need to go home and get some things though.”
“Sounds good. I need to finish up here anyway. How about I text you when I’m leaving and you can meet me over at my place?”
“All right. Simon?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“This past month has been one of the best of my life. I haven’t felt like this since I first started dating my ex.
But now it’s obvious to me that after a pretty short time, he was just going through the motions of dating.
Of trying to ‘win’ me. Once we slept together, he changed.
If you’re just being nice, sending me flowers, saying all the amazing things you do just because you want to get laid… please let me know now.”
Simon was both pissed off and proud at the same time. Upset because Atlee had been through something like that, and proud of her for letting him know how she truly felt.
He stood up and walked over to the chair in front of his desk, where she was sitting. He got down on his knees, putting his palms on her thighs as he looked up at her. Atlee looked startled, but he didn’t give her a chance to say anything.
“What you see with me is what you get,” he said earnestly.
“I’ve loved spoiling you these last few weeks, and if you want to be with me, that’s what you’ll continue to get.
I haven’t sent you flowers, and texted you every day, and talked to you on the phone until way past both our bedtimes every night just to get you into bed.
I’m not being conceited when I say this, but if all I wanted was to get off, there are other women who’ve made it more than clear that they’re available. ”
“There are? Who?” Atlee demanded hotly.
Simon grinned. He loved the jealousy he heard in her voice.
“All I’m saying is that you’re the woman I want.
The woman I’ve thought about for years. It’s been my pleasure to show you how honored I am that you’ve chosen me.
I won’t give you a reason to regret being with me.
I mean, there are times I’ll have to work late, or get called to a scene in the middle of the night, but if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life treating you the way you should’ve always been treated.
And for the record, that offer extends to Renee, as well.
I know she’s an adult and out on her own, but if she ever needs anything, I’m here for her too. ”
“Simon,” Atlee whispered.
“I want you, sweetheart. I know a good thing when I see one, and now that you’ve let me in, even a little, I just want more. I want to give you the world.”
“Can I do the same for you?” she asked quietly. “It hasn’t escaped my notice that you care about everyone around you, but forget to take care of yourself. Like tonight. You were so busy here at work that you forgot to eat. That’s not smart, Simon.”
He couldn’t help it. He grinned. “You want to take care of me?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Is that bad?”
“Hell no!” he exclaimed. “It’s… Sweetheart, I haven’t had anyone want to do that for me since I was a kid.”
Atlee smiled. “Good. How much longer do you think you’ll be tonight?”
“Not long. I need to make a list of things I want to check out tomorrow so I don’t forget, but then I’m all yours.”
“I like the sound of that.”
So did Simon. A hell of a lot. He leaned forward, and like she always did, Atlee met him halfway. It felt different having to lift his chin to kiss her, since he was on his knees, but he liked it.
Who was he kidding? He liked everything about being with this woman.
The look in her eyes made his cock twitch in his jeans. She was aroused as he was. He hadn’t planned on making love to her tonight, but he wasn’t opposed to it either.
They’d exchanged test results, showing they were both healthy, and he had plenty of condoms at home in his nightstand.
But whatever happened would be Atlee’s choice.
Because he’d rather cut off his own arm than rush her into intimacy she wasn’t ready for.
When he made love to her, he wanted her to be completely sure of what they were doing.
After he reluctantly lifted his lips from hers, he said, “I’ll text when I’m done here and on my way home.”
“Okay.”
Simon stood and held out his hand. She took it, and simply touching palm to palm made him even harder than he’d been before. He had it bad for this woman, and he didn’t feel the least bit ashamed of that. Atlee had him wrapped around her little finger, and she had no clue.
“Drive safe,” he ordered.
“I will.”
“If anything looks hinky at your place, don’t go inside, just get back into your car and drive away. Then call me and let me know.”
“It’ll be fine,” Atlee told him. “Nothing ever happens in my little neighborhood. Besides, you know I’ve got Daniela across the street, who keeps watch over everything that happens. She’s the busybody of the neighborhood. Nothing gets by her.”
“Even so. I need you to be safe, sweetheart.”
She nodded, then said, “He’s getting more brazen, isn’t he?”
Simon sighed. “Yeah.”
“You’ll catch him. I know it.”
Her confidence in him felt good. “Thanks.”
“See you in a bit,” she told him, as she backed toward his office door.
Her words were enough to lift Simon’s mood in a way nothing else could at the moment…except maybe the perp walking into the station to turn himself in and confessing to all his crimes.
Simon watched her turn and walk out. As soon as she was out of sight, he gathered up the trash from his dinner and sat back down. He needed to get down his thoughts about what to do next to try to figure out who was terrorizing his town, before he forgot. Then he had a date to get home to.