Chapter Five
Dylan arrived at home feeling very conflicted.
On one hand, he felt too soft. That’s what had gotten him in this mess to begin with.
On the other hand, though…well, if there was ever a time he needed Little Space, it was now.
Yet he couldn’t give in. The Force needed him to be a man. The community deserved that much from the ones who patrolled the streets.
Could he be that guy? Was he that guy, at his core?
He wasn’t so sure now.
“Honey?” he called out, not finding Teagan in the living room.
“Just a second,” he heard her say.
Sounded like she was in their room. Maybe even in the closet.
He walked through the house, followed his hunch, and sure enough, found her in the closet. She was moving hastily as she shoved one of her breasts back into her bra.
The sight stirred desire within his core.
Man, no matter how many times he saw her, that woman never failed to catch his eye. Especially when she was in various states of undress.
He grinned. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” she said.
She shoved a drawer behind her closed and went on about her business, getting dressed, trying to act casual.
At least it seemed to Dylan like it was just an act.
His time in the military and on the police forced had sharpened his gut instincts. And right now, his gut was saying his wife was up to something.
He forgot about that, though, when she said, “You okay? What happened with the captain?”
He swallowed hard. Even the sight of Teagan’s panty covered bottom, as she turned to fetch her jeans from a nearby hanger, couldn’t keep away the emotion he felt.
“I’m, uh, on paid leave. Pending an investigation into yesterday.”
She turned and looked at him, their eyes meeting for a moment. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry.” She wrapped him up in a tight hug.
Those mounting tears he’d been feeling all day threatened to spill from his eyes now, but he steeled himself and managed to keep them at bay. “Yeah. I’m all good. I’ve been meaning to take some time off anyway. You know how we’ve been talking about a vacation.”
He was capable at a lot of things, but acting was not one of them. He hoped he was giving a convincing enough performance.
“Well, about that,” she said.
She released him and finished dressing. Once she had her shirt and jeans on, she turned back to her husband and smiled warmly. “I was wanting to go away for Thanksgiving. I was going to spend this afternoon trying to convince you to take some time off, but we don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
The idea of getting out of town didn’t actually sound too bad, Dylan thought. Maybe it would take his mind off the review board. If he stayed around the house, he’d just stew over it.
Of course, he might not be able to completely forget about it, but a trip might go a long way in helping.
“I could use a vacation,” he admitted.
“Good. Because I already checked into one.” She gave him a playful smile and then said, “Come on. That breakfast I cooked isn’t any good now. Let’s go out for a late one. I’ll tell you all about what I have in mind.”
He gave her a genuine smile.
Maybe this time off was a blessing in disguise, after all.
Besides, how could he resist a getaway with that beauty? This wouldn’t be bad.
Not bad at all.