Chapter Twenty-Three #3
“Tomorrow. If that works? I also want to look at the visitor log to see who’s seen him. Did you get it, Anthony?” I ask.
“No, I haven’t had a chance.”
“Okay, do we need a warrant for that?” Jonesy frowns.
The detective laughs. “Not if you ask nicely. I think both of you can probably play to your strengths depending on who is on the desk.”
Jonesy’s eyes darken as he turns to me, his eyes roaming appreciatively.
A thrill shoots through my stomach. I know I’m in for a wild time the second Anthony leaves.
“We’ll play it to our advantage,” Jonesy smirks.
He stands, heading to the kitchen after grabbing our empty beer bottles.
“Two seconds,” I say to Anthony as I follow Jonesy into the kitchen and spot him hunched over the counter, rubbing his hands over his face.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I rub his back. “Are you feeling okay?”
He blows out a deep breath, a pained expression on his face. He turns, reaching for both of my hands, his head dipping low. He’s struggling to find the words, and he won’t meet my eye until I take my hands and cup his face.
“Tell me,” I whisper.
“I’m worried that you’ll realize Biceps is the better man for you.”
“Jonesy—”
“Things were so bad between us for so long. I keep thinking you’re going to wake up one day and you won’t need me anymore.
And then you’ll turn to a man who is more appropriate, a man who hasn’t treated you badly or broken your heart, or irritated you for the last eight years.
I want this—” He threads his fingers through my hair.
“Us . . . I want us. I think I might die if I lose you now.”
The thrill of his admission has my heart pounding so loud I can hear it in my ears. I don’t know how I’ve stayed away from him all these years.
God, this man.
He’s making it so hard not to fall for him.
He’s the most generous person I’ve ever met, even when I’ve been my most awful to him.
“For a long time, I tried to be more than friends with Anthony. The spark wasn’t there.” I shrug. “Anthony and I are just friends, Jonesy. But with you . . . I want to be more than friends.”
“So you’re telling me that you, Katie Murphy—”
“That is my name,” I interrupt.
“You want to be more than friends with me, and don’t want the most handsome man I’ve ever seen with biceps the size of balloons?” He’s joking, but there’s a hint of doubt in his eyes.
I want to squash his uncertainty.
“Yeah . . . is that crazy?” I laugh.
“We might need to get you checked out. Who’s your doctor? I’ll call them.” He presses the back of his hand against my forehead, checking my temperature.
I punch him in the chest, and he grins, his shoulders relaxing. “I know it’s only been a few weeks, but it feels so right. Like we’re both finally ready for it.”
“But they’re moving me.” He grimaces, pushing my hair back behind my ear. The man just can’t stop touching me. I thought I’d find this level of affection annoying, or too much, but I crave his hands on me.
“I know.”
“You’d want to go long distance?” He attempts to keep his face neutral, but there’s hope in his eyes, and I can’t resist teasing him a little more.
I swallow, shaking my head.
“Okay, I get it.” His head dips. “I’ll just have to soak up as much Katie time as I can get.”
The fact that he responds this way has my heart inflating to the size of Anthony’s biceps.
When did this man get so lovely? Taking what he can and not pushing me for more.
He’s kind and generous, and I’ve been missing out on it all this time.
His response resolves what I was already warring with in my head.
I suck in a deep breath, my hands cradling his face. “Or I could come with you.”
“What?” he whispers.
Anthony knocks the doorframe, and it pulls me out of Jonesy’s orbit.
Fuck, I completely forgot Anthony was waiting for us.
“I’m gonna head out, you guys. Seems like you forgot about your guest anyway, whilst you were smooching. I’m giving you a two-star rating because there were no snacks.”
“Bye, Detective Biceps,” Jonesy calls out, grinning ear to ear as if he couldn’t care less that we’ve been so rude right now.
“Anthony . . .” I let go of Jonesy and head to the entryway. “Thank you. I’ll send over a report once I’ve finished the interview with Maddox.”
Nodding, he opens the door. “I think he’s good for you. I still don’t like him. But I’m pleased you’re happy.”
“Thank you.” I smile. “I’ll see you in the precinct.”
I close the door, my palm flat as I brace myself for what comes next with Jonesy. Before I can turn, his palm grips my hip, his lips graze against the shell of my ear.
“Did you mean it?” His fingers snake around my middle, pulling me toward him so my back hits his chest. His lips are on my skin, trailing hot, breathy kisses along my neck and shoulder.
“Yeah, is it too soon?”
“I’ve been waiting fifteen years for this.
I’ll try to stay here with you. But if you were willing to come with me, then no.
I don’t think it’s too soon. I would do anything to make you happy.
And if you moved across the country to be with me, I swear on my life, you’ll be the reigning champion in all our games and arguments.
You’ll be the de facto winner. Forever, if you want?
” He pauses before saying, “I just need you to be happy, Katie.”
“Good . . .” I trail a finger down his chest. “Because I think I remember you promising something about a leash?”