Chapter 22
The gift of love is presented to you in the Ace of Cups.
CAL
“How can I prove my innocence?” No one answers me.
“It’s not a rhetorical question, people. I want an answer.” I look at Laura, Eagle, and Danny. Their faces are blank.
“Okay, I’m done.” I push my chair back from the conference room table. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going home to process this.”
“I’m coming with you,” says Marci. “You don’t need to be alone.”
“Actually, I do need to be alone. I am mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted and I need to regroup.” I give Marci a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you later.”
I am shaken by the revelations of the last two hours. Unsteady on my feet, I stumble as I walk down the steps of Laura’s law firm. Thankfully, someone is behind me and catches me as I fall.
“Hey, let me give you a ride home.”
It’s Danny. Laura’s office is just a few blocks from my house, an easy stroll, but I am too tired to protest.
He opens the front passenger door to the police cruiser and helps me into the car. We are silent during the five-minute drive. Turning into my driveway, I laugh. “I like riding in the front seat of a police car much better than riding in the cage.” I gesture to the back seat.
“Yeah, sorry about that. We didn’t really have a choice. That’s standard procedure.”
He turns off the ignition and says, “Stay right there. Let me help you into the house.”
“I’m not an invalid. I’m just tired.” When he opens the door and I exit the car, I step on his foot and lose my balance. I banged the top of my head into his chin. Having nothing else to lean on, I lean into him to steady myself.
I feel him shudder and I sense I have invaded his space. I pull away, my back against the car. “Sorry about that. Now you know my secret. I’m an absolute klutz.”
“Oh, I noticed you were a klutz when you laughed yourself out of your chair when I first met you.”
He takes a step forward and puts his arm around me for support.
I feel my heart flutter in my chest. Oh my God, I have not been this close to a man in years.
We stand there for a minute, neither of us moving. I take in the warmth of his body and subtle scent of his cologne. Closing my eyes, I lift my face to the light of the sun peeking through the pine trees that surround my cottage. I feel calm and peace returning.
I open my eyes at the exact moment this man who interrogated me, arrested me, and had me indicted for murder, kisses me.
He kisses me lightly at first, as if waiting for my response. Before I can check myself, I move into him.
I have never been kissed so deeply and passionately.
I’ve been waiting all my life for a kiss like this.
Holy freaking Mother of God I think my underpants are on fire.
Crap! Did I say that out loud?
Danny laughs and presses his body against mine.
“Doc, my pants are on fire, too.”
This is getting crazier by the minute.