Page 120 of Donovan's Men

I smiled softly. “Something to consider in the future. Because I get the feeling this still bothers you.”

“It does.” He bit his lower lip. “Like, every day I think I took the coward’s way out.”

“Does your sergeant know?” Donovan gave him a hard look.

Tyson cut a glance to him at the question. “Yeah, she knows. She’s really disappointed, but as I said, I didn’t do anything. She couldn’t write me up. I think part of her was happy to be able to suspend me for you. Retribution for my previous inaction.”

“Those are strong attributions.” I continued to hold his hand. “You don’t know for sure.”

“Yeah, I really do. She dropped hints as she ushered me out the door.” He squeezed my hand. “You think I should apologize? Won’t that open me up for…liability?”

“Do you think he’d sue?”

Tyson shook his head. “I mean, he could allege discrimination, but he’s landed in a pretty good place, and I don’t think he’d jeopardize that.” He met my gaze. “But you’re right.” As if making some kind of decision, he pushed back from the table. “I’ll be back.” He stalked out of the coffee shop.

Donovan casually snagged Tyson’s coffee mug and drank deeply.

I quirked an eyebrow.

He smiled. “I didn’t have a full cup this morning. We’ll grab him one that he can drink on the walk home.”

We watched as he made a phone call. He paced back and forth in the little plaza, having to hold his hand over his other ear to block out the city noise.

I watched him like a hawk. “What’s going to happen when we get home?”

Donovan pivoted his attention back to me while still clearly keeping an eye on Tyson. “Well, do you want to spend another night alone?”

“I…I suppose if both of you are working, then I’ll have to, but otherwise, no, I don’t want you to leave.” I sipped the dregs of my tea, searching for the right words. “This is nuts. I mean, I don’t toss around the wordinsanelightly…but this is crazy. We’re crazy.”

He placed a hand over mine. “No. We’re just three men who’ve searched our entire lives for each other. Now that we’ve found our forever people, we’re not willing to let go.” He gazed over at Tyson who still paced. “Or at least I’m not.”

I snagged his hand. “Me either.”

“Then we’ll work it out. We’ve got time. I’m off until Thursday. Valentino’s orders. Tyson’s got thirteen days left on his suspension. You….” He cleared his throat. “Soon, right?”

“For now. As for the rest…” The laugh bubbled up from my chest. “You think we can resolve everything in two days?”

He met my gaze. “Yeah, I think we can.”

I wanted to laugh again, but those dark-brown eyes mesmerized. In that moment, I believed him. “Okay. Where do we start?”

Thestartturned out to be nabbing a coffee for Tyson and meeting him outside as he sat on a bench—his phone clutched in his hand.

We all donned our gloves and headed back. This time, only Donovan and I held hands.

Tyson had his coffee and, I believed, needed a moment to compose himself. Distress had been written all over his face when we’d handed him the cup. Oh, he’d rallied, but the pain was still obvious.

Clouds overtook us, and by the time we got to the Komagata Maru Memorial, the first flakes fell.

That was Vancouver—wait thirty seconds and the weather would change. I didn’t remember snow in the forecast, but I’d been more focused on the fact Donovan was in my kitchen and I was relegated to the living room watching a breakfast show on television. I couldn’t remember anyone ever having cooked in my kitchen before. Even my sister.

The snow continued as light flakes as we entered the lobby of my building. Korey, my concierge, offered us a wide smile as she took in the three of us.

Tyson had ditched his empty coffee cup in a recycling bin a bit back, but still only Donovan and I held hands. I didn’t like it, but I could see our police officer still needed time to process. We’d give it to him. We’d give him whatever he needed.

Back at the nineteenth floor, I unlocked the condo door, and we all poured in. Coats and gloves, and one knit hat, were all consigned to the front hall closet.

I made a beeline for my bathroom, having consumed plenty of liquids this morning. I emerged to find Donovan waiting.