Page 69 of Donovan's Men

“I know.” Smith’s cerulean eyes softened. They never ceased to stun me with their odd blue-green color. “I just wish you got more rest.”

“Things’ll eventually calm.” Allie offered me a warm smile, her dark-brown eyes shining. “I wouldn’t trade any of this for anything. I didn’t—” She swallowed hard.

“I know.” In one of her more candid moments, she’d told me about her past. All of it. This woman had seen some pretty dark places and yet had come out the other side.

After holding her gaze a moment longer, I pulled my tea bag from the cup and placed it on the plate. “I have to come clean.”

Both my bosses pivoted their full attention to me.

I eyed the baby monitor, willing Wesley to wake up.

He didn’t.

“So, uh…” I cleared my throat. “I’ve…developed feelings for someone. Someone inappropriate. And I thought I could just walk away, but…I don’t want to.” I took a sip of my tea to wet my parched throat. “It’s been such a short time, and we’ve hardly spent any time together, and yet—” I couldn’t go on. I just couldn’t.

“You know.” Smith, as if sensing my distress, gazed at Allie. “We met at a party for two close friends. I saw her across a crowded room, and I knew. Then the bloody woman disappeared for six months…but I never stopped searching. We’d had a five-minute conversation, and yet in my heart, I knew I’d found the person I was meant to be with. And I’d always scoffed at thelove at first sightnotion. I believed you had to get to know someone. Get a sense for who they were. But with Alessandra…” His eyes shone with the ever-present love. From the first time I’d seen the two of them together, their love pushed through. Even through their darkest times, they’d endured.

“The feeling was the same for me.” Allie gripped his hand tighter. “I called himthe man with the beautiful eyes. Yes,they’re stunning. But the man inside spoke to me clearest. He saw right through me—to the broken woman I was. I would never claim he healed me—I had to do that myself—but he stood by me through all of it. And somehow, we came out the other side.” She met my gaze. “Who is he? And why do you have tocome clean?”

My no-nonsense boss was back. Clearly pulled back from the vortex of painful memories.

“Well, uh, he’s a patient.”

She rolled her eyes. “Unless he was underage—which wouldn’t be you—then that was a given. You’ve seen a few people from the shooting over the last eleven days. Your roster was pretty light before that—”

“Donovan Riggs.”

Smith sucked in a breath.

Allie narrowed her eyes.

“I can explain—”

“Talk fast.” She yanked her tea bag from her mug, tossed it on the plate, and took a large sip.

“I know it’s wrong.” Before either could speak, I rushed to continue. “And he and I have discussed it. Extensively.”

“How often have you seen him?” Allie frowned, and I could see her doing the mental gymnastics.

“In person? Just three times.”

“And you’re willing to risk your career?” Smith eyed me. “Please tell me it’s not because he’s a good lay.”

I sputtered. “Uh, no.”

“Inappropriate,” Allie muttered.

“But a fair question,” I rushed to assure her. “We haven’t had any…physical contact.”

She arched an eyebrow.

Two kisses and holding hands. Barely anything.

“Okay…but there might be another guy as well.”

Wait for it…

“Holy shit.” Smith sputtered.