Page 64 of Then Came You

“So, it is lingerie.”

“Shhh. Keep your voice down.”

“It is down.”

“You can see it later.”

His eyes went wide. “Yeah?”

She nodded.

“My shift ends at eleven.”

“I know.”

“I thought that might be too late.”

“You thought wrong.”

“I brought a change of clothes and some other essentials just in case.”

“I’ll wait up for you.”

He brought his arm around to check his watch. “Five more hours to go.”

“I’m anxious for you to see what’s in this bag.”

“Not as anxious as I am!”

She smiled up at him, and it meant everything. This might have been the first time she’d looked at him like that while he was in uniform. It was like she hadn’t even noticed it—like she was seeing the man beneath all the blue. He felt warm, remembering that she’d literally seen all of him, and he thought she looked flushed too.

“I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Then the bell over the door rang, and in walked a group of teenagers. He observed them for a moment and then looked to Gillian. “Want me to hang around a while longer?”

She shook her head. “They’re good kids. They come in all the time.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later, then.”

He’d almost reached the door when she called out to him. “Officer Nichols?”

He was somewhat surprised by her formality, but then he remembered they had an audience. “Yes?”

“Be safe out there.”

He tipped his hat and sauntered out the door.

When he reached the station, he realized he’d been smiling the entire way there. The answer to his question was yes—men can glow too.

Chapter 21

Even though Gillian loved her job, she couldn’t wait to get off work that evening. She had a lot to do before Sam arrived, and since she hadn’t gotten home until nine thirty, she didn’t have that much time.

First things first, grooming. She ran herself a warm bath and added some rose-scented bubbles. Then she sank into the tub and relaxed, allowing herself a few minutes to process all that had happened.

After being with Sam the night before, she’d gone to bed and fallen into a peaceful slumber. It had been a long time since she’d slept through the night without having been awakened by a bad dream about Owen. The dreams usually started out okay, with images of him smiling and laughing, but then his image would fade, and try as she might, she couldn’t get him back. She’d wake up in a panic and look around the empty bedroom until she’d remember that Owen was gone for good. Afterward, it would take her a long time to settle down and get back to sleep.