Page 69 of Then Came You

He enjoyed this—sharing details about their day, but there was one detail he’d been struggling with. He almost hated to bring it up, but he felt like he should. He didn’t want any more secrets between them.

Gillian tilted her head and eyed him closely. “Is there something else?”

He nodded and squeezed her hand. “A couple of the guys at the station were ribbing me today.”

“About what?”

“They accused me of…um… They said I was…glowing.”

“Glowing?” She looked like she was holding back a laugh.

“Yeah. In their crude words, they said I looked like I just got laid.”

“Sounds like typical guy talk.”

“They were both friends of Owen’s.”

Her face fell, but he forged ahead. “I didn’t mention your name, and I won’t. I just wanted you to know so there are no secrets between us.”

Gillian chewed on her bottom lip. He’d hoped this wouldn’t ruin their evening, but he was determined to be honest with her whatever the cost.

“I sort of forgot about Owen’s police buddies. After he died, a few of them continued to stop by and check on me. After a few months, they stopped, and I didn’t keep in contact with any of them. Not because I didn’t like them, but because…”

“I understand.”

“So, what did you tell them?”

“Not much. I admitted I’d been with someone, but I didn’t give any specifics. I just said it to get them off my back.”

She nodded and visibly relaxed.

“Whatever happens between us stays between us, but that doesn’t mean the topic won’t come up again.”

“I know. Thanks for telling me.”

She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her soft brown hair brushed the side of his face, and he inhaled her sweet scent.

“You smell like roses.” He skimmed his hand up and down her arm in what he hoped was a soothing motion.

“That’s because I soaked in a tubful of rose-scented bubbles for almost an hour.”

“I noticed you painted your nails too.”

“Guilty.”

He wrapped his other arm around her middle and held her close. “You didn’t have to do all that for me.”

She tipped her head up and smiled at him. “I know, but I wanted to. It felt good to pamper myself.”

“I wanted that to be my job.”

Her eyes blazed with desire, and he was certain they matched his own.

“I thought about this all day. Holding you, touching you, kissing you.”

“Me too,” she said on a whisper.

“I came prepared this time.”