Page 91 of Then Came You

“But in a good way.”

They both laughed.

“I would have come around eventually. After all, how could I resist a man in uniform who loves coffee and dogs as much as I do?”

“There was a time when you didn’t like seeing me in uniform.”

“I must admit I like you better out of it.” She wriggled her eyebrows and hips at the same time.

While they’d been talking, they’d shifted to their sides, and he’d slipped out of her. Now he was hard again, and she felt her desire flare.

He pulled her close and kissed her deeply, but right in the middle of it, her stomach growled.

He smiled against her lips. “You’re hungry.”

“Mm-hmm. For you.” She resumed kissing him, but her stomach grumbled again.

“Let’s eat and continue this later.”

She nodded, happy that there’d be a “later.”

“Assuming you want to spend the night with me,” he added.

“I do.” Her eyes went wide as she realized the significance of those words. “I will. I mean…”

Sam tipped his head back and laughed uproariously. Thank God he’d found the humor in it. Her cheeks flamed as she rolled out of bed and started gathering her clothes. She was standing with her back to him, her clothes clutched to her body, when he came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.

“Just for the record, I would love to hear those words from you someday, when the time is right.”

She shivered, whether from being naked outside of the covers or from this discussion, she wasn’t sure.

“I love you, Gillian.”

The tenderness in his voice caused her to turn around and face him. Her embarrassment forgotten, she gazed directly into his sparkling, brown eyes. “I love you too, and for the record, I’m looking forward to someday.”

Chapter 28

Afew days after the fall festival, Sam was in the breakroom at the precinct, pouring himself a cup of coffee, when Dax came in. Sam stiffened when he looked up and saw him, but he greeted him as he normally would.

“Hey. What’s up?”

“So, you and Gillian? Really?”

Sam gripped the coffee mug so tightly he wondered if it might break. “What of it?”

“Her fiancé was one of us, Sam.”

“I know that.”

“You could have had your pick of women. Why her?”

Sam set down the mug and shoved his hands in his pockets to prevent himself from slugging Dax. He and Gillian had discussed this over the weekend, and she’d agreed that if anyone asked, Sam would tell them the truth. There was no use trying to hide their relationship anymore.

“Because she’s beautiful, smart, and sweet, that’s why.”

“How do you think Owen would feel? Have you thought of that?”

“Of course I have. But Owen’s gone, and his death shouldn’t prevent Gillian from living.”