by Marion Myles
He shook his head and tipped his face up to stare at the ceiling. “Preach my moral code?” he mumbled under his breath.
“Yeah, I get it. You’re the perfect guy, and I’m nothing but a low-life. Message received loud and clear,” she said very, very calmly.
His head snapped around, and bitter chocolate eyes met hers. “What did you think would happen when I looked?”
Turning her hands palm down, she lifted them toward him. “If you want to take me in, I won’t resist. There’s a file on top of the fridge with the health records of the dogs, and you’ll find two extra bags of dog food in the pantry.”
He stared down at her hands before glancing at the dogs sitting all around them. Whirling away, he made a growling noise in his throat, then swung back toward Mia with his arm snaking out so fast she didn’t even have time to flinch when his fist struck the wall beside her shoulder. Dropping her hands, she turned and glanced at the dent in the drywall.
“That had to have hurt,” she commented.
“What’s wrong with you?” he yelled. Mac sprang to his feet, inserting himself in between Roman’s and Mia’s legs. “Don’t you have any normal human emotions?”
“Easy, Mac. Go on, down.” She snapped her fingers and giving him a nudge with her foot, pointed to the floor. “Down. Now.”
The Doberman grumbled and curled his lip at Roman but did as he was told. Layla bellied over and licked Roman’s shoe, rolling her eyes up at him in distress.
“I have plenty of human emotions,” she said. “I simply don’t choose to show any of them to you right at this moment.”
“I’m so pissed off at you. I’m…I’m…losing my shit,” he hissed through a jaw clenched tighter than any vise. His arm swung wide. This time she flinched, albeit barely enough to register. “You did this to me. It’s entirely your fault, and now there’s nothing I can do because I fucking love you. How can I love you? I can’t.”
She gulped. Blood pounded in her ears. Surely he hadn’t said…had he? “Roman, take it easy. You’re not making sense. You’ve gone through so much lately. I’m going to get you a drink of water.”
He grabbed her arms. When she squirmed in protest, he closed his eyes, and he exhaled in one long, steady stream, but didn’t let go.
“Didn’t you hear what I said?” his voice was suddenly as soft as a priest’s in the confessional. “Despite your past and the arrest warrants and whatever else I don’t even know about yet, I love you. I want you. And God help me, I need you.”
“I think maybe you should take some time to process everything that’s happened to you,” she said slowly, carefully, her eyes shifting away from his. “You’re not in your right mind. I heard you quit the force.”
Releasing her arms, he stepped back with a sigh. “Word travels. Yeah, I quit. Hardly a surprise.”
“It was to me.”
“Oh, really? What kind of detective doesn’t notice the cousin he grew up with is a serial killer? I couldn’t go back.”
She paused and brought her eyes back to his face. “You can’t blame yourself.”
“I’m not here to talk about that. I’m here for you.”
She nodded once. “Okay. So what does that mean exactly?”
“It means I want us to be together.”
Her heart soared, but still the voice in her head urged caution. “I want that too, more than I can tell you, but I don’t see how. Once you’ve recovered from the shock of Tony, you’ll keep remembering all the things I’ve done and the warrants. How will you be okay with that?”
“Because in my heart, I believe you’re a good, decent person who was led astray from an early age. Now you’ve become the person you were always meant to be. The details of the past can be dealt with in time.”
“And that’s all? Who cares about the rest of it?” She shook her head. “You’re a cop. It’s going to fester and eventually tear us apart.”
“You forget, I’m not on the force anymore. It’s no longer my job to chase down thieves.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, and she stepped back. “Did you quit for me? Please tell me that’s not why.”
His eyes, soft now, stayed steady on her face. “I’m not gonna lie. It was definitely part of it. But honestly, I can’t stomach going back. At least not right now. It’s hard to say if I’ll ever want to. All I know is I’m not living my life without you. The rest I’ll have to figure out.”
The trembling started deep in her core and increased like an earthquake. “I don’t know what to say. What to do,” she said, her breath coming in gasps.
“Tell me you want me too. Tell me you can’t live without me. Tell me yes.”
She stared at him while the first tear rolled down her cheek. He was such a good man. Maybe a little broken in places after the events of the past few weeks, but still stronger than anyone she’d ever known.
She trusted him. Believed in him. And she loved him with all her heart.
“Of course, I want you,” she hiccupped. “Absolutely and completely.”
Stepping up to her, he framed her face with his hands. “Okay,” he breathed before placing his lips on hers.
This kiss was tender and sweet and felt like a prayer.
“I think a reunion might be in order,” she said once they drew apart.
His smile flashed as brightly as sunlight. “I could get on board with that. As it happens, I have some time right now. Come to think of it, for the foreseeable future, I have nothing but time.”
Grabbing his hand, she turned to the stairs but groaned when the driveway sensor signaled from the kitchen. “Crap, I forgot about UPS. Give me five minutes. Why don’t you go on up? I’ll be there before you know it.”
He shook his head and turned toward the front door. “I can wait. Besides, I think I’d better go out and check my car. Make sure no one stole the license plate. I hear it’s been happening all over town.”
She glanced at him and seeing the amusement in his eyes, slapped at his arm. “So that’s how it’s going to be?”
“Looks like. I love you, Mia.”
“I love you too. So much. Now scat and let me get the orders sent. While you’re out there, could you grab the containers from my Escape? Later, after I’ve had my way with you, I’ve got some unpacking to do.”
“Funny you should mention it. I have some stuff in my car too. I guess we can unpack together?”
She shot him a smile over her shoulder. “Sounds like a plan.”
“A lifetime plan,” he agreed.
The End
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Other Books By This Author
Valentine’s Heart: Heart Series Prequel Novella – Available Now
What the Heart Wants: Heart Series Book One – Available Now
Drawing from the Heart: Heart Series Book Two – Available Now
Feeding the Heart: Heart Series Book Three – Available Now
Acknowledgements
To my husband and sister, first readers and solid support team.
To my publishing team. Kathy Case, editor extraordinaire. Your ongoing encouragement means the world to me. Robin Ludwig, for creating an absolutely beautiful cover. Carol Eastman ( The Blurb Bitch ) for making my book sound so fantastic if I hadn’t written it, I’d want to read it, too.
About the Author
Hello there. My name is Marion Myles. I haven’t always been a writer. I spent the first few decades of my life as a professional equestrian and travelled across North America training horses and competing at horse shows.
Aside from horses, I’ve had an enduring love affair with the written word. My reading interests run the gamut from mystery to fantasy to general fiction and even young adult. But when it comes right down to it, my heart definitely lies in the romance section.
&n
bsp; When not riding or writing, I devote any spare moments to battling a debilitating addiction to Smarties and stalking my favourite authors on the internet. I’m proud to say there are currently no restraining orders filed against me.
I live in Southern Ontario with my beloved dachshund and my husband (also very much beloved!)
You can find me at my Website or follow me on Facebook and Bookbub and Amazon
I’d love to hear from you so please drop me a line by email: [email protected]
