by Carmen Green
“Who is she, and what does she want?” The idea of getting a case his first day with his gold shield excited him.
“Something about you owing her an apology.”
Byron’s hopes deflated. He’d probably trampled her flowers or something. “Fine. I’ll catch you later, Heather. Thanks.”
“No problem, Byron,” she whispered, and he grinned.
Taking a breath, he walked into the room.
“How can I—” Byron stopped when he saw it was Tia.
“Hey,” she said, watching him.
“Hey. How are you?”
“Fine. I wanted to bring you something.”
Byron sat in a rolling chair, leaving a chair between them.
Tia sure had changed. She wore a sexy cream-colored skirt with a sleeveless red blouse that tied at her waist. Her hair seemed longer since the last time he’d run his fingers through it, but he hadn’t really been looking at her hair.
His eyes and his hands had been somewhere else.
She put a tiny red purse on the table, and he glanced at it.
She smiled at him. “That look says ‘is it new?’ The answer is no.”
He sat back and chuckled. “It’s you. Very cute.”
“Thank you.” Tia opened the purse and pulled out a check. Byron noted the folded paper as she slid it across the table to him.
“What’s this?” he asked, not touching it.
“Repayment for my purses. I know you bought all of them. I just wanted to say thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know I didn’t. And I’m not taking your money.”
“Well, it’s kind of a bribe. Maybe you can buy them back from Camilla.”
“You know my sister?” Women amazed him. Then Byron remembered. “You talked to her the day you were at my house.”
“I did. She’s a nice lady.” Tia’s smile was quick, with a hint of melancholy. Was she feeling like he did, or did she want to give up on their relationship?
Byron looked at the check. Seventy-five hundred dollars. “Where’d you get the money?”
“I got a huge promotion, and that was my signing bonus.”
“Tia, that’s great news. I always knew you’d get back on your feet. What happened with your boss?”
“Chance was fired. Rhonda/Ronnie is in charge now.”
“Your station will be number one in no time,” Byron said, trying to think of a way to keep her there.
Tia closed her purse and pushed her chair back, standing.
“I won’t take up any more of your time. I just wanted to say thank you for all you did for me. I know Judge Dunn didn’t think much of your efforts, but you and I know what transpired between us. So, thanks, and good-bye.”
“What transpired between us, Tia?” he asked, still sitting.
“We got really close. We needed each other, not just for the class, but individually. I needed you in my ear, even though I didn’t want to hear some of the things you were saying.”
“I needed you, too. Despite how I might have sounded, I admired you.”
Her gaze met his, and she looked shocked. “Why?”
“Because you weren’t scared of your emotions. You felt something, and right or wrong, you experienced it. You lived every moment until you decided to let that moment go. I was afraid to live. I had too many rules in my life. You weren’t trying to live by any. I fell in love with that about you.”
“You did?” she whispered.
“Yes, I did.”
“And now?” she asked, her chocolate brown eyes watching him as he stood.
Byron saw himself falling deeper and let it happen. Soon he was against her body, her arms around his neck. Tia wouldn’t let him kiss her or nuzzle her neck. She needed him to look into her eyes. “Do you still love me?” she asked him.
He braced his hands at her waist, holding her. “Yes. I love you very much.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
“Marry you, if you’ll have me.”
She was quiet for a few seconds. “Yes, love. I’ll marry you.”
Byron kissed Tia deeply for every moment he’d lain awake thinking about her, wondering if this moment would ever happen.
Many minutes later he still couldn’t let her go.
Loving energy swirled around them, rocking the couple in a harmonious unity.
“Sweetheart,” she said softly.
“Yes?”
“Can I have my check back?”
“Why?”
“I didn’t know how else to approach you, so I came up with this. The check’s no good. But I am.”
He leaned back and looked down at her. “There’s a penalty for writing detectives bad checks.”
“What is it?”
“Unconditional love. Forever.”
Tia peppered his face with sweet kisses. “I’m no fool. Sign me up.”
Dear Readers:
I hope you enjoyed reading What A Fool Believes. This project was a lot of fun for me, and I’m thrilled that I had the opportunity to bring love and laughter into your reading world.
Please be sure to check out my Web site for the latest updates and information about my next novel, which will be my twentieth! In acknowledgment of this milestone, I’m kicking off a year-long celebration with contests, signings, and visits with readers’ groups. In addition, one lucky reader will receive a signed bag of books, courtesy of Femme Fantastik, a group I cofounded with other wonderful authors. For more information, view my website at www.authorcarmengreen.com and femmefantastik.blogspot.com
Peace and Blessings,
Carmen Green
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2006 by Carmen Green
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-8174-6
