Cassie stared at him. “You watch soap operas?”
He gave her a sheepish shrug. “Just this past week.”
“I thought you’d be on another assignment by now.”
“I quit.”
She continued to stare at him, even though he seemed suddenly absorbed with the TV. “You quit?”
He nodded. “You have a Coke or beer or anything?”
Ignoring the popcorn, she sank down next to him. “Why?”
“Kind of a long story.”
“I have time.”
He rubbed his jaw, the back of his neck. “I needed a change.”
“That’s not a long story.”
He turned to look at her. “I’m sorry, Cassie. You did a really good job with the Bask case. I screwed up, and I tried to downplay it by downplaying the case. I was wrong. My ego got in the way.”
She’d pretty much guessed that in her more rational moments, but it was good to hear it come from him. “You didn’t quit over that.”
“No, but the whole thing helped me see some truths about myself. All I ever wanted to do was be a good cop. And good husband. I failed at that part, and I couldn’t let myself fail at my job. At any cost. Until it cost me you.”
Her stomach flipped over. She took his hand.
He smiled. “Cassie, I know we haven’t known each other long. And we didn’t get off to the best start, but I feel this connection with you I can’t explain.”
She nodded. “Me, too.”
“Yeah?” His smile broadened.
“Yeah. So what now?”
“I’m moving to Midland.”
Her breathing stopped altogether.
“I have money saved until I get a job and then—”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him so hard he fell backward. Popcorn crunched beneath him making them both smile. And then he deepened the kiss, using his tongue to part her lips, and then slowly sweeping the inside of her mouth.
When they finally came up for air, he said, “I’m going to take that as approval.”
She laughed. “That would be a safe bet.”
“I love you, Cassie.”
She swallowed. “I love you, too.”
He got a serious look on his face and held her gaze steady. “I have one for you.”
“What?”
“What did the blonde say—”
She gasped and put her hands over her ears. “I can’t believe you’re saying this. You—”
He pried her hands away. “What did the blonde say when the cop asked her to marry him?”
“You pain in the—” She blinked. “Dalton…”
“The blonde probably wanted to think about it, probably go slow and take some time….”
“The hell she did.” Cassie kissed him again, and this time they weren’t so quick to come up for air.
Epilogue
“I HAVE A PROPOSITION for you.” Jennifer sat at her desk with her swollen feet up, her gaze on Dalton as he fed Annie her bottle.
Cassie watched him, too. She loved seeing him with the baby. He was such a natural it gave her a warm fuzzy feeling.
“Dalton, I want you to join the agency.” Jennifer rubbed her very pregnant belly. “I can’t pay you what you made with the government but if the cases keep pouring in the way they have, that could change.” Jen smile slyly. “Plus, we don’t have many rules around here.”
Dalton stared at her. Annie noisily sucked the nipple trying to get more juice.
Cassie had known the offer was coming. Jen had asked her first if Dalton working with her would be a problem. Yeah, right, as if… “Here,” Cassie said, when he still looked a little dumbfounded. “Give me Annie.”
He passed her the baby. “You really have enough cases?”
“Are you kidding? We’re swamped. You know how hard I’ve been working Cassie this past month.”
Dalton smiled and then turned to Cassie. “Honey, what do you think?”
“I think if we ever want to see each other you’d better say yes.”
“Good.” Jen was back to business, looking at her calendar. “Let’s see…your wedding is in two weeks. Heck, no reason you couldn’t start tomorrow, right?” She pulled out a hefty stack of file folders. “Take your pick.”
Cassie stared in disbelief. “Those are all pending cases?”
“I started getting behind again when Zach left.” A wry smile curved Jen’s lips. “At least I know you guys won’t be leaving me to get married.”
Dalton picked up the first two folders and leafed through them. “Hmm…” He scanned the notes. “We can get this one knocked out in a couple of days.”
Cassie and Jen exchanged amused glances. He certainly wasn’t lacking in confidence.
“Here, Cass.” He handed her the folder. “You take this one. Possible insurance fraud.”
She blinked. “The one we could knock out in a couple of days?”
“Yeah, you could handle this with one hand tied behind your back.”
She felt that flutter of pride his faith in her prompted.
“You’ll be working on another case?”
He nodded, already busy studying the contents of the next file.
She glanced at Jen who beamed from ear to ear.
“You guys have just made my day,” she said and then grimaced. Her hand went to her stomach. “Oh-oh.”
Dalton looked up.
“What?” Cassie moved closer.
“I’m not sure but—” Jen winced again. “Okay, now I’m sure. Who wants to drive me to the hospital?”
“Oh, shit!”
Both women looked at Dalton. He set down the folder, his face as white as a sheet.
Jen laughed. “Looks like you’re driving, Cass.”
“This is early. You have a bag ready?”
“In the closet.”
Cassie looked at Dalton. “Can you hold Annie?”
He nodded and reached for the baby without a word. Probably, Cassie suspected, because he couldn’t speak. She hid a smile as she went for the bag. Her big, hunky, macho husband-to-be looked scared out of his wits.
Was it possible that she could suddenly love him twice as much?
Holding Annie in one arm, he used his other to help Jen to her feet. “Don’t worry about a thing, boss,” he said, and kissed her cheek.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8122-0
HANDS ON
Copyright © 2002 by Debbi Quattrone.
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