The Feel Good Factor(66)

When we break the kiss, I go first. “Just so you know, I’m in love with you.”

Her smile can’t be contained. “Funny thing. I’m in love with you too.”

And when you’ve fallen in love, one kiss is never enough. I kiss her again, and as I do, the clapping begins, followed by hooting and hollering. Everyone cheers us on.

Briefly, I break the kiss, whispering to her, “Kitten, we’re going to win the most passionate one too.”

“We better.” She grabs the back of my head and smacks a hot, wet kiss on my mouth, like we did in the waffle truck. She kisses me passionately, deeply, and with a consuming kind of fire. I kiss her like I’m going to be taking her home and fucking her and making love to her, because that’s what I intend to do.





*



After that epic kissing fest, we grab a drink, holding hands and talking. There’s so much to say, and words and truth spill out.

“I was so worried you didn’t feel the same way, and that I was going to ruin everything,” she confesses.

“I felt the same way.”

“I was worried, too, I’d lose my edge at work.”

I bring her closer. “I know you were concerned. What changed for you?”

She loops a hand around my back. “I didn’t want to miss the chance at this kind of love.”

My God, am I ever glad I decided to go for it with her tonight. “I’m not going to let you get away. Also, I’m here for you. I want to be the one you lean on. I want to be your support and your shoulder to cry on if you need one. I want to be the man you come home to, the one you know always has your back even if work is tough.”

She sighs deeply, almost dreamily. “I’m taking you up on that. And I want to be that for you too.”

“You will. You are. We can be that for each other.” I kiss her forehead, savoring the sweet smell of her skin, the feel of her melting in my arms.

She hums against me. “What do we do next? Also, when can we get out of here and get naked?”

I laugh, loving her dirty desires. “How about as soon as winners are announced? And how’s this? After we go home, after I get inside you, after I make you come five or six times and you’re all nice and warm and snuggly in my arms, then we can talk about what’s next. But I promise what’s next will be even better.”

She smiles up at me, splaying her fingers across my shirt. “You’re such a snuggler.”

I nuzzle her neck. “And you love it.”

“I love it a lot. Kind of like how I love you.”





*



We win two prizes, nabbing most passionate and the newly added one, since the event organizer said we nailed it so perfectly it simply had to be a real category. With my arm wrapped around my woman, we make our way toward the exit.

But the chief stops us before we reach the door.

“Keating, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”





40





Perri





My nerves skyrocket as Jansen pulls me aside for a one-on-one chat. “Listen, I’m sorry to do this on a Saturday night.”

My heart slams against my rib cage and all I can think is he’s letting me go, that passing me over was the first step in saying sayonara.

I swallow, steeling myself.

If I lose my job, that will suck royally. But somehow, I’ll manage. I have my friends, my family, and my man.

With my shoulders held high, I wait for him to say more.

He clears his throat, his voice a little gruff. “Listen, I know you didn’t get the promotion, and I wanted to tell you why.”

“Okay.” I brace for impact. This is when the rug comes out from under me, but I’m ready.

His lips quirk up, and he grins.

The man actually grins.

“The reason you didn’t get the promotion, and the reason I couldn’t tell you right away, is I had some other paperwork to tend to.” His smile widens like he can’t rein it in.

What the hell? Does he like bearing bad news?

“I understand.” I give nothing away, staying strong.

“I had paperwork to deal with because there’s another opening. I think it’s a good match for your fine skills.” He takes a beat, and I’m not sure I’m hearing him correctly. Did he just say fine skills? “How would you like to be a detective?”

Chills spread over my flesh. The hairs on my arms stand on end. “Are you kidding me?”

He laughs, shaking his head. “I’m completely serious. We made an arrest today on the jewelry store case thanks to your intel. You impressed me with your commitment to solving it, and that’s simply the tip of the iceberg. You’ve been a stellar officer. Every year you improve, and you excel. I wanted to give you the news the other day, but I had to iron out some final details to move you up the ranks. It’s the perfect position for your experience, know-how, and smarts.”

And I guess I don’t have to wait for another promotion. An amazing one is coming my way. One I earned with time, attention, and dead-on focus.

Hell, I’m damn good at my job.

And I love my job. My smile takes over my face.

“You’ve demonstrated that you deserve it, and I hope that you’ll accept,” he adds.