“Jessup needed to be sure.”
“But why was he there? This doesn’t make any sense.”
“The woman your husband’s client was having an affair with? She later disappeared.”
“What?” My eyes practically jump out of my head. “Did Jessup disappear her?” Wait. Is ‘disappear her’ a thing?
Aiden shrugs. “We can’t prove it, but all the evidence points to him.”
“I totally want my fifty bucks back from Ralph. He should have never let the other guy in the room. Or at least he should have told me.”
Aiden growls. “Do not make light of this situation. You were in danger. I should have never left you alone in your house.”
“You are not my keeper. Besides, it was fine. Lola was there and the security system alerted the police who arrived in minutes.” Lola lifts her head and barks upon hearing her name.
He grunts. “Not good enough. I should have never left the woman I love alone when I knew there was a possibility she was in danger.”
“Whoa. Wait a minute.” I hold up my hands and back away. “The woman you love? You don’t know me well enough.”
He chuckles. “Honey, I’ve known you practically my entire life.” He shrugs. “Besides, when you know, you know.” I can’t argue with him there. “And I know you love me.”
“How can you possibly know how I’m feeling?” It’s true. But I only admitted it to myself when I was hiding in the bathroom scared out of my freaking mind.
He smirks and stalks after me. I back up until I’m pinned against the wall. “You nearly told me the other night when we had the picnic.”
Oh crap. I cringe. “You noticed, huh?”
He bends forward and rubs his nose against mine. I do not sigh. Seriously. It was a cough or something. “I’m a detective. I notice everything about you.”
“This does not bode well for my future.”
“Honey.” He pulls me into his arms. “This bodes extremely well for your future and you know it.”
His head descends and then his lips are on mine. His taste of sunshine and summer is like a drug and I want more. I tilt my head to deepen the kiss. He laces his hands through my hair, and I sink my nails into his shoulders. He growls before ending the kiss and pulling back.
I pout. “Why are you stopping?” Never mind we’re in a police station. No one can see us. I’m sure this room has seen way worse things than a couple making out anyway. Ew. Maybe we should go home.
Aiden places his forehead against mine. “I want to hear the words.”
“The words,” I immediately quip.
“Smart ass. You know what I want to hear.”
I keep my mouth firmly shut. I’m not ready to say the words he wants to hear. I admitted my feelings to myself for the first time tonight for gosh sakes. I need time to process.
“Come on,” he coaxes. “Tell me what I want to hear, and I’ll take you home and do you dirty all night long.”
I snort. “The night is almost over.”
“You are a pain in my ass.”
And damn proud of it, too.
“Please, Hailey, honey. I love you. I want to hear you say you love me, too. I promise I won’t abuse your love and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving myself worthy of your love.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Promise. Like forever and ever?”
“Yep.”