Page 99 of Her Only Hero

“The bottled water was analyzed. It contained a high concentration of GHB—gamma-hydroxybutyrate—the date rape drug. And the bottle had a pinprick hole in it. Crawford had used a needle and syringe to inject the drug into the bottle to keep the cap intact so you wouldn’t suspect anything.”

“How could I have been so naïve? Sorry I botched things up.”

“No. You did quite the opposite. While drugged, you managed to tape a murderer’s confession and save yourself from being potentially murdered. You single-handedly caught a ruthless criminal.”

“What if you hadn’t shown up when you did?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m impressed by how you decked Crawford with a gun to the jaw,” Patrick said. “I can see the headline now. Lab scientist turns badass crime fighter.”

I shook my head. “Hardly. You’re the hero. In every way.”

“I was just doing my job. In dealing with people, I’ve seen the worst in many and how easily people will lie, steal, and hurt others, without conscience. And then I met you with your nose in your work. Focused, with an amazing work ethic. I asked you out, and you said no. I knew you were the one for me. I just had to convince you.”

“And you did,” I said and kissed him on the nose.

“You’ve been brave through all of this, and even in prior times when you had the courage to report your underhanded co-worker.”

I shook my head. “You make it sound like I was decisive and fearless, when all along I was uncertain and terrified.”

“You rose to every difficult situation, and I won’t let you downplay what you did when times were tough, and what you went through. You, June Harber, are heroic. I want to love you until the end of my days, if you’ll have me.”

My eyes moistened. “Patrick.” I kissed him with all the love and tenderness in my heart. “I want to spend my life with you, too.”

He wrapped his arms around me, and he kissed my lips, cheek, hair, neck. I laughed, elated.

A question popped into my mind. “Patrick, how did you know I was with Crawford?”

The flurry of kisses stopped. “Ah.” He scratched his neck. “I installed a tracking device under the driver’s seat of your car. I also monitored your phone’s GPS.”

“What? That sounds so creepy.” But I wasn’t angry. He was a cop, protecting me, and, as proven, the situation had warranted it. “So that’s how you knew I was at St. Eugene’s Hospital.”

Patrick nodded. “Tracking you was the only way I could have let you leave. Gad, I’m a stalker.”

I giggled and then became curious about something. “Patrick, you know my dating backstory, and I’m wondering about yours. All that time you were trying to go out with me, did you date many women?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“No, not many?”

“None at all.”

“How was that possible? I mean, you’re so hot.”

Patrick chuckled and sloughed off the compliment. I didn’t think it was possible, but his modesty made him a hundred times more attractive. And sexier.

Amusement left his face, and he stared off.

“What is it?”

“About the time we met, I was bogged down with work, and dealing with a back injury.”

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“You couldn’t have known, babe. Thankfully, it’s much better now,” he said. “It’s the reason I wasn’t very ‘pleasant’ the day we first met.”

I caressed his chest as he spoke. “I remember that day. I thought you were a jerk. I’m sorry I judged you wrongly.”

He kissed the top of my head. “Don’t be. I was a jerk. But the truth is, after meeting you, I became disinterested in pursuing anyone else. It’s why I suggested you take a job with police forensics. What could have been a better way to get to know you?”

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