Page 38 of Refuge for Cherilyn

Her eyes filled with tears. “Every damn day.”

He couldn’t stop himself as his hand rose and cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear. “I’m that someone, Cherilyn. I’m that man. Iseeyou. I know who you are deep down.” A little voice in his head whispered,Be vulnerable. Show her your heart.“Every day I’ve wished I could find someone who could look past my uniform and the crest on my truck, the badge I carry and the professional attitude I have to wear plastered all over me, and see the man inside me. Every. Damn. Day.”

Her eyes closed, tears slipping from them and coating her cheeks, but she smiled. “I’m that someone, Shaw. I’m that woman. I see you in there, and you’re brave, and selfless, and kind. You’ve given me more hope in the last twenty-four hours than I’ve had in years.”

“Do you want more?”

Cherilyn nodded. “Much, much more.”

His other hand rose until he held her face between his palms, and when he leaned down to kiss her, he was surprised as she turned her face up to his and waited. Those lips he’d thought about kissing were right there, and when he claimed them, he did so gently but firmly, a kiss that he hoped conveyed everything he felt for her, for her girls, for the possibility of something more with her than just a week or two.

As soon as her arms wound around his neck, he slipped both arms around her waist and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, waiting for her to jerk away, but she didn’t. She wanted it too, and he couldn’t have been happier. The kiss slowed, hesitated, and he gave her three pecks on the lips before he leaned back and looked down into her face. “Wow. That was amazing.”

A shy grin tugged the corners of her lips upward. “You think so?”

“You don’t?”

A giggle. “I didn’t say that!” He watched her bite her lower lip, then gaze up into his eyes. “Can I just say, I’ve never been kissed like that before.”

“Never?”

“Never. Not once. I always wondered what the big deal was with kissing.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And now I know.” She leaned in and pressed her lips to his lightly. “I never knew a kiss could be so wonderful,” she whispered against his mouth.

“Oh, woman, you just wait. There’s more where that came from. But I meant what I said earlier. I need to take you on a proper date.”

“Where are we going?”

Shaw laughed. “I have no idea!”

“Mom?” The voice startled both of them and they turned to find Maya standing there, jaw dropped and mouth wide open. “What’s going on?”

“Just thanking Shaw appropriately.” He loved the bashful grin on her face.

Maya stood there, feet shoulder width apart and fists on her hips. “You can’t be doing that stuff.”

Cherilyn turned her nose up. “I can do whatever I want. I’m a grownup.”

“Are you going to need a chifferobe?”

Shaw chuckled. “I think you mean chaperone.”

“Yeah. Somebody to watch you so nothing fishy happens.”

“No. I think we’ll be just fine. Don’t you think we’ll be just fine?” he asked Cherilyn.

“I think we’ll be just fine. I thought you’d gone to bed.”

The girl stood there and heaved out a big sigh. “I wish I had.” Then she spun and headed back to her bedroom.

“Well, that was awkward,” Cherilyn whispered.

“What was awkward about it? We like each other. Nothing awkward about that. I’m going to sit down in here and you go check on her. Maybe when you come back we can remember where we got to.”

“Oh, I don’t think I’ll have any trouble remembering. Be right back.” He watched her go and smiled. Even tired and rundown, with her hair a brittle mess and her body way too thin, she was still pretty. He couldn’t imagine what she’d look like with a home, food, and love.Can’t call it that just yet, he told himself, but he wanted to.

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