Page 65 of Objection to Love

“Okay, okay, but just tell me one thing.”

Em shifted the phone to her shoulder as she applied a quick layer of gloss to her lips. “Yeah?”

“Did he kiss you?”

Em paused, helpless to stop the smile growing on her face.

“Oh my gosh—he totally did, didn’t he?” April yelled in her ear.

“Maybe a few times.” She was sure April could hear her smile now.

“Ah! I’m so happy for you! We need to have a double date! Soon! When are you free?”

“Ummm… Let me check my schedule and get back to you, okay? Right now I really am late.”

“Fine, but you’d better actually call this time!”

Em smiled. “I will, don’t worry!” After a quick goodbye, she hung up and made it to the door.

“Hey! No crutches!” Garrett beamed at her from the porch where he’d apparently been waiting.

“Yeah.” She lifted her foot out. “I talked with your mom, and she said if it doesn’t hurt with the brace on, then I can ditch the crutches.”

“That’s perfect because now I can do this without interference.” He wrapped his hands around her waist as he spoke, his pinkies grazing her hip bones and his thumbs trailing along her ribs as he pulled her against him and pressed a quick, firm kiss to her lips.

Em dropped her briefcase beside her and looped her arms around his neck to prolong the affection.

“Mmm, you sure you need to be on time to work? And by ‘on time’ I mean, are you sure you need to be early to work today? I know a great little breakfast spot.” He didn’t release her while he spoke, and Em’s heart continued to hiccup at the contact. Three days of kissing him, and she imagined the novelty wouldn’t wear off for a while. The man could seriously kiss.

“Yes, unfortunately. This case is going to kill me.”

“Can I overrule you? Object? Plead my case? Make enough bad puns that you agree to breakfast just to get me to stop?”

“Would you really stop at breakfast?”

“Honestly, at this point I think it’s more compulsion than anything. But anything’s possible. After all, where there’s awillthere’s a way.” His hands tightened around her as he winced. “Crap. See? Compulsion.”

Em dropped her head to his shoulder, shaking with barely suppressed laughter.

“So?” he asked again. “What’s the verdict?”

“The verdict is that you have a problem,” she said into his shoulder.

“Guilty as charged.” She could hear the cheeky grin in his voice.

Em shook her head with amusement, biting her lips together.

“Okay, fine, guess we’d better get you off.” He started to pull back.

“Well, I can be just a couple of minutes late…”

Not missing a beat, he put a hand to either side of her face, kissing her forehead, then her nose, then her lips again. She sighed.

“You know, I think your work owes you like a week off once you’re done with this case,” he muttered against her lips.

“They just might,” she agreed.

He stopped, tilting his head as his light green eyes bore into hers. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with September Miller?”

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