Page 35 of Tides of Change
His lips quirked at the corners, and the anxiety in my chest snapped like a rubber band.
“You bastard.” The breath rushed out of me in relief. I grinned as I swatted his hard tactical vest.Ouch.“You worried me.”
Before I could pull my hand away, he caught and clasped it against him. His thumb brushed across my knuckles in a slow, deliberate motion and sent a shiver skittering down my spine.
“That’s battery against a police officer. I should put you in cuffs,” he said, low and husky.
A smirk tugged at my mouth. “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
His eyebrows waggled, a glint of mischief lighting his eyes. “Only if you would.” He paused, his voice softening. “But I really came to do this.”
The air between us shifted, charged with unspoken desire. He leaned in hesitantly, his gaze locked on my eyes, and silently asked for permission. My chest tightened, but I gave a small nod, and he closed the distance.
His lips pressed to mine, tentative at first, then with growing confidence. His arms circled around me, drawing me close, and I let myself fall into him. The hard press of his vest against my chest was an afterthought compared to the warmth of his embrace.
The kiss was everything I remembered—and more. A spark ignited and raced down my spine as Garrett’s tongue flicked against the seam of my lips. I opened for him, and he deepened the kiss, stealing the air from my lungs and the coherent thoughts from my mind.
I lost track of time—seconds, minutes, eternity—but too soon, he leaned back. Our breaths mingled as his forehead rested briefly against mine.
“I can’t stop thinking about Friday night,” he confessed, his voice roughened with emotion. He brushed a light kiss to the tip of my nose, and my heart swelled.
“I can’t, either,” I said, barely above a whisper.
“I had to come steal another kiss.” He nuzzled my face. “Love the feel of your beard against my cheek. Had to make up an excuse to come see you.”
A soft laugh bubbled out of me. “Well, you can report that I haven’t had any more incidents.”
He stepped back, and the sudden absence of his warmth left me bereft. “That’s good news,” he said, his voice gentle. With one last quick kiss, he turned to go.
“I’ll wait on the porch until I hear you lock the door,” he said over his shoulder, ever the protector.
I nodded and watched him leave, his movements light for a big man. The softsnickof the bolt sliding into place felt strangely final. Moments later, his SUV rumbled to life, and the sound faded as he drove away.
I returned to my soup, and the smile stayed on my lips. My chest felt lighter, as though something fragile and hopeful had taken root. We were moving forward.
But where were we headed?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Garrett
At lunchtime on Halloween, I settled at a corner table at The Coffee Cove, the rich scents of my coffee and savory hot ham and cheese sandwich curling around me. Outside, the crisp fall air carried the tang of salt, and the town bustled with last-minute shoppers. But inside the café, it was warm, familiar…and yet, I couldn’t shake the restless energy simmering beneath my skin.
Ethan.
He had been a constant presence in my thoughts for the past four days, ever since I’d stolen that kiss in the middle of my shift. A reckless moment, one I hadn’t let myself overanalyze. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d looked at me afterward—like I was something he hadn’t expected but wasn’t quite ready to walk away from.
I exhaled slowly and pulled out my phone. My thumb hovered over his name, and my pulse kicked up a notch.
Want to trick-or-treat with Noah and me tonight? He’s been asking about you.
It wasn’t just about Noah; it was an excuse to see Ethan again. I sent the message, and the seconds stretched out as I waited for his reply.
Love to.
I grinned, and warmth spread through my chest.
Pick you up at 6.
