Page 48 of More Than a Hero
He finished his paperwork, then sent a message to Angie.Long day. Just heading home.
Unfortunately, her short but simple reply didn’t tell him anything.I’m sorry. Talk to you later.
Pete stared at his phone, rereading her text for the third time.Talk to you later?
That was it. There was no… I’ll see you soon,orI can’t wait to see you,ordo you need anything?He wasn’t sure why he wanted more, but for some indescribable reason, he did. Yet his own text had been just as brief.
His fingers drummed absently against the steering wheel as he debated stopping by her place on his way home. Angie’s house sat between the station and his, a natural detour that wouldn’t take him more than five minutes. But her message hadn’t exactly been an invitation. If she’d wanted him to drop by, wouldn’t she have said so?
He sighed heavily, rolling his shoulders to loosen the tension gripping them. He’d never been the kind of guy to second-guess himself, but somehow, Angie had him overthinking every damn thing. In the end, he kept driving, pushing aside the urge to turn down her street.
By the time he pulled onto his own driveway, his mind was tangled in a mess of thoughts. Relationships were complicated—at least, the real ones were. The ones that mattered. And maybe that was what scared him a little. He and Angie had been easy from the start. Good chemistry, incredible sex, and an effortless way of working together on their project. She listened to him without judgment, never tried to change him, and made him feel like who he was, even flaws and all, was enough.
But it had only been a few weeks. Was that just the so-called honeymoon phase? And what the hell did he even know about a honeymoon phase? He hadn’t exactly been the poster boy for long-term relationships.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened… then immediately loosened when his gaze landed on the car parked in his driveway. His breath caught at the sight.Angie.
A slow smile tugged at his lips as he shoved the truck into park. Before he could even get the door fully open, she was stepping out of her car, bending over the passenger seat to grab something. He barely registered the cool night air as he crossed the distance between them. By the time she stood with a large paper bag in her arms, he was there.
She looked up at him, nerves flickering in her eyes… or maybe it was uncertainty. Her gaze mirrored his, and he didn’t like it. When it came to him, he wanted her to feel nothing but confident.
“I brought some dinner,” she said, her voice soft. “I knew it was a bad day. Cora called me and told me what was happening.”
Pete huffed out a chuckle, reaching for the bag. “Looks like our medical examiner has decided to play matchmaker.”
Cora Wadsworth was as dedicated as they came, but like Pete, she wasn’t exactly an open book. The fact that she’d gone out of her way to make sure Angie knew what kind of day he’dhad? That said a lot. And maybe it meant Cora thought Angie was sticking around.
He wasn’t sure why that thought hit him square in the chest, but it did. Love changes all of us. The thought came unbidden, making him jolt inside. Love? No, not yet. It was too soon. But falling… maybe that was happening.Shit…
“Pete?”
Angie’s voice pulled him back, her forehead creased in concern.
He shook himself. “Sorry. My brain’s running in too many directions.”
She let out a breath, shifting her purse onto her shoulder. “I just thought maybe you hadn’t eaten since breakfast, so I wanted to make sure you had something. I’m not inviting myself in,” she added quickly, the nerves he’d seen earlier flashing again. “I just wanted to see you. Even for a minute.”
Dammit.He’d made her feel like she wasn’t welcome, and that was the last thing he wanted. He took a step closer, bent as he lowered his voice, and said, “Angie, I’m glad you’re here. And there’s no way I’m letting you go anywhere else tonight.”
Before she could reply, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. A soft, fleeting kiss—just enough to feel the warmth of her mouth before he pulled back. With his free hand, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the house.
Inside, he set the bag on the kitchen counter, glancing around. He wasn’t worried about any messes since he kept his place neat. But compared to hers, it lacked personality. No cozy touches, no small details that made it feel like home. Just a place to sleep, eat, and go back to work.
“It’s small,” he admitted. “But it works for me.”
Angie smiled, looking around. “The house is adorable. And the yard… I’m guessing the landlord takes care of that?”
He shook his head. “I do it. Maintenance, too. Keeps my rent from going up.”
“I like it.” She turned to face him fully. “It fits you.”
He nodded. “I don’t need a lot of space. I don’t have a lot of… stuff.”
She tilted her head. “Because you don’t like clutter? Or because you don’t let yourself settle?”
He stilled. He could tell she wasn’t asking to pry, but because she really wanted to know him better.
Before he could answer, she gestured toward the counter. “Let me heat this up.”
