Page 54 of Barbed Wire and Burglary
He wept.
A.J. and Aurorainsisted Aaron wasn’t in the right headspace to move back to the lake house yet. Though he valued his privacy, he knew they were right. So, they stayed another night at A.J.’s apartment, which turned into another night and another night.
Tuesday evening rolled around, and he was still there—grateful to have people in his life who cared about his well-being. Regardless, he was a man of his word, so he dragged his weary bones to his truck and drove to Meyer’s Honey Farm.
Maggie met him at the entrance to the store, letting out a yelp of alarm as he stumbled and nearly face-planted at her feet. “Are you okay?”
“Nope.” He shook his head dizzily. His inability to sleep the last two nights had worn him down to a thread.
“Oh, for pity’s sake, come in!” She waved him inside and shut the door.
He stumbled again, and she stepped closer to wrap both hands around his arm. “You’re about to fall over.”
“But I’m here,” he crowed, feeling like he deserved a participation trophy.
“Barely,” she scolded.
“I’m fine.” He liked the feel of her warm, capable fingers wrapped around his biceps. He was glad he hadn’t worn a coat.
“That’s what you always say.” She towed him further into the shop.
“Because it’s true.” He muffled a yawn as she led him to a table for two on the coffee bar side of the room. She gently pushed him into a chair.
Though he was beat, he resisted the temptation to drop his head into his hands. Instead, he glanced around them. “Looks a lot different from the last time I was here.”
“I know, right?” Her expression brightened. “Between my nursing shifts, I’ve spent every spare minute possible here, cleaning and straightening.” She took a seat beside him and scooted her chair closer. “Don’t get me wrong. There’s still plenty to do.”
They were alone in the building—his fault, since he’d never gotten around to inviting any of the guys at the station to join him.
“I apologize.” He blew out a breath.
“For what?” She eyed him worriedly.
“I was supposed to rally the troops to help out this evening, but I dropped the ball.”
“I’m glad you did.” She reached over to remove his Stetson and set it on the table in front of him. “You’re exhausted.” She squinted closer at him. “And sad.”
“Not anymore,” he joked, but there was a catch in his voice. “It’s impossible to be unhappy when I’m around you.”
“Aw, Aaron!” She reached over to brush a lock of hair away from his forehead.
He leaned into her touch. “It’s true.”
“It’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.” She lowered her hand to the table, spilling more sunshine over him with her smile. “And hearing you say it in your Yankee accent is the icing on the cake.” Her sigh was one part fangirl and the other part wistful. “I could seriously listen to you all day long, Deputy Cannon.”
Maybe his tiredness was lowering his defenses, but he didn’t stop to analyze what was happening between them. Maggie was sitting so close and radiating so much sweetness that he couldn’t resist dipping his head over hers.
“If you don’t want me to kiss you, now’s your chance to run,” he informed her huskily.
She didn’t run.
Their lips touched, and time slowed. She was so warm, soft, and giving—the perfect balm to his aching heart.
He knew it was too soon for them to be kissing. He had nothing to offer her. He was too emotionally raw and two snaps away from collapsing.
But he couldn’t resist the joy bubbling from her. It surrounded, lifted, and warmed him, taking the edge off his grief and exhaustion. It was as if heaven reached down to touch the earth for one drawn-out, enchanting moment. The shattered parts of him started to knit themselves back together.
For a guy who’d never considered himself to be religious, he felt closer to God while her lips were movingagainst his. When she drew back, his only thought wasmore.
