Page 38 of Six of Hearts
"Duty calls?" Aria asked, her hand still resting against me, a knowing look in her eyes.
"Robbery and hostage situation," I said. She pulled back, and I wanted nothing more than to reach out and keep her there, but she knew I had to go. So did I. "Can you please stay with—"
"Go," she said, nodding toward the door. "I'll see you when you get home."
That phrase did something to me I wasn't expecting. She'd be there when I got home. It was so simple, but in that moment Irealised how much I'd missed it. No one had been waiting for me in years.
No one had cared.
For the first time in a long time, the urge to go to my job was stifled by the urge to stay home, to stay near Aria. Even as I grabbed my keys and gave her a quick kiss, all I could think about was what I had to do to get back to her.
She was waiting for me, and the feeling that gave me was something way heavier than I was willing to examine right now.
My partner and I had to go on a high-speed chase through downtown Dallas to catch the suspect. He caused two car accidents and had nearly killed the woman from the bank that he'd taken hostage.
We got through the night unscathed, but after all the paperwork, getting the victims to the hospital, and writing reports, I was so exhausted I could barely see straight. I trudged into my house hours later, knowing I didn't have it in me to be with Aria the way I wanted to tonight.
When I couldn't find her in any of the common rooms, I headed upstairs and checked Caleb's room. I wasn't expecting her to be there—I just wanted to see my son, to ground myself after the chaos of the night.
But the sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks.
Aria was curled up on the bed with Caleb wrapped in her arms, both of them sleeping peacefully. She looked like a mother protecting her child, and the expression of pure serenity on Caleb's face told me he was experiencing something he hadn't felt in a long time.
The loving embrace of a mother.
I stood there for a long moment, memorising the scene. I never wanted to forget this.
Finally, I moved quietly into the room and gently touched Aria's shoulder. She stirred, her eyes opening slowly, and when she saw me, she smiled.
"Hey," she whispered. "Welcome back. I wanted to be downstairs when you got home, but Caleb woke up looking for you."
I shook my head.
"Never apologise for this. Come on."
She pressed a soft kiss to Caleb's forehead, then carefully untangled herself from him and climbed off the bed. I leaned down, tucked the blankets around my son, and kissed him too.
He stirred only to burrow deeper into his pillow, letting out tiny snores.
I led Aria out of Caleb's room and into mine. She stood there watching me, and I could see the desire in her eyes, but she was holding back, waiting to see what I needed.
It killed me that I couldn't take her the way I wanted to. Not tonight.
"I'm exhausted," I admitted, and I saw a flash of disappointment cross her face before she masked it with understanding.
"I can only imagine," she said softly.
"You should get some rest."
I reached out and took her hand.
"Will you stay with me?"
Her eyes widened. “Stay?"
"Please," I said, and my voice came out rougher than I intended. "Just stay here with me."
Something shifted in her expression—surprise, then warmth. "Of course I will."
