Page 62 of Sighs By the Sea

I'd rather picture something happy. The three of us, a family. Together. How Grayson can help me be more organized at home and teach me to cook. Joke with me in that purely stoic, deadpan way. How I can help him lighten up, make him more spontaneous, and teach him how to shut the darkness out to have fun.

We’re not exactly opposites, but we complement each other so well, like he is my perfect puzzle piece.

I stare at the ceiling. “Fuck. Grayson, please say something.”

“Maggie, I’m in too.” His words are a balm on my burning heart.

“Thank fuck,” I mumble, and he chuckles. I snap up, my eyes wide. “And you have to promise, whatever happens tomorrow, you’ll hear me out.”

“Why tomorrow?”

Staring deep into his beautiful eyes, I take a shuddering breath. “Because tomorrow I might have to tell you something awful.” My chin trembles as I say it, but my eyes never leave his.

I see the confusion swirling in his gaze, but his chest starts rising and falling in shallow bursts. Before he can get up and leave, I lunge forward and capture his mouth in a kiss. We’re both attacking each other now, but I know it’s probably too soon for a second round of “hide the mob boss’s sausage,” so I pull back. “I’m just going to, uh, clean up.”

I slide off him and run to the bathroom. Behind me, I hear him call out, but I ignore it. Once inside, I lock the door and slump to the floor. The tears pour out of me immediately.

I’m so fucked. The man of my dreams, of my heart, the man I didn’t even know I needed, and his amazing son are both going to hate me tomorrow.

Grayson

Iwake to a stripe of sun on my forehead. Maggie’s curtains aren’t quite long enough to cover the whole window. I feel her on my chest and look down. After she came out of the bathroom, she was clingy. Not that I’m complaining. Sleeping was a little… strange. I never thought of myself as a cuddler, but she doesn’t really give me a choice.

She’s sprawled out over me, her entire torso resting on mine, hair in wild tangles across my chest.

God, she’s gorgeous. My body reacts immediately, my thoughts drifting to how we could start the day. Maybe if I wake her now, we can have a quickie before she has to leave.

“Maggie?” I whisper, gently shaking her shoulder.

“Coffee,” she groans, her voice heavy with sleep. Instead of pushing her up, I pull her hand back and start kissing it. I watch a smile spread on her peaceful face. “Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Cardenas?”

“Mmm,” I murmur. I’d love to, but I know she needs to work. I'm a little desperate for her to get whatever needs doing, done. She said I wouldn’t like it, and maybe it's odd, but I'd love to be able to leave bad news in the rearview.

Instead of worrying about it, I let the beautiful woman on me chase those thoughts away. She props herself up, still smiling. “I might be persuaded if it’s productive…” She makes a show of tapping her chin. “Say, if you maybe… showered with me.”

My body is screaming for me to say yes. Instead of answering, I get up and scoop her into my arms. Carrying her out of the room, I head straight to the hall bathroom. Once inside, I set her on the counter, keeping my eyes on her as I turn the water on.

As the shower heats up, I go back to Maggie. She bites her bottom lip, her feet rubbing together. “Can you help undress me?” she asks.

I slide my hand under her pajama shirt and tug it off. Then, using my teeth, I clamp onto her pajama bottoms and pull them down.

Her hands slide around my neck, and I put mine on the sides of her ass. “I could get used to this,” Maggie says.

Me too, I think as my heart swells. I want it so damn much. I pick her up when she’s naked and kiss her deeply, pouring every ounce of admiration and affection into her mouth. When we disconnect, I walk us to the shower and set her inside. “Now let’s get you clean, Detective,” I say in a low growl.

***

After our shower, I make us scrambled eggs for breakfast. As we eat and drink our coffee, I hold her hand. She scrolls through her phone, talking aloud whenever something catches her eye.

It’s so peaceful and feels so right. Domestic but comfortable. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted a normal life. Prison hadn’t been too tough, other than missing my son. It was more about missing out on a family.

And Maggie makes it so damn easy.

When breakfast is finished, I start rinsing the plates before loading her dishwasher. Maggie goes to get dressed and comes out in jeans and a t-shirt. I know she’s going into work but don’t see her holster.

“Where are you off to?” I ask, taking in her casual attire.

“Skid Row. They can spot cops a mile away. So, Harry and I are gonna grab a bunch of donuts and try to look like volunteers instead.”

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