Page 38 of Andy

Mel shrugged. “I don’t know. April had an argument with someone she worked with, but that was months ago. We respected each other’s space, and we didn’t have problems. We just really didn’t spend much time together.”

Houck nodded, and she turned back to gather her makeup and other stuff. She thought she had it all and did one last look around, spying a box on the top shelf of her closet. She let go a huge sigh and shook her head.

“Need help?”

She shrugged. “Yeah. It’s the ashes of my grandparents. I should get that out of here. I should have gone out and dumped the ashes in the ocean a long time ago. I’m a bad granddaughter.”

Houck scoffed. “No, you’re not. That’s a hard thing to do, you know, taking on something like that. You don’t want to do it wrong.”

“I really don’t. My mom gave me the task, and I just haven’t. I feel guilty.”

“Don’t let that guilt eat you up. Maybe your boyfriend could help you with that task. He is in the Navy and can probably handle a boat.”

“Huh, I hadn’t thought of that. Thank you. You’re a good person, Detective.”

He snorted a laugh. “Don’t let my ex-wife hear you say that. I may be a good person here, but cops don’t make the best spouses. There are loads of stuff I should have done differently, but I didn’t. I have regrets. You’re much younger than me, and with the robbery and now this, you’ve seen some stuff. Don’t let the crap that happens in your life pull you away from that man if he’s who you want. Talk stuff out and never let it fester.”

She nodded, trying to really hear what Houck had to say. He was right. If she wanted to be with Andy, they would have to work on their relationship. Andy was the right person for her. Now, they just had to navigate a path that would keep them together instead of pushing them apart.

Chapter 22

On Saturday, she and Andy stayed in, just hanging out at his place, not doing much. She’d brought home her things but hadn’t done more than shove them into an empty closet. Before lunch, Andy suggested he help her go through her things, and she suddenly remembered the box. She’d failed her grandparents and her parents. They’d expected her to take care of this.

“What’s up?” Andy asked, his eyebrows raised.

He was way too intuitive for her to ever get anything past him. She liked that he actually paid attention to her.

“My grandparents. I was supposed to go out and spread their ashes, but I forgot. It’s that box in the back corner. I meant to do it, but things happened, and time kept passing me by. I didn’t get it done. Now I feel guilty.”

Andy’s lips screwed up to the side. “Let me call Peach.”

Andy stepped out of the bedroom, and she heard him on the phone as she went through her stuff. She needed to make decisions about her things, like where to put them, but first, she would need to buy some furniture.

The scuff of Andy’s feet on the carpet drew her attention. She glanced up from her spot on the floor in the closet by her things. “What’s up?”

“Peach’s parents left their boat here. He said he would love to take us out tomorrow to spread the ashes. He thought doing it around sunrise would be good.”

“That would be perfect.” She hopped up and moved to hug Andy. He held her loosely and rested his forehead against hers. Being in his arms felt amazing.

“I’ll set my alarm so we can make it there. Now then, what do we need so you can actually put your stuff away and get it out of these bags?”

“I think I need to buy a dresser.”

“Let’s see what we can find. I mean, I know you’ve been living here because I was hurt, but I really want you to actually move in with me. Like, really live here because I want you here, not just because you feel the need to keep an eye on me.”

Laughter bubbled up, and she kissed his cheek. “It feels good to be here with you. I’m amazed, though.”

“Amazed about what?” Andy asked.

“That you want me here. That you want to be with me. I never thought I would find someone who cared as much as you do.”

Andy ran his thumb over her cheek, his gaze so full of love a shiver slid down her spine. She swore the temperature in the room rose by a few degrees. The kiss from Andy was like lightning. Heat pulsed deep inside as her need grew.

She hopped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. His smile sent more warmth through her. After a deep kiss, he carried her to the bedroom.

Their sex life was picking back up, but this was the first spontaneous romp in the bedroom. Worry for Andy spiked, but he didn’t seem to be having any problem. His mouth was on her, sucking and kissing between licking and driving her crazy. She was on the edge of her orgasm when he slid two fingers into her. His move pushed her over the edge.

“Fuck yeah, baby, come for me.”

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