Page 62 of S.O.S. Perk

He hadn’t exactly gone into detail in his message. He’d said he was going to let their relationship become public once the case was over, but he hadn’t specified how long he expected to be with her.

Sloane groaned. Perk was so…young. Well, not really, but he looked the part, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he needed more experiences behind him to know what a real relationship looked like.

Dammit all. Should she…?

Yes.She should.

Sloane immediately dialed Perk back.

“Hi. It’s me,” she managed.

“Hey. I didn’t want to bother you while you were driving,” he responded. “I know there’s no Bluetooth in your vintage ride. But I just had to tell you how awesome today was, and let you know it wasn’t a one-and-done, and that I’m seeing this as a long-term thing. You were worrying about that, weren’t you?” he questioned cheekily.

“I might have been,” Sloane grumbled.

“And you’re wondering if I know my own mind about what’s happening between us. You think I’m too young to have had a lot of relationships with which to make comparisons.”

Sloane mumbled incoherently again, but he must have intuited her agreement.

“Well, you’re partially right. I haven’t had a lot ofrelationships. Lots of hook-ups in the past, but nothing that stuck. Because no woman before you ever met my criteria for something long-lasting.”

Sloane held her breath, waiting for what came next.

Perk didn’t hesitate. “You, Sloane, were in that category from the get-go.”

Her heart fluttered, but Perk wasn’t finished.

“The minute I started getting to know you, you skipped right by the ‘roll in the hay’ stage, and waltzed into unknown territory for me; someone I could see myself with, long-term.”

Sloane let out a hiss of air. Perk sounded…serious.

“How do you—”

“Sloane. I know,” Perk said with a gravitas she hadn’t heard from him before. “Please give me a chance to prove myself before you talk yourself out of the best thing that’s ever happened to either one of us.”

Now Sloane laughed, but her countenance lightened. “You sound pretty sure of yourself.”

“I am. Aren’t you?”

Sloane sighed. “Uh… Maybe?”

He wasn’t deterred. “Well, I’m even more smitten with you now, than I was before we spent the day in bed, and I thought that was impossible.”

So was Sloane, but giving over that information wasn’t something she was ready for, yet.

“Okay,” she finally allowed. “I enjoyed our day, immensely, and I promise not to ghost you. How’s that for starters?”

“It’ll do,” he answered, but she could hear the happiness in his voice. “So how about sparring at Wiley’s barn on Monday afternoon?Prepare to Diehas a tentative time set for 6 PM if no conflicts come up.”

Sloane snickered at the name SOS had given their group sessions, but at the same time, fizzy little bubbles of joy seemed to rise into her throat, making it hard to answer.

Perk was serious. After having a full day of sex, he really wanted to see her again.

“Sloane?” Perk eventually asked, a little worry in his voice.

“Oh. Sorry. I guess I was busy pinching myself that this is for real.” She sucked in air. “But, yes. I’ll join you Monday night after work if I’m not tied up on a case.”

“Awesome. And Sloane?” his tone grew serious.

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