Page 77 of His Greatest Treasure

A tentative hand slips between our bodies and presses over my sternum. Her throat bobs. “You’re serious about this, right?”

“What is ‘this,’ exactly?”

She huffs an exhale. “Us, Oliver. You and me. Because with Nova involved, you can’t just decide in a couple of days or weeks that you change your mind. If you let her get close to you, she’ll be heartbroken if you leave.”

“You really need to ask me that?”

Her fingers curl in my shirt, clutchingonto it. “Just answer.”

I tap the underside of her chin and hold her stare, hoping to fuck she can see my sincerity.

“You’re not the type of woman to believe words. You need to see action in addition to spoken promises, and I’m more than up for the task of proving myself to you. All I need is the chance to do that.”

“How do you know me so well already?”

I almost laugh. “I’ve had a long time to learn.”

“You keep saying those things but not explaining. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume you used to have a crush on me when we were kids.”

A cough gets stuck in my throat, and I retreat a step with my fist thumping my chest. Heat burns the skin of my neck and chest, but I don’t blush. Fuck me, I haven’t done that shit in years. Not until Avery came back into my life.

“Oliver?” She looks like she’s holding in one hell of a laugh, and I scowl back at her. Realization hits when I don’t deny her accusation. “Wait, did you have a crush on me?”

“Does it really matter now?”

“Yes! Are you kidding me? How long? When?”

“I’m not getting into that story here.”

I’ve never wanted a call to come in so fucking bad. I’m not even picky on what the call is as long as I can get out of here before she forces me to divulge all of my secrets.

“Don’t close up on me now! I had no idea?—”

A knock at the door cuts her off, and while it’s not a call, it does the job. Avery frowns at the interruption, but I seize it, rushing toward the door and opening it before she can stop me.

Adams is waiting, arms crossed and expression eager. He leans to the side and smiles at Avery over my shoulder before shoving me out of the way and stepping through the doorway.

“Avery, I assume? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’d have been here to welcome you to the station, but I was on a call,” he says, extending his hand for her to shake.

I loom over them like a statue, keeping my eyes sharp andfocused on Adams. The guy’s a good friend, but he loves to get a rise out of me. Pulling the moves on Avery despite his shitty marriage to do so isn’t a line he wouldn’t cross.

Avery takes his hand. “It’s nice to meet you too . . .”

“Brent Adams. Bateman’s best friend,” he says.

“Not my best friend, and watch it.”

I tug on his wrist until he releases Avery’s hand.

He grins like a crazy person, clutching his wrist to his chest. “If the lieutenant here ever gets to be too much, I’m only one locker away.”

“I’d love to meet your wife sometime,” Avery replies, tone sharp, smile saccharine. “Does she come around here often?”

Adams blows out a long, loud breath. “Damn, girl. I don’t know why Oliver’s been having us drive past your house after calls. I think you’re a woman who can take care of herself.”

“Brave of you to assume anything about me so soon,” she says, but it’s me she’s looking at.

Instead of being annoyed with my overprotective ways, she looks pleased. Flattered, even. Fuck, my throat tightens at that expression.

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