Page 74 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“Stuck on a desk, handling paperwork backlog and cold cases is better than losing my badge.” Steve still couldn’t believe hehadn’t been fired or demoted. A two-week suspension without pay and being benched from field work for two months wasn’t the worst punishment. “I’m damn lucky, all things considered. Anyway—I don’t mind the grunt work. It needs to be done. Families are counting on us to give them justice.”

"Like yours?” Jack dared to ask.

Steve nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Justice. Vengeance. Closure. He’d realized in the days and weeks following Diego’s death that crime victims never really got the clean ending they desperately wanted. There were always going to be rough edges, little disappointments, unquestioned answers.

“You see the postings list?” Jack asked, gesturing to Steve’s monitor with the file. “It came through a bit ago. Lots of new openings down in south Texas.”

“No. You thinking about leaving? You just got here.”

“No, not me. I just thought—”

“You thought I might want to tuck tail and run?” Steve enjoyed the way Jack squirmed after that awkward question. “Maybe run back to where my family lives?”

“No. I didn’t—I mean—I just thought—”

“Morgan!” Ninfa, the front desk clerk, called out from a nearby doorway. “You’ve got a visitor.”

Steve checked his watch and realized he was more than an hour over his scheduled time. “I’m wrapping this up. I’ll be right out to talk to them.”

Ninfa nodded and left. Jack had skedaddled as soon as Steve’s attention was elsewhere. It took him less than a minute to log out of his computer, lock away the sensitive files that needed to be secured, grab his jacket and hat and sidearm. When he stepped into the lobby, he scanned the area, searching for a familiar face.

He jolted at the sight of her.

Her.

Dina.

Here.

Chic and sexy and elegant as always. A tailored camel-colored coat. Dark jeans. A red blouse. Boots with heels. Gold and diamonds adoring her neck and dripping from her ears. Her dark hair loose and wavy around her shoulders. And those lips. Red knockout lipstick that made him want to beg her for a kiss.

Dina finally noticed him. Her expression faltered. She looked so hopeful and happy to see him, but then, there was the briefest flicker of fear.

She’s afraid I’ve moved on.

She’s afraid I got tired of waiting.

Dina took an apprehensive step toward him. Only one.

His heart ached at seeing her so vulnerable. She was always so strong, always standing tall. Now, here she was, afraid he’d turn her away.

Not needing her to take another step, he strode toward her with purpose. She’d come all this way. The least he could do was close the distance between them.

“Steve,” she said, her voice tremulous.

“Dina.” Unable to stomach her being so nervous and uncertain for even a moment longer, he gently took her trembling hand. He started to speak, but she beat him to it.

“I’m sorry, Steve. I should have called. I should have messaged you. I should have reached out sooner,” she said in a rush. “I wanted to, but I was afraid that you—.”

Throwing caution to the wind, Steve swooped down and claimed her soft lips. Her hands flew to his chest, and she gripped his shirt as if holding on for dear life. She mewled as he deepened the kiss, and only the knowledge that half of Company B was milling around the station made him break away. He’dalready been the subject of rumors and gossip. Wildly kissing a beautiful woman in the lobby would only add to that.

Dina blinked rapidly, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I missed you, Steve.”

“I missed you even more.” He stroked her cheek. “But I kept up with you through Camila’s Instagram and some texts.”

“With fewer pig emojis this time, I hope!”

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