Page 70 of Only You and Me

I’m not usually a big hugger, but I let him. Today, I need to feel safe.

* * *

BEN

My frustration level rises when I get back the report on the photographs Trina received. Our lab lifted two partial fingerprints that didn’t belong to Trina off the photos. Because of smearing and smudging, neither matched with someone in the database. To further dash my hopes, there was no DNA able to be extracted off the back of the stamps.

It makes me absolutely crazy to think that whoever this is has been near enough to Trina to snap these photographs and seems to know her schedule. Or is watching her and following her. Though she won’t admit it, I think she’s afraid, and it infuriates me that this person has scared the strongest woman I know.

She texts me whenever she’s going anywhere, and she usually makes sure she’s busy during her days off by spending time with Emily or going to my parents’ house and plarning with my mom. My mom has also given Trina some cooking lessons. Sometimes Trina even goes into the fire station on her days off to do work in her office. She almost never goes home until I text her I’m on the way to her house.

I’ve taken to going to her place as early as possible on the days she isn’t at the station and if I have to run over to my house to get fresh clothes, she comes with me.

In all my years in law enforcement, I’ve never felt so helpless on a case and, as a man, I’ve never felt so fiercely protective of anyone. I would die to keep Trina safe, and I won’t stop until this fucker slips up and I catch him—because he will slip up. When he does, I’m going to find the pathetic asshole and give my wife back the peace of mind she deserves.

CHAPTER23

BEN

I’m not sure I could be any hotter than I am right now. Not in a good way.

Emily is moving into Fitz’s house today since hers just sold and she only had two weeks to vacate, clearly not enough time to find a new place. Most of our friend group is here to help.

Jack and I wrestle one of Emily’s queen size mattresses up the stairs. This fucker is heavy as hell.

“Hell, Em. Did you have to pick the hottest day in July to move?” Jack teases.

“Hey,” Annie scolds him, “don’t be mean to my friend.”

“Yeah, and July second isn’t the hottest day. Usually it’s July eighteenth,” Shayna adds. She shrugs like everyone should know that.

“Seriously, how do you know so much useless information?” I grunt out.

Before Shayna can respond, the front door opens. Trina walks in and sets a box on the floor. “You need me to get your end, Benjamin?” Her tone is teasing, but not sarcastic like she used to be with me. I look over my shoulder and she’s got a devilish grin as she watches us struggle with the mattress.

Goddamn, she’s beautiful in cut-off jeans and a tank top, her blonde locks pulled up in a messy bun on her head.

I’m so caught up in looking at her, I almost stumble on the stairs. I force myself to turn my attention back to the job at hand. Falling now would be painful for my bodyandmy pride.

I decide to build on her playful mood. “You’re hilarious. It’s easy for you ladies to judge when you’re sitting pretty down there with your boxes of towels to carry.” The women laugh, including Trina, because even though my back is to them, I’d know that gorgeous sound anywhere. Fuck, with all she has going on, it’s been too long since I’ve heard her laugh.

“Hey, less talking and more lifting, bro,” Jack complains. Even from my spot below him, I can see sweat trickling down Jack’s left temple. At least it’s not just me.

“Isn’t he so hot?” Annie says to the other women.

“Thanks, babe,” Jack calls out to her.

Newlyweds…

After another minute of fighting the mattress, we take another break, and I glance down at the women. They’re fucking eating popsicles as they sit on the ground watching us, amused expressions on their faces.

“Seriously? They get popsicles?”

Another burst of humid air rushes into the house and I turn to see Fitz and Finn carrying the other mattress in. They move behind the women and pause, placing their mattress on the ground while they wait for Jack and me to finish with ours.

We get back to work and now just have to clear the turn at the top of the stairs. As I attempt to bend the end of the mattress to get it through the space, I lose my tight grip on the side of it. The rebound of the mattress flings me into the banister, and I grunt, more from frustration than actual pain. Finally, we reach the top and place the mattress on the floor, leaning it against the cedar banister Fitz has bordering the catwalk around his upstairs.

Sweat is rolling off my forehead and into my eyes, so I lift the bottom edge of my T-shirt and pull it up to wipe my face and neck. When I drop it, I instinctively look down, my eyes searching for Trina. My eyes always find her in any room she’s in. It’s like something in me recognizes she’s near and starts looking for her. I’m pleased to see her wide-eyed and her mouth open ever so slightly as she’s watching me. When she makes eye contact with me, I can’t help but smirk at her. Just then, I realize there’s no feeling as amazing as finding your accidental wife checking you out and clearly enjoying the view.

---