Page 18 of Finding Home with You

“That’s what you get for living in a small town, baby,” he says, reaching over to squeeze her thigh.

“I know,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest in a huff. “I’m beginning to think moving to Boston sounds like a smart idea after all.”

Beck laughs again. “Bullshit, you love this town,” he says, glancing at her. She smiles at him and I know he’s right.

“Don’t pretend you don’t, too,” she says, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

“You know I do, babe,” he says.

I turn to Erin and see she’s looking at me, instead of them. I get the feeling she hasn’t even been listening to the conversation at all. “You okay?” I ask, stretching my arm along the back of the seat so my fingers are brushing the back of her neck.

“Yeah,” she says quietly.

“Erin,” I say. “What’s wrong?”

Erin glances to Beck and Kelsey now. They’re laughing about something and it’s obvious they are both over-the-moon happy. Moving back here has been good for him. Gone is the grouchy detective who carried a chip on his shoulder and refused to let anyone in. The one who lived for his job and would often be first one in and last one out of the office each night. Beck might have loved being a cop, but it’s clear that he loves Kelsey more and there is nothing even remotely close to resentment at the fact that he had to give all that up to move back here so he could be with her.

I glance at Erin again and see she is still watching them and it suddenly dawns on me what’s going on here.

“Baby,” I whisper, my hand on her chin and dragging her attention back to me.

“Yeah?” she says.

“Yesterday morning, what we talked about,” I start, wondering if she knows what I’m referring to.

“What about it?” she asks, almost defensively as though she’s also remembering the argument from last night and the impact that had on my words.

“I meant what I said about falling for you,” I say, my thumb running along her bottom lip. “And part of falling for you means I don’t want to even think about being with anyone else.”

“I haven’t been with anyone since I met you,” she says and the shocked look on her face tells me that’s not what she was planning to tell me.

I smile, an unexpected feeling of relief flowing through me, at both her admission and the fact that she wants this, despite how scared I know she is. “Neither have I, Red,” I tell her. “And I’d really like to keep it that way.”

“You would?” she asks nervously.

“Erin,” I say, leaning closer so my mouth is only inches from hers. “When I’m in, I’m all in.”

“Really?”

I close the gap and press a light kiss to her lips. “Really. And babe,” I add, kissing her again. “I am sorry about last night…the whole Finn thing.” Erin pulls back, her eyes meeting mine. “Truly, I’m sorry,” I repeat. “It won’t happen again.”

She looks at me as though she isn’t sure she can believe me. Just when I’m about to tell her again, she nods and whispers, “Thank you,” before leaning in to kiss me again.

Lunch at the pub is fantastic. It’s on the river and even though it’s too cold to sit on the balcony outside, inside there is a huge stone fireplace that sits right in the center of the room. We grab a table by the window and spend the afternoon laughing and talking. The ladies volunteer to drive home, so Beck and I sample the wide range of beers they have and by the time we’re rolling out of there, the sun has long gone.

When we arrive back at Beck and Kelsey’s place, we say goodnight, me promising I’ll see them both again very soon. And as I slide onto the passenger seat of my SUV, laughing as Erin has to adjust everything so she can drive it, I can’t help but wish I really could stay here forever.

“You okay there, Detective?” Erin asks, glancing over as she backs out of their drive.

“I will be soon,” I say, leaning over to kiss her as I slide a hand up her thigh.

“You’re drunk, aren’t you?” she says, laughing as she half-heartedly swats my hand away.

“Maybe,” I say. “But I’m still hot for you.” I slide a hand under Erin’s sweater, cupping her breast in my hand as I pinch and pull her nipple through her bra. I smile as she gasps before shooting me a wicked look.

“Ryan,” she warns.

“What, Red?” I murmur, my mouth on her neck now.

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