Heath was already nodding. It was good to know that at least one person I trusted really did have my back.
"I have access to a new vehicle, so we're going to disappear for…I don't know. Maybe five days. We'll contact you when it feels right."
"Colton, you have no right to just take off. Mr. Carlisle will be furious if I don't know where his daughter is."
"And you have no right to keep things from me," I said, a touch of ice creeping into my voice. "If you've put people in danger and not been honest about it, there are going to be some problems when I get back."
Quickly dropping the receiver in place, I tried to arrange my features into a calm expression, even though I was seething inside.
"If it's a security company, won't your boss just trace the call?" Julia asked.
"Warren has no idea that I am buddies with a cop," I said. "He'll be seriously confused when he sees this number and location."
"So I assume the part about a new car was total bull," Heath said. "What are you going to do for wheels?"
"Remember how much you love me?" I said to Heath, blinking rapidly. "I need the unsafe-mobile."
Heath pursed his lips, a low growl taking over his throat. "You wouldn't dare ask for that."
"I just did."
He chuckled. "I get it. You want to use my sweet ride to impress your hot little honey."
I knew that he was teasing and just said that to get under my skin. Still, my fists clenched. "You will never call this nice young lady anything like that again. If it were anyone but you, you'd be picking up your teeth right now."
Looking over, Julia was smirking. "I don't know every detail of the law, but I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to threaten police officers."
"See?" Heath laughed. "She's not offended. If you relax, I'll give you the keys."
Smoothing down his shirt, we exchanged keys, I left our phones with him, then took Julia's hand.
As we walked out the back door of the station, I said, "I know this is asking a lot. But I'm going to need you to really trust me."
I paused to watch those beautiful eyes as she smiled. "I do."
Something came over me. It was like being under a spell. Tipping my head down, I brushed my lips against her cheek on the way to her ear. "It means a lot to me to be trusted by such a gorgeous woman."
"You mean client," she said quietly.
I brought my lips toward hers, hovering so close we could feel each other's breath. "If you'd like to be more than a client, there's a fast way to show me right now, beautiful."
Julia barely hesitated before stretching up to press her mouth to mine. My arms slipped around her, the kiss instantly becoming heated as an intoxicating sensation of sweetness and warmth enveloped us both.
I almost couldn't believe it, yet I knew it through and through.
Julia was the one.
Every time I looked into those lovely eyes, it felt like fireflies were jousting in my stomach. But if I was going to be the man who truly deserved her, I would have to break off our wonderful kiss and do my job.
A full minute later, I forced myself to pull away. "That was incredible, but I need to get you somewhere safe."
Julia stared up at me, looking slightly dazed. "Okay."
I did that. I put stars in my girl's eyes from just one kiss.
I couldn't wait to see what else I could do to make those eyes glow.