Page 159 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

He’d heard the phone but had been too lost in his depressing thoughts to deal with it, which was unlike him. Homicide detectives were never off duty. “Sorry.”

“What’s going on, Cameron?”

The idea of the step back had seemed much better in concept, when she wasn’t standing right in front of him, looking fresh and beautiful and exhausted, probably from worrying about him. “Nothing. I just think, you know… Things are weird, and it might be better if we…” He shrugged. It had made perfect sense until he had to explain it to her.

She came to him, laid her hands on his chest. “Don’t do this. Don’t push me away in some misguided attempt to keep me safe.”

He should’ve known she’d see right through his flimsy attempt. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Isn’t it? The thing with Ezra happened because it never occurred to me that he might hurt me. I misjudged him, and he caught me in a moment of shock. I haven’t misjudged Jaycee. I know who she is and what I’m dealing with.”

Cameron felt his resolve wavering.

She reached up to caress his face. “Don’t forget I’m a cop, too. I can take care of myself, despite recent evidence to the contrary.”

“I know you can.”

“Then please have faith in me and us, and don’t do this honorable shit where you think you’re protecting me by leaving me. All that’s going to accomplish is you breaking my heart when you promised me you wouldn’t.”

He dropped his head onto her shoulder. “If you were hurt… Again…”

“I won’t be. I know what she looks like and what she wants. I know to look out for her and to be careful. The only way I get hurt here is if you tell me I can’t have you anymore. So don’t do that.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near this.”

“Too late. The only place I want to be is with you. If we let her drive us apart, then she wins, and that bitch cannot win. Do you hear me?”

Cameron wouldn’t have thought it possible to laugh but leave it to Gigi. He raised his head and gazed into gorgeous brown eyes gone fierce with determination. “I hear you.”

“I heard Sam is hitting her with two felony assault-of-police-officer charges,” Gigi said. “Although it’ll probably be pleaded down to lesser charges, the thought of ten years in prison ought to put a scare into her.”

“Let’s hope so.”

“I love you, Cameron. All I want is more of what we’ve started. I want everything with you.”

He put his arms around her and held her close. “That’s all I want, too.”

“Then let’s have it. Let’s live large and love big and have all the things we both deserve, and to hell with anyone who’d get in our way.”

“I ought to be worried about how quickly you were able to talk me out of a plan I was pretty sold on.”

“That plan was stupid, and you knew it, which is why I could talk you out of it so easily.”

Smiling, he brought his hands up to frame her face. “I love you, too. I think maybe I have from the first time I ever saw you.” He hadn’t let himself entertain the possibility then because they’d both been in other relationships. But now there was nothing standing in their way except a crazy ex who wouldn’t leave them alone.

“Nice how that works out, huh?”

“Nicest thing ever,” he said as he kissed her.

“Let’s do it properly this time.” She took his hand and led him up the stairs. “Which way?”

“Left. End of the hallway.”

“I love how you make your bed when most guys don’t know they’re supposed to.”

“Of course I make my bed. I’m not a savage.”

Gigi laughed. “No, you’re pressed and polished and perfect. Will you iron for me when we live together? I hate to iron.”

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