She tried to figure out why her resolve was fading. Perhaps his honesty. Perhaps that he looked so tired. Perhaps because even tired, he looked so damn sexy.
He suddenly continued, “And I’ll even admit that in the beginning I did associate you with all the things I didn’t like about my mom.”
He inhaled deeply. “And if you’re standing here waiting for me to give you a reason for my behavior, well, we’re going to be standing here a long time. I could tell you it’s because I’m exhausted, and I am. I could tell you it’s because I’m torn up inside with grief, and I am. But that doesn’t make it okay. So basically, the only excuse I can think to offer up right now is that I’m an idiot. But I’m an honest idiot who’s apologizing.”
Another wave of empathy ran through her. She wanted to wrap her arms around him. She needed to help him, to erase the grief from his eyes—because somehow helping him, helped her own grief.
And yet, deep down, she remembered something her mother had said. You can’t fix, Brit. He’s going to have to fix himself.
Did that mean she needed to be working on fixing herself too?
He pushed a hand over his face. “Come home with me. I need to know you’re okay. I need you to sleep.”
She looked at him and felt herself wavering again. “What’s happening here?” She waved a hand between them.
“I just want to protect you.” His words stirred her anger again and she managed to find her guns.
“So that’s what this is all about? You, protecting me. There’s nothing happening between us?” Maybe she wouldn’t just stick to her guns, maybe she should load, cock, and fire them on him. “Do you seduce all the women you come across in your job? Take them home and crawl in bed with them and stick your hand down—”
“Cali.” He took a deep breath. “Look, I’m sorry. You’re right. This isn’t just about me protecting you.” He closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened them, he stared right at her, his red-rimmed blue-greens pleading. “I don’t understand everything that’s happening. I’m not going to pretend I do. But all I know is that I don’t want to walk away from here without you. I think if we’re going to figure this out, then we need to do it together. Please. Please, come home with me.”
She studied her toenails again because if she looked hard enough, she’d find her guns down there hanging out at her feet. The guns she was supposed to stick to, but had dropped. He reached out and touched her face, and she no longer wanted to find the guns. She wanted to fall into him, to let him comfort her, and offer him comfort in return.
He pulled his hand from her face. “I won’t even… Nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen.”
“And in that lies the problem.” She raised her gaze.
He smiled as if understanding exactly what she meant. He reached back up and ran a finger over her cheek. “Then why is any of that an issue? We’re both consenting adults.”
“The case,” Cali said. “The fact that you and I barely know each other. The fact that both of us are going through something awful right now, and it isn’t wise to start a relationship.”
“Whoa,” he said. “First, you know more about me right now than most of the guys I’ve worked with for eight years. You even met my mother. No one has ever met my mother. Hell, Keith hadn’t even met my mom.” He hesitated. “And I’d like to think I know you. As for the case, even without your testimony we’ve got solid evidence. The worst that could happen is that I get my ass chewed out by my boss. I’m willing to take that risk. And hell yeah, we’re both going through something, and that’s part of the reason we should be together. To help each other. I need you. Please.”
She bit the inside of her cheek and noted the lines of stress around his eyes. Any fight she’d had in her went the way of the guns. “Let me say good bye to Tanya.”
Relief filled his eyes as he leaned in and kissed her. Not a let’s-have-sex kiss, but a thank-you kiss. “I’ll wait here.”
When she went back in the kitchen, Tanya held out Cali’s purse. “I don’t know how you held out so long.”
Cali took the purse. “I lost my guns.”
“The hell with guns. I just want to hear all the juicy details later.” Tanya hugged her.
Cali hugged back. “Thanks for being here. I owe you.”
“Yeah.” Tanya walked her to the door. “And pay backs are hell.”
~
While Brit waited, his phone rang. He looked at the number and frowned. Keith’s wife. He cut it off and dropped it back in his pocket. When he did, he felt the folded piece of paper. Forgetting what it was, he pulled it out. It was the printed copy of Cali’s credit card bill. He was about to drop it back in his pocket when an idea hit.
If he hadn’t been so tired, he’d have realized sooner. This was the key to catching Stan. He’d charge another room on Cali’s card, and wait for Stan to show up. Hope fluttered inside him. His smile widened when Cali walked out.