Total pages in book: 767
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
“What… what are you doing here?”
“Claiming our woman,” Donovan said.
Claiming—
“What?” I replied.
Donovan stepped into the room, Nix following. He closed the door, leaned against it, arms crossed. “We’re here to get you back.”
My heart was practically beating out of my chest. They wanted me. They came for me.
“But the murderer—”
“Is in jail. He confessed,” Nix said.
“I know but why? How?” So many questions.
“The guy’s name is Dennis Seaborn. Mid-thirties. They’d had a fling and she ended it for another guy. He was jealous. He describes the wedding, how he followed Erin home. When she didn’t take him back, he hit her with the trophy in anger.”
“But I didn’t hear anything,” I replied, confused as how it was possible.
Nix shrugged. “I don’t know the details. Miranski and the chief are on it. All I know is everything ties in with what forensics says. The time of death, all of it.”
“Now there’s no excuse for you to push us away,” Donovan said.
I shook my head. “No. God, please. Don’t. It’s too hard.”
Donovan smiled, swiped a tear away with his thumb. “It’s easy, Kitty Kat. Just say yes.”
I swallowed down a lump in my throat. “I can’t.”
“Why not? You don’t want us anymore?”
I shook my head, realized that was the wrong thing. “No, I do. It’s just—”
“What, Kit?” Nix asked. He had on his cop face, hiding all of his emotions.
I was an ugly crier, a total mess with splotchy cheeks, puffy eyes and a boogie nose.
“I won’t let you risk so much for me.”
Nix pushed off the door. “Donovan’s the one who likes to spank your ass, but my palm’s feeling twitchy. Since when do you decide what Donovan and I do about our jobs? Our feelings toward you?”
“When you’d get fired!” I shouted. “You’ve worked so hard for what you’ve accomplished and I won’t have it taken away.”
“Why? Because you have?”
I tossed my hands up. “Yes!”
“So you’ll take away even more—us?”
I looked at the linoleum floor at my feet. “Yes.”
“No,” Donovan snapped. “Do you love us, Kitty Kat?”
I looked up at him, at his expressive eyes. I saw everything there. Heat, need, frustration. Love.
“Yes,” I whispered.
A smile spread across his face and his hand hooked behind my head, pulled me in for a kiss. God, his mouth felt so good against mine. Soft and warm, bold and wild.
When he pulled back, my mind was fuzzy and my fingers were curled into the front of his shirt.
“That’s all that matters,” he murmured, kissing my forehead. “Because I love you.”
“And if he’d get out of the way, I’d show you how much I love you, too,” Nix added, bumping Donovan’s shoulder to make him move.
I released my hold on Donovan and Nix swooped in, pulled me into his arms. Kissed me senseless.
“We haven’t solved anything.”
“I’d say loving each other is a pretty fucking good start,” Nix said.
It was, but the same problems remained.
“I quit my job.”
I met Donovan’s gaze after I processed his words. “Why? Oh, Donovan, no.”
“And I told my boss about us. I’m not on Erin’s case anymore.”
“But the murderer is in jail. Miranski said so.”
“He is,” Nix confirmed. “My quitting has nothing to do with the arrest.”
I frowned.
“I quit before the guy turned himself in,” Donovan said.
“Again, why?” I asked.
“Because you gave us up to protect us. It pissed us off to know you were protecting us from you.”
I looked away. “I was,” I admitted.
Nix practically growled, set his hands on my shoulders and made me look at him. “We. Protect. You.”
“You made us realize what’s important. I don’t want to be a pawn for my dad any longer. So I walked away.”
“I can be a meter maid if you’re by my side,” Nix added.
The image made me smile.
“There’s my girl,” Donovan murmured, cupping my cheek again. “We knew you were innocent. Now everyone else does, too.”
“Won’t you miss your job?” I wondered.
He shook his head. “I’ll start my own business. Know anyone who might be able to plan a grand opening celebration?”
With that, my heart opened back up. The misery lifted like morning fog in the sunshine. I loved these men. They loved me.
“We want everything, Kit,” Nix said. “No more sacrificing yourself. We’re in this together.”
I nodded. “Together.”
“Let’s go,” Donovan said, flinging the door open, taking my hand and leading me down the hallway to the back door.
“Wait! I have to finish my shift.”
He didn’t stop.
“Dolly’s covering for you,” Nix said, following right behind. “And with what we plan to do with you, a storeroom’s not going to work.”
14
NIX
“We’re going to need to buy a new house,” I said as I worked Kit’s diner T-shirt up and over her head.
I was impressed we’d made it all the way to my house without pulling over and fucking her.
I hadn’t been inside her in over a day. Way too long. I knew Donovan was just as desperate, but nothing loomed over us any longer. I hadn’t jerked off because I knew we’d get her back. It had only been a matter of time. And now my balls were full for her.