The Distance Between Us (MAC Security 3)

“Ohhh!” She winks. “Want me to buzz you up?”

“Is he up there?”

“Yeah.” She nods, pressing the button to unlock the door to his unit.

I pull the door open and leave my duffle bag at the bottom of the stairs before I slowly make my way to the top.

When I get there, I see Charlie, his back turned to me as he writes something on the whiteboard.

The black t-shirt that he wears strains against his biceps as he moves his arm and I can’t stop looking. My eyes trace down his back, knowing what lies beneath his t-shirt. The gun that sits on his belt draws my attention and makes me miss Betty, my gun. It’s been so long since I held her in my hands and I promise myself that the first thing I’m going to be doing tomorrow is go to the range to release all of our tension.

Someone calls his name and I take three steps forward and wait.

I stick the photo of the suspect on the board, writing his name above it. “I want a profile on him.” I continue to write all of the information that I already have on him. “He’s wanted for suspected murder.” I stick another photograph on the board and write the victim’s name above it.

“Sarge?” Leroy calls.

“Any known contacts, family, friends, anything. I want a full workup.”

“Sarge?” he calls again.

“What?” I ask, turning to face him. He tilts his head to the stairs and I move my eyes to where he’s indicating.

Her lips spread into a huge grin and her eyes sparkle. She’s glowing, actually glowing. I can’t believe she’s here, no one told me she was coming home, in fact, I don’t even think they knew themselves.

“Kitty?” I step forward, the whiteboard pen falling out of my hand and dropping to the floor. “You look… you look…”

“Hey.” She smiles, moving forward and meeting me halfway.

As soon as we’re within touching distance I slam my lips down onto hers and wrap her up in my arms. Spinning her around and walking into my office, not caring where we are or who’s watching.

It feels good to have her back in my arms, no, good is an understatement. It feels fantastic, amazing.

When she left for the airport a couple of months ago, I knew she was angry with me for what I did, what I made her do, but I don’t care. She could hate me and I’d still be grinning like a fool at her because I did that to help her, to bring her back to me and let her become the fierce, outspoken, amazing Kitty that I know and love.

I slam my office door shut with the boot of my foot.

“I missed you,” she whispers when we pull apart, her hand coming up to my face and running through the scruff on my jaw. “I love you.”

Her eyes shine with truth and mi

ne close of their own accord, relishing in the sound of those words coming from her mouth.

I never thought I’d hear those words come from a woman’s mouth again, but more importantly, I never thought I’d say them again.

“I love you too,” I tell her, kissing her lips then pulling back. “So. Damn. Much.”

Her eyes shine and I catch the tear that escapes as soon as it flows from the corner of her eye.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

“Ready?”

“To start your life with me?” She smiles; a lopsided smile. “I’ll warn you,” she says, running her hands over my shoulders and down my arms before taking ahold of my hands. “I’m not easy to be with, I’m bitchy and can be so moody you’ll pull your hair out. But… I love you, and that isn’t something that I give easily, but you did it,” she says, stepping closer. “You broke my walls down, you were there when I was at my worst, even when I pushed you away, you were still there.”

“I’ll always be here, Kitty Kat, always,” I tell her, pulling her closer and wrapping my arms around her.

This is my second chance, at love, at life, and I’ll do anything for her.