I'd Rather Not (KPD Motorcycle Patrol 3)

Meaning that I’d have to make a mental note to either ask them to hold the veggies, or not bother getting their rice next time.

I also found that I liked the chicken egg rolls.

I did not like the spring rolls.

Pace had devoured his chicken and broccoli, and had also started on the orange chicken before he physically couldn’t fit any more in his stomach.

“I’m going to pass out,” he moaned as he leaned back in his chair.

“You might think about taking off your tight pants,” I suggested teasingly.

He grinned at that and unhooked his utility belt, placing it on the kitchen chair before reaching for the button on his uniform pants.

My body went tight at the unintentional show that he was giving me.

Sadly, like he always did, he stopped without pulling his pants all the way down.

If there happened to be light of any kind in the room, it was more or less a fact that we were about to do it with him still wearing his pants. The only time he shucked the pants at all was when I left for the night.

Honestly, that was a big reason that I wasn’t willing to move in with him even though I knew that his offer had been genuine.

I stood up and started clearing our dishes, shoving four containers of food into the fridge before tossing just as many into the trash.

I cleaned, scrubbed, and loaded the dishwasher all the while telling myself to let it go.

But I couldn’t.

Which was why I turned on Pace, who was busy watching me move around the room, and narrowed my eyes.

“Do you honestly think that little of me?” I practically snapped.

He frowned. “Ummm, what?”

“Do you think that little of me?” I pushed. “Do you think that I’ll laugh? That I’ll look at you and think that you’re disgusting or something? Because let me tell you something, I won’t. I think you’re brave. I think you’re a hero. I think you’re so freakin’ hot that it’s nice that you have something that’s just a little bit normal about you. Sometimes when I look at you, I find it hard to breathe, you’re so gorgeous.” I scowled. “My uncle Foster actually has an amputation as well. I think he made me a little immune to things like that.”

Pace stared at me like I’d grown a second head.

I gestured to his feet. “You won’t shower with me. You won’t let me look at you fully. When I let my hands explore, you still them before they get too far.” I paused and took a deep breath, a thought occurring to me. “Is it me?”

That was when Pace came unstuck.

He stood up so fast that I didn’t have a chance to evade him.

He reached me in two steps and pinned me to the counter in the next.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” he said. “But if anything, I think you’re too good for me.”

I swallowed hard.

“You’re beautiful and kind. You’re everything that I’ve ever wanted in a woman. I used to dream about the perfect life. And there was always someone exactly like you in my dreams. Someone that would love me for me. Someone that would love dogs and love the things that I love. That would do my hobbies with me even though she thought they were weird.” He smoothed his hands down my hair. “My mother and sister haven’t given me good examples of what women are, but you? You’re the most beautiful and precious thing I’ve ever had in my life.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. He’d literally just spewed his heart out, which was what I’d done a couple minutes before, and now we were left in complete and utter silence as both of us absorbed what was said.

“Does that mean that you won’t freak out if I say I love you?” I found myself blurting out.

Of course, I would say that.

Out of all the things that could’ve come out of my mouth, I had to say those three words?

Jesus Christ, Oakley. You’ve literally only been dating for like a month!

“What?” Pace said, sounding confused.

I chose not to repeat myself.

Maybe we could both act like I hadn’t just said that.

“Nothing,” I sighed.

“No.” He caught me up in his arms. “Tell me again what you said.”

I swallowed hard and looked at the sincerity in his eyes.

He knew what I said just as well as I knew what I’d said.

“I love you.”

He closed his eyes and then leaned his head against the top of my head.

“You want to know something crazy?” he whispered against my hair.

“Sure,” I said, feeling my stomach tied in knots and wondering if I would ever be able to look him in the face again.

“I love you, too.”

And just like that, everything was okay.

All the embarrassment that I’d been feeling was just gone.