Fireball (Cheap Thrills 1)

Leaning further into him, I tilted my head back so I could make eye contact with him. “I’m fucking relieved you’re giving me a second chance, Sheriff.”

It would be a lie to say that all was right with us because of how we were right now. No one goes through what we had and just shrugs it off. We still had a lot to learn about each other, a lot of growing to do as a couple, and adjustments to be an ‘us’, but we’d get there. There was no doubt about that.Chapter FourteenTabbyTwo weeks later…

I was reluctant to say it because I didn’t want to tempt fate, but life was good. In the last two weeks, I’d gotten to know Dave’s dad, Alex, and we got along well. I’d introduced him to Jose, and he’d fallen in love with Olivia when she’d passed her to him. This was something I’d learned as an aunt – both Jose and I were particular about who held the baby, and I had to assume that most new parents were the same. You didn’t just want anyone to hold them, especially after what Jose had been through with Larry and Rita. So, when you passed someone the baby, it was almost like you were saying they were good people who you trusted with your world, and I loved that she’d thought that about Alex.

Dave and I had grown together like I’d known we would, and our level of compatibility never ceased to amaze me. We moved in sync every time we were around each other, he could read my emotions and always knew the right thing to do or say, and we just had a blast together. No matter what we were doing, we were easy around each other and that’s what I’d dreamed of having. Well, aside from his house, because that place sucked. It was even less welcoming than my cell at the police station.

Today was Saturday, and I was visiting him at work. He’d initially tried getting weekends off so we could spend time together, but when it hadn’t been possible, I’d explained that it was fine and meant I could get shit done and spend time with Olivia to give Jose a break. I wasn’t sure if it was me or the knowledge the baby was at my house that made him do it, but whenever she was there, he found an excuse to finish early and came home to spend time with her.

That was another thing I loved – the man genuinely cared for Liv. He was always looking online for ways to advance her learning level even though she was only just coming up to six weeks old. When he did that, he’d get distracted by toys and clothes, and the next day a box would arrive with stuff inside it for her. Just this morning the cutest pair of glittery pink boots had arrived with a pale pink fur lining for her to wear when it started getting colder. I was going to pass them onto Jose when we met up in an hour, after I’d dropped in to see my man.

As I opened the door, the contrast between the hot and humid air outside versus the ice cold blast of air inside the station made me do a quick look down at my chest to make sure I wasn’t pointing the way with my nipples. Thankfully, I’d worn a padded bra today, but still it didn’t hurt to make sure.

Walking past Rory’s desk, I gave my normal wave, getting a glare in return. No matter how many times I tried, the woman just hated me. I didn’t hear any noise coming from Dave’s office as I got closer to it, but I could see him sitting behind his desk, his focus on his computer screen.

“Knock, knock,” I called as I walked in and closed the door behind me. I’d tried knocking and waiting for him to tell me to come in, but he’d threatened to spank me in front of everyone if I did it again, and that’s not what I wanted my students to find out about so I hadn’t done it since. Sure, it could have been an empty threat, but I wouldn’t put him past it and didn’t want to test that theory out.

The grim look on his face disappeared as he saw me, and a softer one took over it. “Hey, baby. How’s my fireball?”

Plonking my ass down in the seat opposite his desk, I huffed out a breath. “Not to go into too much detail, but…”

“Uh, baby,” he held his hand up to stop me. “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Frowning, I looked around and then back at him. “What picture?”

“This one,” he stressed, motioning between the two of us.

“I’m not sure…”