Love by Association

“Two things,” he said. “First, I hear you had an offer from the commissioner.”

Wow. They didn’t waste any time pulling their punches.

“I turned him down.”

Colin grinned again. “I rather thought you might,” he said. “I came here straight from my meeting with him because I wanted you to be the first to know.” He leaned in again. “And unfortunately, for the moment, you can be the only one who knows, but I can trust you to keep a secret.”

“What is it?” She pulled back to look him in the eye. Would the man ever stop confusing her?

“He’s going to resign, Chantel. He’s making the announcement on Sunday. Right after he delivers, to my office, the list of names of everyone in this department who’s been involved in making deals.”

Her mouth dropped open.

He closed it for her.

“People are staring,” he said softly enough that no one could hear. But she looked around, and he was right. A small crowd was beginning to form, Wayne right there with them.

“I didn’t plan it this way, but I have to say I’m not sorry to have them here, seeing that you trust them with your life and let them trust you with theirs...”

Now he was talking nonsense. Was he jealous of her fellow officers?

Before she could ask, he went down on one knee and took hold of her hand.

“Chantel Harris, I’d meant to do this when you were still Johnson, Saturday night after the gala, but you went and shot someone, and, well...”

People were closing in on them. She was sweating like a pig.

“Will you marry me?”

“You don’t want to be married to a cop.” She was going to ask for a desk job. Because she didn’t trust herself not to hesitate in the face of danger, and she didn’t want to hurt Colin and Julie.

“I’m not sure I’ll be any good at it,” he said. “But I definitely want to be married to you. And you’re a cop.”

Everyone was staring at her. Waiting.

“I don’t like the idea of you putting yourself in harm’s way,” he said. “But what I’ve come to see is that you’re damned good at what you do, Chantel. And you’re well trained. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I trust you to keep yourself safe.”

He trusted her. And he was giving her the freedom to protect herself.

“Help me out here, Chantel. I’ve had zero practice at this. You’ve been tough a long time. Can you meet me halfway? Let me share the job of having your back?”

Tears sprang to her eyes and spilled over as her chest started to rumble. “Oh, my God,” she said, the words ending on a sob before she stopped herself by holding her breath. He stood. She stared up at him. He got something about her she hadn’t. Not until that moment.

She’d learned early on that she couldn’t count on anyone to watch out for her. The job was hers alone. So she’d done what she could to be up to the task.

It was always about the job.

Because it was through the job that she felt safe living life.

Colin pulled her up against him as she forced herself to take deep breaths against the tears that were squeezing past her resolve to hold them in check. He held her, giving her time to calm herself.

“Does that mean she’s saying yes?” she heard someone ask.

“Yes.” She recognized that voice. It was Wayne’s, with a peculiar note, like he was celebrating or something, and it gave her the impetus to look up at Colin.

“Yeah,” she said loudly. Boldly. Harris style. “I will marry you, Colin Fairbanks. And yes, I will share my back with you.”

He kissed her then. Like he had when they were all alone in her posh hotel room. And she returned the kiss.

Not giving a rat’s ass about the whoops and hollers going on all around them.

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