He took a couple steps closer, and as he neared, those brown eyes captured her. She told her heart to settle down. Told her nerves to get a grip. It didn’t work.
“What—what are you doing here, Wyatt?”
“I quit my job.”
Grace blinked. “What? What happened?”
“Nothing. And everything. Long story. But once I went back to work, I was on this assignment overseas that dragged on and on, and all I could think about was . . . you, Grace.”
“Me?” she squeaked.
He came around the counter, his eyes smoldering. “Yes, you.”
“But your job . . . It’s your calling.”
“It was my calling. I don’t need it anymore.” He kept coming.
The intense look in his eyes had her backstepping. “Um, why not?”
“Something has settled inside me—that peace I told you about before. I hope you’ve found some of that too.” He was so close she could smell his clean, masculine scent.
“I did.” Her back hit the wall. “Actually, I’m seeing someone.”
He froze, inches away, his eyes sharpening as he searched her.
“I mean a professional,” she added quickly. “Oh, jeez, a counselor. Not—you know, a man. Well, he is a man, but—”
Then his lips were on hers and Grace immediately lost all train of thought. The kiss was needy and demanding, and she yielded to him gladly. Oh, how she’d missed him. Missed his touch, missed his mouth, missed the way he commandeered her every thought, every breath when he touched her.
He placed his hands on the wall near her head, leaning in. She pressed her hands to the taut muscles of his obliques. She knew there was plenty more to talk about—she just couldn’t remember what exactly. She’d despaired of ever being in his arms again, and here he was kissing her. Wanting her. She sent up a prayer of gratitude as she clutched his shirt.
She wasn’t sure how long the kiss went on. There were some mewls and groans and one or two very sexy growls before Wyatt drew away. Their breaths were ragged as his eyes opened lazily.
“I missed you,” he whispered with a love-drugged gaze.
It was addicting. “I missed you too.”
He pressed another kiss to her mouth, this one soft and measured and over too quickly. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
“Fifty-five days’ worth.”
He arched a brow.
Her face warmed. “What? I told you I missed you.”
“Well . . .” He brushed her cheek. “There will be no more of that. I’m moving to Bluebell, Grace. Today.”
“Today? What about your apartment? What about a job?”
“I subleased my apartment to Ethan, and I’ve rented a place here in town. It seems Chief Dalton was looking for a new cop.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Meet the new cop.”
Grace gaped at him. This was so unexpected, so great. She imagined him in uniform, a badge on his chest. She could see it so clearly—oh boy, could she.
“Wyatt, that’s great.” She huffed. “But talk about overqualified . . .”
He put his arms around her waist. “It’s the life I want, right here in Bluebell. If that’s all right with you.”
“Well, I guess I wouldn’t try to kick you out. You know, you being the new police officer and all.”
“Don’t make me regret those moves I taught you. And speaking of that—I’ve been talking with the owner of the gym the past few weeks. It appears I’ll also be teaching an ongoing self-defense course there.”
“You know you’ll have every single woman within a fifty-mile radius signing up.” She caressed his arm, remembering his devotion to his job. All that training, all that work, getting where he’d wanted to be. “Are you sure, though? You’re giving up so much, Wyatt. Won’t you miss the travel? The excitement?”
“I won’t miss the travel, and being on high alert for days on end is exhausting, not exhilarating. I’m sure being a cop will have its own challenges, but they won’t include the same level of sacrifice. Being an agent—it’s just not for me anymore, Grace. I don’t need it. I need . . . you.”
She was starting to see a common thread. They both wanted the same things. And they seemed to be right there for the taking.
Wyatt grasped her face in his hands and gazed at her with such tender affection, her insides went liquid. “In case my actions aren’t clear enough . . . I’m totally and completely in love with you, Grace Bennett.”