are different now.
I have Brie to consider. And the baby. After this case is over, I’ll be ready to hang my badge up, build the dream home I’ve been making blueprints for, and start my family with her, somewhere close to my parents. I want to give Brie what was stolen from her—a family.
If only it were that easy.
That’s why, when Brie mentioned the future, I shut that line of conversation down. I refuse to make her promises I can’t keep. So, until I know I can secure the future she deserves, I’m keeping my mouth shut.
It’s the least I can do.
“Rafe?” Brie’s hands massage my shoulders as her timid voice breaks my train of thought.
“Even though I’m not in the position to make any promises right now, as soon as all this is over, I will. And in the meantime, you’re forgetting one thing.”
Her cute nose wrinkles. “What’s that?”
“You were already planning on moving in here before what happened and before we knew about the baby. So, sure, things may be going fast, but that doesn’t change how we feel.” As much as I want to ask exactly how she feels, I refrain.
“But that was temporary.”
I arch an eyebrow and smirk. “You may have thought so, but you’re out of your mind if you think I’d let you move in here only temporarily. There’s nothing temporary about us, Brie. That’s one promise I can make.”
With a satisfied smile, she repositions herself and leans her head against my shoulder. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Just as I think she’s drifting off, she lifts her head.
“Can you clarify one thing for me though?”
“What’s that?”
Her fingers come up to her mouth, where she twists her bottom lip between her thumb and index finger.
I pull her hand away from her mouth and wrap it up in mine. “Brie? What is it?”
She rolls her eyes then sighs. “It’s probably stupid…” she says, trailing off. Then, with a huff, she squares her shoulders and looks into my eyes. “Earlier today, in the car…you said you were playing the role of the grieving boyfriend.”
“Oh, that. Sure, I probably played it up, which worked because the cop let me behind the tape and closer to you. But still, I meant it. I was freaked the fuck out.”
She waves a hand as if she doesn’t care, and it confuses the hell out of me. “I get that. But then, like you just said, you meant it.”
“Okay…” I breathe out, still not sure what she’s getting at.
For a second, she hangs her head then returns her gaze to mine. “You’re going to make me spell it out for you, aren’t you?”
“Since I have no clue what you’re talking about, yes. Spell it out for this idiot. Nobody said Thor was a genius,” I mock, earning a shove to the shoulder, which causes me to laugh.
“You said boyfriend.”
My shoulders rumble as laughter rips through me. She scowls in return, but I just can’t help myself.
“What the hell do you think we’ve been doing all this time? We may have started as a ‘rebound,’” I tell her, using air quotes, “which was all you, not me. But I’d say, after the first week, we were well past that.”
She shrugs. “I know, but we’ve never actually given it a label.”
“You want labels, Brie? Then fine. It seems insignificant to say, but Gabriella Latham, even though I’ve considered you as such already, will you please do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”
“You’re such a jerk,” she says, laughing and leaning forward kiss me. Her brown eyes dance with delight as she pulls back. “Why, Rafe Matthews, I thought you’d never ask. I’d be honored. And since I’m already carrying your child, I’d say girlfriend is a good place to start.”
I shake my head. “You’re insane.”
“Insanely crazy about you.”
“And I’m a fucking lucky son of a bitch.”
Her laughter tapers off, and she sits back, studying me. “You really mean that, don’t you?” she asks softly.
“I’ve never lied about how I felt, and I’m not going to start now. Of course I mean it.”
“I’m lucky, too, you know.” She laughs quietly. “My sexy boyfriend wields a hammer.”
A low growl escapes my throat, and she has the wherewithal to jump off my lap and race down the hall towards the bedroom. Even though I was right on the verge of uncovering something when she interrupted me, I’ve done enough work for the day. It’ll be here in the morning, and hopefully, we’ll start unraveling clues.
But,