restraining order against her and two nights in jail.
Dave always regretted not smoothing things over with her after that incident, but he’d also received a warning from his captain. Now, however, he was the captain, and his personal life wasn’t scrutinized by anyone who mattered.
The cypress trees grew thick, and the moss hung down to the ground around her apartment. He’d liked it the first time he visited, and he liked it now. It was a small building, maybe ten apartments in all, five over five, and she had the end unit on the upper level. He’d stopped at the One Stop and got a six-pack and a bouquet of flowers; maybe tacky but he wanted to make the effort. And he wanted to clear up right away that if she wanted the visit to be only professional, he’d keep it that way.
The door was open and she waited behind the screen.
“Do you want to keep this strictly business?” he asked right away.
“No.”
She held the door open for him, and he walked through, handing her the flowers. “One Stop,” he said, and they laughed out loud.
“I like their flowers. It’s nice. Thank you.”
The chemistry was so powerful, in those parts they called it testosterone, that he wanted to grab her and lift her up so she could wrap those legs around his waist. They’d done it before.
“It’s taking all the self-control I have not to take you right now,” he said, frowning.
“Me too,” she replied. “But we should try. Let’s see if there is anything happening up here”—she tapped on her head—“between us.”
“I’ve always regretted not working things out between us,” he said with a little urgency in his voice.
“I’ll apologize right now for acting like a maniac. I’m so sorry. I’ve learned a lot about myself since that day. I’ve made a few more mistakes since then that I’m so regretful about. Can you forgive me for all of it?”
“I can,” he said, reaching for her.
They embraced for a few minutes, and the lust segued to tenderness, to trust.
“Wow, was that just me?” she whispered, sniffing. I will not cry! I will not cry!
“No, I felt it, too. I think we should give this a chance, Amber.”
“Do you need to talk to your brother and his girlfriend?”
Dave let his hands skim down her arms as he moved away from her. “No, but I will because I want you to be treated with respect.”
After Dave’s encounter with Amber the previous year, Justin had had a one-night stand with her over the summer. In retrospect, it was probably a revenge screw against Dave.
But then later, when she discovered Justin was serious about Maggie, Amber broke into the cottage and ransacked the place, stealing Maggie’s computer and phone and a few other items, including a shotgun. She’d apologized and made restitution, but really, was it even realistic to think they could forgive her for that?
He reached for her again. “Amber Greely, will you be my girlfriend? Through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, till we decide what the next step will be?”
Throwing her arms around him, she squeezed him close to her body. “Yes! I’ve never had a boyfriend at Christmas, so this will be a first.”
It was at that moment he noticed she wore the garnet pendant he had bought her at the Christmas festival last year.
“You definitely will have a date,” he said. Then he looked around her apartment. “Let’s decorate.”
“I don’t have anything.”
“We’ll take care of that this week. Do you want to offer me a cup of coffee? I suddenly don’t think it’s a good idea to drink alcohol tonight.”
“Ha! I agree. We’re on best behavior.”
“Because you’re worth it, and we all know I can get a little rambunctious when I’ve had a few under my belt.”
“Me too,” she admitted, leading him into the kitchen. “Coffee it is. Can I tell you about Dr. LeBlanc?”
“That’s my excuse for being here,” he said, sitting at her kitchen table.
She told him about Ted showing up, and then when she challenged him, he backed right down.
“It seems like he did the right thing, but there’s something going on with him that isn’t right. Now I have to go to work tomorrow, and who knows what will happen there? I’m a little leery, to tell you the truth.”
“Understandably. Do you feel that you’re unsafe there?”
“I’m not sure. We’re never really alone. His office people are there and his assistant, Gerald. And the clients.”
“What would the impact be if you quit?”
“I couldn’t