her gaze. So much history to sort through and examine. Maybe too much. "There is so much damage to repair."
A tear slipped down her cheek. "I know."
He swallowed hard as he once again made himself vulnerable to the woman he’d once loved and still cared for. He wiped off the bead as it traveled toward her chin. "Where do we start?"
"I don't know." She reached a trembling hand to his. "Maybe being friends and getting to know each other again?"
Gage shouted from the porch, "Mom! Dad! You want dessert?"
"Your dad does! Just a minute!" Amber called back.
He chuckled. Although moving from this spot was the last thing he wanted, he always enjoyed dessert. "You know me so well."
"I want to know you better."
"We'll need to file paperwork with HR. I don't want this to come back and bite either of us."
"This?"
"Us."
"God, I never thought there would be an us again." She closed her eyes for a moment.
He traced his thumb across her cheek. "I always hoped there would be."
Brody drove up in front of Dawn's house. The front porch light was on.
"I better wake him up." Amber opened the truck door and turned toward Gage.
"Let him sleep. I'll carry him in."
"Are you sure? He's really heavy."
"Yeah, my back reminded me of that today when we scored the tenth touchdown. I've got him. You go open the door." He nodded to the house and slipped from his side of the truck, trotting around the hood of the vehicle to get to the passenger side. He unfastened Gage's buckle and slid him over. "Come on, dude, let's get inside."
"Huh?" Gage's eyes opened slightly. "I can walk."
"Nah, let me give you a lift." He slid the big guy from the seat and hefted him up. Gage weighed a good eighty to ninety pounds. He was tall and solidly built for a fifth grader. His long legs dangled, and he dropped his head to Brody's shoulder. He was definitely going to have to step up his strength workouts.
Amber had the door opened and pointed down the hall. "First room on the left."
There was enough light from the hall to illuminate his son's room. He smiled at the small desk and single bed. There were posters of superheroes, a two-foot-tall model rocket in one corner, and several model airplanes suspended from the ceiling. He put his son in his bed and watched Amber tug off his shoes, socks and jeans, leaving him in his t-shirt and boxers. She covered their son with a sheet and light blanket before she leaned down and kissed his forehead. She nodded to the door, and they both exited soundlessly. Brody backtracked to the front door.
"Would you like a drink or something?" Amber gazed up at him.
"If I stay, it won't be for a drink." Brody cupped her neck with his hand and placed his forehead against hers. "And I want to stay so damn bad."
"Not a good idea in the living room, but you could get away from here." Dawn's voice split them apart. She stood in the doorway to the kitchen. "What? I was getting a drink of water when you came in."
"Wh-what?" Amber stuttered in her surprise.
"Look, you're adults, right? This isn't rocket science. I'm taking Gage to school in the morning anyway. Go on, head to Brody's and get your freak on. I know you have a travel bag in your SUV. Gage'll think you had to go to work."
"But..." Amber glanced at him.
"It's fast." He'd offer her the out.
Dawn snorted a laugh. "Yeah, what has it been, ten years in the making? God forbid. No, no, you're right. You should wait another ten years, no eleven. The kid will be able to drink then." She walked past them. "I'm going to bed. If you're here in the morning, you’re here. If you’re not, I've got Gage covered. ‘Night."
He lightly wrapped his arms around her waist. "You don't have to make the decision tonight. We have a lot of things to work out."
Amber nodded and shuffled closer. She ran her nose along his neck. "But this isn't one of them, is it? Do you want me as much as I want you?"
Brody moved back far enough to see the desire in those beautiful eyes. "Yes." There was no other answer. Yes, he wanted her. He always had.
"Okay. I'll follow you to your place. I do have a travel bag in my car, but I'll need to get my service weapon." The small weapon in her purse