was her secondary that she carried whenever she was off duty and out of the house. She tugged him along toward the kitchen. She reached up to the top shelf and removed a small gun safe with a handle on it. "I can't take any chances with it. Boys are very curious, especially when they've been told no." She unlocked the box and removed her shoulder holster and weapon.
"There's so much I need to learn." He had weapons throughout his apartment. It was something he'd address before Gage came to hang with him.
"You know everything you need to know. The things like this?" She examined her weapon and shrugged. "Keeping him safe from himself and things that can hurt him will become second nature. Until they do, I'll remind you." She threaded her fingers through his. "Are you ready?"
Damn, wasn't that the question of the decade? "Probably not, but I think we need to take a leap of faith." He leaned forward and tasted her lips for the first time in over ten years. She sighed and curved into him. Memories triggered by her feel and scent flooded by as he opened her mouth and slowly indulged in the decadent and delicious feast he'd thought he'd never taste again.
The kiss lingered; her response heated as his desire became harder to harness. He put a small amount of space between them and dropped his forehead to hers while they both panted for air. “We should go."
She stepped back from him, walking backward and leading him out the front door. She locked it behind them, and after another long, delicious kiss, he took her to her car.
He jogged to Wilma and started the old lady up. Damn, the trip across town could be the longest drive of his life—but it would also be the most careful.
Chapter 14
Amber followed Brody's truck to the inner harbor area. The revitalization of the harbor was spreading further and further south, bringing new businesses down to the waterfront. They passed through upscale restaurants and boutique shops and drove south along the shoreline. With each passing mile, doubt edged further and further into her thoughts. Were they moving too fast? The tapping of her fingers on the steering wheel stopped when she watched Brody pull into a parking slot in front of a nice-looking building. She could see where it had once been a warehouse, but the exterior was painted a dark beige, and the white and dark brown trim around the doors and windows made it inviting and attractive. She maneuvered into the vacant slot next to him and put her crossover into park.
She got out of the vehicle, grabbing her overnight bag when Brody opened his door. "Is this building yours?"
"Yeah. I still have some work to do on the third apartment. It’s livable but not high end, and it needs to be down here. I think I have another six months or so to scrimp and save."
He extended his hand to her and she took it, grateful for the warmth of the connection. Touching his hand grounded her nervous thoughts. "I thought you said the apartments paid for your mortgage?"
"They do."
"Then why do you have to save?" She walked beside him until he reached the door, which was locked. She could see a small clean lobby area. Crown molding framed the ceiling and the floors were hardwood.
"Well, I have a son to help support, now." Brody unlocked the door and ushered her into the small but well-appointed lobby.
She spun toward him. "I told you, we don't need the money."
"And I told you it was something I want to do. The third apartment can wait for its finishing touches."
"Wouldn't life be easier for you if you rented it out?"
Brody shrugged and motioned toward the stairs. They started climbing together.
"I think you should finish the apartment. If Gage needs anything, I promise I'll let you know, but finishing the apartment puts you in a better position financially to help if he does need something that I can't provide. I promise, right now, all he needs is your time."
"Which I won't have if I work on the apartment."
"Can't he come and help? I mean, you could teach him things about carpentry or fixing stuff that neither Dawn nor I could teach him. Lord knows if we can't get a repairman to come in and fix something, it stays broken."