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The silence was almost deafening as I went through the post-flight checklist.
After getting the bird back into the hangar, all the while Amelia still didn’t wake up, I went outside and started my truck up and opened the passenger side door.
Only after getting back in using the code she’d whispered into my ear earlier, I came back for her and carried her tired body back outside to my truck.
Grinning when she collapsed into the seat like a toddler, I buckled her in and got into the truck.
The ride home she didn’t so much as stir.
Nor did she stir when I got her out of my truck and took her into my place.
After lying her down on my bed, I allowed my eyes to skate over her prone form.
God, she was beautiful lying on my bed.
Her eyelashes were dark half-moons on her cheeks, and her face was flushed slightly with sleep.
Her mouth was slightly open, and her eyes were moving behind her eyelids so fast that it was obvious that she was dreaming.
But still, she didn’t wake.
Damn, but she was a deep sleeper.
My grin could’ve split my face.
I’d been doing that a lot lately—grinning.
I wasn’t normally a man that smiled.
I just didn’t like smiling.
It was easier to keep a neutral expression at all times, especially in my line of work.
Heading to the bathroom on that thought, I took care of my nightly routine of brushing my teeth, washing my face, and then taking a quick shower.
When I got out, instead of assuming she’d be okay with me going to bed naked, I found a pair of sweatpants instead and tugged them on.
I’d be hot as balls all night, but that was better than thinking it was okay to just get into bed with her naked.
My next stop was to her side of the bed where I slowly removed her socks and shoes.
The fuckin’ smile that lit my face at the sight of her socks—which had been covered by a pair of combat boots—sparkly combat boots at that—was nothing less than impressive.
Her socks were mismatched, one said Tuesday, and one said Friday.
A snort left me as I took those off as well and tossed them to the floor.
Then I couldn’t help but stop and stare at her cute little feet.
She had rainbow toes.
Every single toenail was a different color, ranging from red all the way to black.
I loved it.
And damn, there were a lot of things that I was beginning to love when it came to this girl.
Forcing myself to walk away when all I wanted to do was pull her closer, I made one final round through the house.
Then I cursed when I walked into the living room and saw King sitting there staring at me like I’d let her down.
“Shit,” I said. “I’m sorry, girl. Want to go outside?”
She jumped down off the couch and made her way to the door, all the while giving me a puppy glare that made me feel pretty low.
“I’m sorry I forgot about you,” I spoke to her. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I opened the door and she darted to the grass by the mailbox and did her business.
Stepping out onto the front porch with her, I glanced around to see who was home tonight.
Since all of the SWAT team lived in this duplex housing on the same street—everyone had started calling it cop row—I could tell exactly who was and wasn’t there.
And, as far as I could tell, the only one that wasn’t was Malachi across the road from me, Nathan who happened to be one over from Malachi, and Bourne.
But, as I was standing there waiting for King to do her business, Nathan pulled into his drive and got out.
“Morning,” he called out.
I jerked up my chin. “How was your shift?”
“After you left, some chick tried to smuggle out a package of chicken from Walmart. Using her vagina.”
There was a long, drawn-out pause as I digested that news.
Honestly, the happenings in Kilgore, Texas, especially when it pertained to the famous ‘Walmart’ really shouldn’t surprise me. I mean, there were things that went down there that were deemed ‘acceptable’ because of the place and location. But, just sayin’, you’d never hear of something like that happening at a fuckin’ Target.
“Ummm.” I paused. “How many pounds was it?”
I mean, that was a legitimate question, right?
Nathan burst out laughing.
Finally done doing her business, King stopped at the edge of the road and wagged her hiney in excitement as she looked across the street at Nathan, who’d come to the end of his drive to talk to me.
Nathan crouched down and King took that as permission.
She looked first one way, then the other, then trotted on over.
“Fuck, your dog is cool.” Nathan shook his head.
I grinned and leaned against the mailbox.
“I can’t take credit for that. My mom keeps her during the day a lot. My dad likes to teach her shit.” I chuckled. “Even though he swears he doesn’t like dogs.”
