“I can give you a ride home.”
“What?” Trevor, Lexi and Alex all say in unison, and now the entire kitchen full of people are staring at me.
I clear my throat and stare at Alex, focusing on her alone. “I can drive you home. That way Lexi and Trevor can get the kids home and to bed more quickly.”
“That’s so thoughtful, Jesse,” Lexi says. “Are you sure it’s no trouble?”
“No trouble at all,” I assure her.
“Is that okay with you?” Lexi asks Alex.
“Of course,” Alex says. “Jesse’s my chauffeur all day long every day.”
“Is that what I am?” I ask her, chuckling.
She gives me a sassy look. It’s like a private joke—between just the two of us.
We say our goodbyes and walk to my car. I purposely walk around and open Alex’s door for her. She takes the bait and teases me.
“Opening my door, Heinz?”
“No. It’s Jesse.” I smile at her as she slides past me into the seat. “When we’re on the clock, I’m Officer Heinz and you’re on your own with your door. When we’re off duty, I’m Jesse.”
“And Jesse opens my door?”
I simply smile, shutting her into the passenger seat and walking around to climb into the driver’s seat.
Christmas music comes on when I turn the key, and our conversation quickly moves from comfortable silence to light teasing about the party.
“Did you have fun, though?” She asks like my answer matters to her.
“I actually did.” I smile over at her. “Did you?”
“Yes. I never knew I’d like a ranch property, but Aiden and Em’s place is straight out of a dream.”
“You seemed to fit right in.”
“Everyone made me feel welcome.”
“I’m glad.”
We pull up in front of Alex’s house and exchange a look. She shakes her head as if I’m ridiculous, but she doesn’t open her door before I come around to do it for her.
“I don’t hate it when you do that,” she admits when she steps out past me. “Only when we’re at work.”
We walk to her porch, side-by-side. It feels too natural—too easy. Just like everything has felt with her from the beginning—well, everything after the night I tried to arrest her.
The air smells faintly like chimney smoke and crisp snow. We stand on Alex’s porch, staring at one another. She doesn’t make a move to grab her keys. Her weight shifts from foot to foot.
This is not a date. But it feels close enough to make my heart forget the difference for a moment.
“Well, goodnight, Jesse.” Alex looks up into my eyes, still not fishing in her purse. “Thanks for the ride home.”
“Anytime.”
There’s a lot more I want to say—to ask.
“Have a nice night, Alex.”
