Page 190 of A Matter of Time

“Don’t be a jerk. Just tell me.”

He huffed out a breath. “Yeah, so I told my mom all about us—all about you—and she said she was glad I told her but that she already knew.” Quick grunt. “And I asked her how she knew, and she said I was another person when you were around. She said you bring out the very best in me.” He turned to glance at my face for a moment. “What more can you ask for?”

I was stunned and speechless. His mother was okay with me? And him? With him and me?

“And my dad said that as long as you were what I wanted, he was happy. He said he likes you, and he likes me better when you’re around.” He scoffed and glanced over at me again, his eyes back on the road seconds later. “Man, I must be a real prick when you’re not with me.”

I finally breathed.

“My dad told me that Maggie’s a nice girl and she deserves better than a man who’s in love with somebody else.” He gave me a longer look then as we were stopped at a light. “I would have to agree.”

I could barely control my excitement.

“So my family is okay. Rachel loved you, and you know Jen is crazy about you too, so…they’re good. Even Michael was cool. He couldn’t care less. He said he’s got more important things to do than worry about who I sleep with.”

He was quiet a moment.

“I was scared the most about them, but—” Long sigh. “—it’s okay. They’re all okay.”

“But Dominic and⁠—”

“Yeah, well, he’s probably gonna be gone, but I can’t—I mean, I tried it their way. I tried to have the girl and be one of the guys and have everything like I always wanted it but…it’s no good.”

I reached for his hand, and he took it instantly, lacing his fingers with mine, holding tight. We drove in silence, heading for his place, and I was happy just sitting there beside him. Content to just be with him however he wanted or would let me be.

“I slept with Maggie, and it was just bad,” he said, his voice jarring after the long minutes of quiet. “She was into it, and I could tell she was, and I just…I wasn’t there. I thought I’d try…to make sure… I’m sure now,” he finished, squeezing my hand before he let it go.

“But—”

“And I know I was wrong,” he muttered, pulling over to the curb, parking the SUV in front of his building, in his spot that no one else ever parked in. He was a police officer, after all. “And I know I don’t deserve another shot,” he told me, unbuckling his seat belt, turning in his seat to face me. “But you gotta give me one. You know you’re supposed to belong to me.”

I stared into his face, into the eyes I knew so well, and there was no realization or epiphany or anything else. It was simply the truth, and I knew it because it hadn’t changed. I was stuck on him. I couldn’t move forward with someone else because he had my heart. No amount of logic or time or distance would change the fact that I was madly in love with Detective Sam Kage.

“If you send me away, I’ll just keep coming back. I want you with me all the time,” he said.

“And when were you gonna tell me all this? When was I gonna see you if I⁠—”

“Tonight, tomorrow—I don’t know, J. I would’ve come as soon as I got up my nerve to talk to you. It’s scary to think you’re gonna hear no, and you’re so stubborn that⁠—”

“It’s not my fault that you stayed away from me because you were trying to get me out of your system. Don’t blame our separation on my stubbornness,” I retorted, unbuckling my seat belt, careful not to hurl it off me.

“No, I don’t mean it like⁠—”

“If you want to be with me, then it’s me, Sam. Not another woman, not another man, just me. Only me.”

“It is. Only you. I swear to God.”

I shook my head.

“You have to believe me. You can’t say no. Please don’t say no.”

I raked my hands through my hair. “How could it ever be no, Sam? I⁠—”

He slipped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me forward into a kiss. My lips parted as he slanted his mouth over mine. He held me tight, his hand fisted in my hair, and he devoured my lips, biting, sucking, hungry for me. I trembled in his arms, and I heard the rumble of satisfaction as his hands ran all over me. Of course, the second I tried to get closer, to climb over the seat and get in his lap, I knocked my ankle against the door. Pain shot through me and I gasped.

“Uh-oh, baby, be careful.” He soothed me, kissing me again, his hand on my throat. “Lemme get you inside and we’ll get this iced up.”

“Kiss me more,” I begged him, whimpering, leaning forward.