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Still, Garrett needed to watch out for Rafe and keep him safe. They’d planned for McHugh to be his last interview. Afterward, Rafe would meet Garrett slightly down the block from the building, out of reach from the cameras. Garrett packed up for the day so it didn’t look like he was leaving at the same time as Rafe.

“Campisi, I’m gonna head out to double check a witness statement. I’ll see ya tomorrow?”

Campisi turned to him from where he buried himself in paperwork.

“Sounds good. I’m not too far behind you. Grace started teething so I might work from home the rest of the day to help with her.”

Garrett smiled softly at his coworker. He couldn’t imagine how Campisi handled it all. “Good luck with that. I hope you get some sleep tonight.”

“Thanks, man. Fingers are crossed.”

Garrett held up his own crossed fingers. As he turned to leave he let his eyes scan the conference room. Rafe and McHugh were still talking, so Garrett planned to take his time walking out and wait for him in his car.

On his way out, he stopped to chat with Cheryl, the receptionist, making a comment about the bouquet of flowers on her desk.

Her cheeks turned crimson when she said they were from a friend. He’d known from talking to her over the years that she’d had rotten luck in the love department, so he hoped things got better. Things were tough for the heteros these days.

A few minutes later, Garrett walked out of the municipal building, heading down the front steps and over to where he parked his sedan. As he walked, he could hear the laughter and shouts of children from the park next door. On tough days, that sound reminded him of his duty to the town. He made an oath to protect the citizens of Cherrywood. He might not have been a patrol officer anymore, roaming the streets in the marked SUVs they all drove to watch over everyone, but he still took the citizens’ safety seriously. Hearing children playing and having fun was a balm to dealing with murderers.

Once he sat in his car, he drove down the block, parked under a shady tree and pulled out his phone. A message from Rafe popped up, still labeled Cole D.

COLE D: All good, OMW.

On my way. A breath of relief escaped Garrett as he waited. He sent a thumbs up in return and kept his eyes on his rearview mirror so he could see Rafe walking out the back door and heading toward him.

Rafe had unbuttoned his jacket. The breeze hit him just right, like an action hero walking away from a slow-motion explosion. There may not have been any explosions, but if there were, Garrett didn’t think he’d even notice. He was too transfixed on the sexy image of Rafe strutting toward him and the glare off his sunglasses. His smile was broad and anticipatory. Garrett knew that look like the back of his hand.

After their successful SEAL missions, Rafe donned this cocky grin, knowing he’d fooled someone and gotten the intel he needed.

Fuck, I forgot how hot that is.

Garrett had always delighted in seeing that grin on Rafe. He’d had countless dreams of kissing it off his face, but he’d never gotten the chance. Now that he had it, he wouldn’t pass on the opportunity, no matter what shit lay ahead of them.

Rafe arrived at his car and opened the passenger door, sliding in and closing it behind him.

He turned that sexy grin on Garrett and it was game over.

“Mission accomp—”

Garrett cut off his words as he stretched across the center console, reaching his hands around Rafe’s neck and yanking him forward until their lips pressed together. The kiss deepened immediately, and Garrett felt every one of his fantasies coming true. It was something he’d wanted for so long he felt like a damn teenager about to come in his pants from only a kiss.

After too little time, Rafe pulled back enough to speak, his lips still grazing Garrett’s with barely a breath between them.

“Not that I’m not enjoying this, but we are about a hundred feet from a park full of kids. Maybe we should take this home?”

Garrett stared into Rafe’s eyes.

Home. How long had he dreamed of sharing a home with Rafe? Hearing Rafe refer to his house as “home” made Garrett melt.

He still wasn’t sure what would happen with the rest of this mission, but he knew how he wanted it to end. With Garrett’s home becoming theirs.

This could unfold in a million ways, but that was the only ending Garrett hoped for.

Garrett whispered, his voice choked, “Let’s go.”

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Their clothes flew off in every direction as they entered the house, unable to keep their hands and mouths off each other.