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Branch took a deep breath and hugged Tate. “You have both, son.” With a pat on the back, he released Tate and walked into the station. The look on Tate’s face tugged at Mia’s heart. He got the one thing he’d been looking for.
She looked at Kyle who was smiling like he had some kind of bro-code going on with Tate.
“He talked to coach,” Kyle said to Mia, all but beaming.
“Kyle is playing tonight and Jared is lucky Kyle’s not considering pressing charges,” Tate said. “I called the principal and we have several boys from the team waiting. I’m going to talk to them all and get to the bottom of this. But with Kyle now admitting the truth, this should be pretty easy.”
Mia rushed to hug Kyle.
“You really okay?”
Kyle nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry, Mia. I didn’t want you to be brought into it. It’s a long story but I just never wanted you to be hurt.”
She hugged him. “It’s okay, honey. I’m just glad you’re alright.”
“I was going to take him back to school if that’s okay with you?” Tate said.
She eyed the Deputy. “Kyle, can you give us a minute?”
He nodded and walked over to stand by the Deputy’s cruiser.
“I ought to slap you in the face,” she said with all the anger she felt.
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed. “I deserve that. But understand that it’s because of you I’m a better man.”
Her heart stilled. “What? You can’t possibly mean that and I’m not interested in flattery or empty words.”
Tate’s expression made her stomach somersault. He looked so sincere yet in pain at the same time.
“It has always been my goal to protect the people of this town, and I failed you, Mia. I should have hashed it out there at the school instead of taking Kyle in. Please just know that Jared won’t come near Kyle again.”
She bit her bottom lip to keep her chin from trembling.
“It’s not because I didn’t believe you or him,” Tate said softly and stepped closer. “It’s because I was just trying to protect you both and I couldn’t without the truth. The truth Kyle finally gave me. See, we both agreed on one thing…” He cupped her face and Mia met his eyes. “We both love you.”
That time her lungs just shut down and her lashes hurt from shooting so wide. “What?”
“I love you,” Tate said with a smile. “Everything else is secondary. And I know I’ve broken your trust, but I’m not going to stop fighting for you, Mia.”
She was so tired. So done with all the badness. She just wanted Tate. A man that like her, wasn’t perfect, but he was trying.
“You’ve got a long battle ahead of you, Deputy. And I’ll warn you now, I don’t fight fair.”
Tate smiled. “Ah, there’s my fiery girl.”
Mia launched herself into his arms and kissed him. In public. In uniform and he didn’t care. Because for the first time, she felt seen. Really seen for who she was. And Tate stood there and not only accepted her, but loved her.
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“I guess taking a step back to sort out a situation before jumping in wasn’t a bad thing,” she said and kissed him again. “Maybe some of your logical reasoning will rub off on me.”
“God I hope not,” he said and kissed her back.
“Well in that case, I’m going to tell you exactly what I think,” she bit his lower lip then kissed him hard. “I love you so damn much it pisses me off sometimes.”
Tate laughed and the sound warmed her heart.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
