19. Paxton

CHAPTER 19

Paxton

“How’s the kid?” Liam asks the moment he catches sight of Riggs and me walking into the training center. Liam is close to joining the K-9 unit with Bear, the largest bloodhound I’ve ever seen.

“Shaken, but alive. Learned a valuable lesson. Fuck around and find out. He won’t ever run away again.” Some tween—a term for a preteen I hadn’t heard before—was pissed at his parents for taking away his Xbox for grades, so he ran away. Dumbass should’ve gone to a friend’s house, but instead took a walk through hill country and got lost.

“You ready to get some training on?” I ask Riggs, walking over to sign us in at the front desk.

“You rappelling today?”

“Heck yeah,” I say, pumped and ready to rappel off a thirty-foot building, Riggs strapped to my back. I’m not certain what Riggs will think about it, but we’re about to find out.

“I’m going to stick around and watch.”

As we walk out to the training area, I can’t shake the thoughts of my date with Kali this weekend.

“Have you thought about what I should do with Kali?” I ask.

“What is it about this girl?” he responds.

Isn’t that the question of the hour? I’ve asked myself the same thing. There’s a connection, a pull, that I’ve felt from day one. I need to see where this goes.

“You think this is a good idea?”

He acts as if I’m committing a crime. I’m not. Sure, Internal Affairs might have a few questions, but there are key points that are important here. First, it’s been a couple months since her incident, and second, she contacted me. That’s not to say I wouldn’t have contacted her, but they don’t need to know that tidbit because she beat me to it. She feels our connection, too. After our dinner last week, I took her home right after. The day’s adrenaline hit her like a wall, and she could barely keep her eyes open. But I left her with a promise that I was taking her on a proper date.

“I’m not doing anything wrong.” I shrug. “So, help me figure this shit out.”

For the first time, well, ever, I don’t have any idea where to take Kali on a date. The pressure to find the perfect first date setting shouldn’t be this hard. I have this fear that I have one shot. Dinner at a restaurant feels too impersonal. It sounds ridiculous, since that’s where I typically take a woman on a first date.

But Kali isn’t typical. I want a more intimate setting. Where it’s just us, no distractions.

“Take her out on the boat for dinner under the stars. Women eat that shit up,” he says.

I lift a brow, surprised at his suggestion. I never would’ve pegged the man as a romantic, but it makes sense if he is chasing tail. Romance isn’t his end goal. It’s a means to an end for him. But in my case, where I want her to myself, it’s a damn good idea. Plus, she likes it out on the water.

“You won’t mind?” It’s his boat, after all.

He shakes his head. “Hell no. You can always take it out. Mom needs help with moving some stuff this weekend, so I won’t be using it.”

His mom rocks. Especially when she sends us sweet treats. She’s retired and has become our personal department’s pastry chef. Everyone loves Momma Rose.

He veers off to watch from the side, and I hear him say, “Maybe now you’ll get some work done and stop fretting about this damn woman.”

“I’m great at multitasking. I was even thinking about where I should take her when I was kicking your ass at the gym last night,” I yell back, and he continues rumbling with excuses about how his hip was still hurting from tackling some guy during a robbery as I pull out my phone. I’d rather call her, hear her voice, but considering I’m about to jump off a building in five minutes, texting will have to do for now.

Me: Is four on Saturday good? Pack a swimsuit.

I slide the phone in my side pocket, not expecting her to reply. She’s probably out with Rusty and having a session with Zander. But when I feel it vibrate, I can’t help the shit-eating grin.

Kalico: Yes! Can’t wait! Where are we going?

Me: It’s a surprise.

Kalico: If you don’t answer me, I’m not bringing a swimsuit.

Me: Fine with me. It’s been a while since I’ve been skinny-dipping.

Kalico: I’ll bring a suit

.

“I’m not sure about this.” My grams’s voice echoes in the Jeep as I drive to pick Kali up.

Why is everyone giving me their opinion that this is a bad idea? Kali is the best idea I’ve ever had. I’ve gone through a lot of trouble to get to this point, and I’m not backing away now.

“Why’s that?” I prompt, even though I know what’s coming.

“That girl’s been through so much already.”

I stare at my dashboard with my mouth hanging open. And here I assumed I was her favorite. Dating me will not add to Kali’s troubles. I’m a damn good catch.

“It might be too soon. And they’re going to find out,” she adds, her voice lowering.

It’s been two months, and they haven’t yet.

We’ll cross that bridge if we get there.

I let out a sigh, hating that I’m worrying her. “Grams, I’m not pushing her to do anything. I’ll go as slow as she needs. But I’m telling you now, I’m marrying this woman.”

“Pax! You barely know her.”

She’s right. I could be wrong about Kali, but I don’t believe so. I laugh, already knowing the answer, but I ask to make a point. “How long did you and Pops date before getting engaged?”

“It was a different time,” she snaps back.

Well, as much as Grams can snap at me. She and Pops have been my rock through the years. I wouldn’t have survived losing Jack and Dad if it hadn’t been for them. And even though Mom made it almost impossible for them to get in touch with me after Dad died, whenever they got a chance, they were quick to remind me that they were always on my side.

“Mm-hmm,” I murmur, pulling up to a red stoplight hanging from a wire above as I drive into town. A sheriff hangs out in the gas station parking lot, waiting for an out-of-towner to miss the drop in speed. Man, I’d hate to work in a small town. I bet he’s there often during the week. “Well, I’m almost here, so I gotta go. Tell Pops hi and love you both.”

“Love you too. Be careful, Paxton.”

“Always, Grams.”