Chapter Fifteen

Christopher

I woke tangled up in Julian the next morning. I'd never been a cuddler before meeting him, but now I struggled to sleep without him wrapped around me. Recalling my promise, I strummed the opening chords to "Collide" on Julian's warm skin. The first few lines of the song were my all-time favorite lyrics, and now they were even more special since I was living them.

Julian stretched and yawned as I played the intro, only lifting his head to look at me when I sang the first line in my sleep-roughened voice. He propped his chin on my chest and smiled. A dark curl fell over his forehead, and his green eyes shone brightly in the early morning light. By the time I reached the first chorus, the sleep had faded from my voice, and I sounded less froggy.

Julian stared at my mouth while absently drawing a heart against my skin as I sang. I paused to kiss him, needing to taste the smile curving his lips.

"Keep singing," he commanded once I pulled back.

"Making me sing for my breakfast?"

Julian's smile grew dirty. "Something like that." He swiped his tongue over my nipple, then placed a kiss over my sternum. "Keep singing," he repeated.

I sang the following line, and Julian inched lower and dropped another kiss. We continued the pattern until Julian's head hovered over my crotch. My words faltered when he ran a hand over my belly hair and growled, but Julian incentivized me to keep singing by nipping my inner thigh. At the top of the second chorus, Julian pressed his nose against my skin and inhaled deeply. I responded by pulling my feet closer to my ass and parting my thighs to give him better access to everything. My breath hitched and my brain froze when Julian swiped his tongue up the length of my erection and circled it around the leaking head. My tormentor licked his lips, leaving them shiny and oh-so tempting.

"Keep singing," Julian whispered huskily.

"I forget where I was."

"Then start at the beginning," he replied.

So I did, and Julian sucked my right nut into his mouth. He let it slide free to nuzzle his nose between them before cupping and lifting my sac. Julian kept his gaze locked on mine as he pressed his open mouth to my taint and sucked with the perfect amount of pressure.

"Damn, that feels good."

Julian lifted his head and grinned. "I know, but I don't recall that being part of the song." He shifted the rumpled covers around to find the bottle of lube we'd tossed aside and forgotten during our second round of sex after confessions and cake. "Keep singing."

I sang while Julian coated two fingers with lube. The next line came a little shaky when I felt the cool liquid against my pucker for the first time. Julian circled around and around the rim, awakening nerve endings I never knew existed. The tight ring of muscle seemed to have a heartbeat of its own, quivering and pulsing with the new yearnings Julian brought out in me. I somehow managed to serenade him, though the words sounded breathless and out of rhythm.

Julian's finger, long and slender like a pianist's, pushed inside me. The burn was a little much at first, but the delicious friction against my nerve endings made me forget. Julian played me like a classically trained musician, and I fell deeper under his spell. He nudged me to sing a few times as he worked his finger back and forth. But when he pegged my prostate, I abandoned all attempts at singing to groan and grunt my pleasure.

"Christ, do that again," I begged.

Julian pulsed his finger against the gland, and I understood how he could come from that alone. Then he sucked the head of my dick into his mouth, sliding down the entire length until his nose nestled in my pubic hair, and nailed my prostate again. My orgasm ripped from me, flooding his mouth. I would've apologized for not warning him if I weren't too busy rubbing out my pleasure against his tongue. Julian groaned and swallowed everything I gave him and let my cock slide free from his mouth. Saliva and cum clung to the corners, so I swiped my thumb over his lips, then fed it back to him.

I crooked my finger, and Julian crawled up my body, stopping to straddle my waist. I fisted his cock with my right hand, using his precum to work the length up and down. I was just about to urge Julian up higher so I could give him a blow job too, but he stiffened against me and painted my chest and chin with his spunk.

Laughing, Julian leaned forward and licked his essence off my face before kissing me deep and long as if we didn't have a care in the world or anywhere else we needed to be. Eventually, we separated to breathe, and Julian rested his head against my good shoulder. I thought of how far we'd come in just a few weeks.

"About last night," I said.

Julian lifted his head and arched a brow. "Yeah?"

"It was the best of my life."

Julian's bright smile threatened to burn my retinas. "For me too." He kissed me until we were breathless again. "And now I owe you breakfast. I have toast or instant oatmeal."

"I'd take you to breakfast, but I want to talk to Chief Mendoza before everyone arrives. I'll settle for coffee and toast. Maybe a quick shower together."

"Deal," Julian said as he eased out of my embrace.

I reluctantly followed, and we worked together to make a simple breakfast.

"This fancy cinnamon honey butter elevates the toast a little," Julian said after he chased a bite with a swig of coffee.

I set my empty mug in the sink, then kissed his lips. "I'd eat dry cardboard if it meant sharing more mornings like this with you."

Julian blinked for a few seconds before reaching out and pinching my bicep hard.

"Ouch!" I said, rubbing the afflicted spot.

"Just checking. Not dreaming."

Knowing time was of the essence, I didn't explore Julian's body the way I wanted to as we shared a shower, but I did snag the loofah from his hand and wash his back and sweet ass. Julian spun around and took it back.

"You'll be late," he said and urged me back under the spray to wet my hair. He knew about the significance of the meeting because I'd told him about the task force during confessions and cake. In my mind, whatever affected me also impacted Julian. I wouldn't make potentially life-changing, or even life-threatening, decisions without his input, and he made it very clear he supported my decision.

Less than ten minutes later, he walked me to his apartment door. Wearing my clothes from the previous day wasn't appealing, so I borrowed a towel and wrapped it tightly around my waist. With my balled-up clothes tucked under my sling, I used my good hand to cup Julian's head for one hell of a goodbye kiss.

"Go while you still can," he said breathlessly.

I pulled open the door and nearly ran into Mrs. Johnson and her dog, Phineas. She startled but smiled when she noticed Julian in a robe and me in a towel. "My, my, my. It's about time."

"See?" I told Julian. "Everyone got it before I did."

"Even my dog knew before you," Mrs. Johnson quipped.

Julian laughed and disappeared inside his apartment while I wished Mrs. Johnson and Phineas a good day. Harper's door opened just as I aimed the key at the lock. Coy Beaufort jolted, then grinned sheepishly. I would've tried to scowl menacingly if not for my state of undress.

"Better not have used my cup," I said as we passed each other.

Coy just laughed and headed down the hallway. I shut the door and found Harper watching the exchange with a raised brow.

"You're not going to lecture me or warn me away?" she asked.

"Would it work?"

"Nope," she said.

I smiled as I poured a second cup of coffee into my favorite mug. "Unless the two of you would get a real thrill out of it. I can catch up to Coy and threaten to beat his ass." Harper rolled her eyes, and I dropped a kiss onto her cheek on my way to get dressed. "I trust you."

She wiped away my gesture and rubbed her hand on her sleep shorts. "Yeah, well, I don't trust where your mouth has been. I borrowed your laptop last night, and your browser history was an eye-opener."

I didn't feel an ounce of remorse or embarrassment. "A man doesn't go into uncharted territory without doing some research first."

"And were you successful?" she called after me.

"I'm sure you'll be the first to know," I replied. I knew firsthand how much Harper and Julian loved to dish about their lives. I hoped Julian really laid it on thick and strung her along before telling her to mind her own damn business.

"Not if I can help it!" Harper yelled.

Yet I knew without looking that she was already texting Julian.

The MCU bullpen was empty, but Mendoza's door was open. As I approached his office, warm laughter came from within, and I realized the chief had an early morning visitor. I didn't want to interrupt, so I walked over to Coy's desk and left an immature but harmless note on his memo pad. Footsteps reverberated off the floor, and I jerked my head up in time to see Abe Beecham, Bryan County sheriff and Mendoza's best friend, step out of the chief's office. He wore a navy-blue polo shirt with the Explorer Academy logo on the chest. In addition to being a sheriff, Beecham oversaw the statewide program for future law enforcement officers. Since our academy was knew, his presence didn't come as a surprise, but he clearly hadn't expected to run into me at such an early hour.

"Morning, Sheriff," I said, extending my hand.

His big paw dwarfed mine. If I was built like a powerful lion, then Beecham resembled a Sherman tank. It wasn't often I ran into men that made me feel small.

"Good to see you, Carnegie."

After a few minutes of small talk, Mendoza appeared in his doorway. In contrast to his best friend, the chief was average height with a lean, sleek build. And it wasn't the only difference that morning. Where Beecham looked calm and cool, Mendoza looked hot and bothered. His hair was mussed in a way I'd never seen it and his mouth looked swollen and…well kissed? I volleyed my gaze between the two men. Was there something besides friendship going on here? Beecham lifted his hands and mimed straightening his hair. Mendoza narrowed his eyes at his friend and ducked back inside his office.

"Are we still on for lunch?" Beecham called out.

"Not after that stunt," came the surly reply from Mendoza's office.

Beecham chuckled and headed for the exit. "Be ready at noon," he called out.

I leaned my hip against Coy's desk to give Mendoza a few moments to tidy up. He didn't keep me waiting long. Informing Chief Mendoza of my decision to join the task force took less than a minute.

"You made the right decision, Carnegie," he said. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, sir."

"This goes without saying, but I'll remind you to maintain the utmost discretion." Mendoza lifted his right brow and added, "About all things."

"Of course, sir," I replied. "You can count on me."

Afterward, I headed downstairs to say so long to Sawyer and Holly before driving to the district attorney's office."

"I'm grateful you decided to join us, Detective Carnegie," Babineaux said, shaking my hand. "You'll be a wonderful asset to the team."

After our brief conversation, her assistant, a petite redhead named Daphne, provided me with a badge that would get me through secured areas of the building. Then she showed me to a small room where the other task force members waited. I recognized two of the faces, Rocky Jacobs, the private investigator and Sinister in Savannah podcaster, and Chet Dawson, a local defense attorney who frequently made headlines. I shook hands with Rocky, introduced myself to Chet, then met the rest of the team. Hilda Rochester was a former federal prosecutor from a neighboring district, and Joshua Berkley was a retired deputy from CCSD. The mood in the room was high, and I could tell everyone was pleased to participate.

After introductions, Daphne led our group to a secured conference room where rows of boxes stacked five or six high lined the entire room. My excitement fizzled a little when I realized the scope of our probe, and I wasn't the only one who looked like a deflating balloon.

"How many cases are we reviewing?" Chet asked, breaking the silence.

"One hundred and sixty-five," Daphne replied.

"Is it possible some of these people are no longer incarcerated?" Berkley asked.

"No, sir," Daphne replied. "I ran the list of names and confirmed the people represented in these files are still incarcerated." Daphne walked to the large conference table in the center of the room and picked up a stack of folders. "DA Babineaux has put together a checklist to help streamline the process. She wants Jacobs, Carnegie, and Berkley to focus on the initial investigation and Dawson and Rochester to scrutinize the legal cases. She wants your findings documented on these review forms," she said, pulling out a sample document from one of the folders and holding it up. "The docs need to be signed and initialed where she's indicated and placed in each case file. Our primary focus is to identify instances where there's evidence of malicious prosecution, including but not limited to coercion, witness tampering, Brady violations, and building litigation on unreliable witnesses like jailhouse snitches. But we're casting the net wider and looking at the initial investigations by SPD or CCSD and the follow-up performed by our in-house investigators once the case was handed off to us. In instances of wrongful conviction, it's likely the rot has seeped through the entire case, not just one side or the other. We also want to know if there's a consistent pattern of collusion between certain parties." Daphne took a deep breath. "You don't hear about a prosecutor's office going to these extremes very often, but Babineaux feels it's vitally important to maintain trust with the public."

"It could cost her during the next election," Rochester said.

"That's a gamble she's willing to take," Daphne replied firmly. "We're catering a special lunch today to thank you for joining the task force."

The promise of food was enough to perk me right up. Damn, I really was an oversized puppy. I clapped my hands and rubbed them together. "Oldest cases first?" I asked. "If there is evidence of malicious prosecution, the people who have been incarcerated the longest deserve their day in court sooner."

"I agree," Rocky said.

The rest of the team agreed, and Daphne looked on happily. "You're already off to a great start," she said. "I'll leave you to it. I've already shown you where to find the coffee, vending machines, and restrooms. Lunch will arrive at noon, and I'll set it up in the conference room where we met this morning. This door automatically locks behind you, so always keep your badges on you. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask."

On the outside of each box was a sheet of paper listing the case files inside. They were already sorted and stacked in chronological order, making our jobs much easier.

"Babineaux is earnest about righting any wrongs," Chet said, sounding as impressed as I felt.

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I hope this task force is a colossal waste of our time," Berkley said.

"Agreed," Rochester replied. "The ramifications would have a staggering ripple effect and could taint the jury pool for years." She tilted her head and sighed, "But this is the right thing to do."

"When Adam Savant comes for Babineaux, and we all know it's only a matter of time, I will proudly stand in her corner," Chet said.

"How long before word gets out about the task force?" I asked.

Chet studied me closely. "You worried about backlash?"

"Worried? Nah, I have broad shoulders." I smiled and gestured to my sling. "Even if one of them is a little busted up right now. I'm just mentally bracing myself."

"A week?" Chet guessed.

"No way," Berkley said. "I'd say a day max. Someone inside this office building will talk to a buddy at one of the police precincts or the sheriff's department. Then that person will tell everyone they know."

"Gossip spreads through the cop shop faster than the speed of light," I agreed.

Berkley laughed and said, "Only occurs faster in church pews."

Rocky nodded. "Sounds about right. It's probably happening as we speak. I bet Daphne fields calls from the press before she even has time to set up our fancy lunch."

"I agree with Rocky," Rochester replied. "Means we better get to digging through those case files."

The five of us had different review styles, so it took a file or two before we were all in sync. Babineaux had put a lot of effort into choosing a team that would feed off one another's strengths and gel really well. I expected to be bored, but I was stunned when Berkley announced it was time for lunch. The Hummingbird Café had catered a delicious meal, and I didn't think the balance of protein, veggies, and carbs was an accident. The options would keep our brains functioning at optimum performance and prevent an afternoon sugar crash.

By six, we'd worked through a dozen of the oldest cases. The team had worried it was too slow a pace, but Babineaux had been pleased with our effort.

"Thoroughness over expediency," she said. "What's the verdict on day one?"

We hadn't found any overt evidence of tampering, coercion, or malicious prosecution in the first dozen files. I wasn't surprised because Savant probably had good intentions when he first started prosecuting cases. The struggle would come later after he'd had a taste of power and had his reputation on the line.

"Great work, everyone," she said. "Daphne took a few calls from local press late this morning, so word has already started to filter through the law enforcement community. I've declined to comment at this time and will continue to delay until I have relevant data to share or something forces my hand. I don't know if your names are connected to the rumored task force yet, but if so, I'd ask you to decline to comment until I've made my first public statement." She looked at me and said, "I think this will be toughest for you since you're an active-duty police officer."

"Don't worry about me," I assured her.

"He's got broad shoulders," Rocky said, patting my good one.

"Y'all get on out of here and enjoy your evening," Babineaux instructed. "Tomorrow morning will be here soon enough."

"Anyone care to get a drink?" Rochester asked once we exited the building.

"I'm in," Chet responded.

Rocky was also in, but Berkley and I both had prior commitments. The SPD softball team was taking on the Savannah Fire Department, our biggest rival. I didn't want to compare the game to something as significant as the Civil War, but it would pit husband against husband when Detective Blue Jackson took the field against fireman Zeke Jackson. I couldn't play, but I could support the rest of my team. I didn't bother changing before heading to the ballpark because I didn't want to miss a second of the jawing back-and-forth between the two departments during warm-ups. The teams didn't let me down, but there was a brief cease fire when Zeke and Blue shared a sweet kiss before parting for their respective dugouts.

I sat in the bleachers behind the SPD team and cheered them on, especially when Coy hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning to put us on top, four to nothing. I'd wanted to show Harper how hard I was trying to get over my grudge and had recorded him at the plate for her since she was still at work for another hour. I captured his hit, the jog around the bases, and the celebration with his teammates when he stepped on home plate. I texted it to her, and she quickly responded with a heart-eye emoji.

SFD came back and tied the game over the next two innings, and the game seemed to crawl by after that, which is how I noticed a subtle shift in behavior toward me from two detectives, Eads and Everly. I first saw it between innings when they were warming up at second base and shortstop. They engaged in a lengthy conversation behind their gloves and darted frequent glances in my direction. During their subsequent at-bats, they glared at me while on deck to hit. I didn't know either of them well but had only positively interacted with them at the precinct or on the field. The only thing that had changed since the last time I'd seen them was my participation in the task force.

If someone at the DA's office leaked the info to people at SPD, it wouldn't be at all surprising if an officer or two took it upon themselves to figure out who was participating. Nothing about my truck was notable. It was basic silver with a Bulldog sticker on the back window like so many of the thousands of trucks in Georgia. But the task force had exited the prosecutor's office together, making us easy to identify. It was also likely someone from the press had staked out the building. I'd known it was only a matter of time, so I squared my broad shoulders and waggled my fingers at the pissed-off patrolmen.

SPD pulled off a win at the bottom of the last inning when Blue dropped a base hit deep in centerfield, allowing Coy to score the winning run. By then, I was hungry and ready to see Julian, so I made a cursory round of congrats before heading to my truck.

"Yo, Carnegie," Eads called out before I got too far.

I stopped and turned to face Eads and Everly, who looked tense and ready to fight. "Do we have a problem, gentlemen?" I asked.

"Damn straight we do," Eads said.

"We hear you're working for that bitch in the DA's office who wants to overturn convictions and set child rapists and murderers free," Everly added.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Of course they'd use the types of offenders that would strike fear in the heart of the citizens and make the biggest splash in the press. "Well, you heard wrong, fellas."

Everly cocked a brow. "So you aren't working on the witch hunt that's masquerading as a task force?"

"Or are you disputing its purpose?" Eads asked.

"Take your concerns to Mendoza," I replied.

The two men moved closer, and their fists balled up as if ready to strike.

I detected movement on my left, but I didn't dare take my eyes off the threat in front of me. Coy put himself between me and the advancing detectives. "I know you two assholes aren't about to start a fight with Carnegie in front of all these witnesses."

Eads slapped Everly's chest and said, "He's right, buddy. We'll wait and have this chat at a more private time."

"I don't fucking think you will," Blue said, stepping up beside Coy. "My boo said you need to take your petty arguments up with the chief, and I suggest you listen."

Everly looked from Coy to Blue and shook his head in disgust. "You two are okay with him helping the DA release convicts onto the street?"

Blue crossed his arms over his chest and stepped closer to them. "If Mendoza let Babineaux borrow Carnegie, then he believes in her mission too. That's good enough for me."

"The question is," Coy said, "what's got your jock straps in a twist? Worried your policework won't look so good under a microscope?"

Eads stepped up until he was chest to chest with Coy. "You calling me dirty?"

"Are you?" Coy asked.

Blue stepped up so he was shoulder to shoulder with Coy. "And are you calling our boy a traitor?"

I'd had plenty of experience breaking up fights between my sisters, and I called on it now to defuse the situation. "Guys, look," I said, "I can't comment about the situation, but I'm insulted you think so little of me. I don't know who's gotten in your head, but they don't know shit about me or my character. If you won't take my word for it, then, again, I encourage you to talk to Mendoza."

Everly looked somewhat mollified, but Eads did not. Luckily, Everly seemed to be the leader in the duo. He clapped his friend on the shoulder and suggested they get a beer to celebrate their win. Eads reluctantly agreed, and the two walked away without an apology or even a directive to kiss their ass. Blue and Coy turned around to face me once they were sure the threat had passed.

"Thanks for having my back," I told them.

Blue smiled broadly. "Always, boo."

"If anyone is going to bust your chops, it's going to be me," Coy teased.

Chuckling, I clapped him on the shoulder. "Fair enough. I'd still like to buy you both a round of drinks. Maybe dinner too."

"Sounds great," Blue said, "but maybe we steer clear of Joe's tonight. I'm sure that's where Beavis and Butthead are headed."

I was still laughing at his reference when Zeke came over and joined us.

"Everything okay?" he asked, looking between Blue, Coy, and me.

"It's great. I was just offering to buy dinner and beer. How does Pearl's sound?" Just mentioning the saltwater grille's name made my stomach growl. I checked my watch and saw that both Harper and Julian should be done for the day. I looked at Coy and said, "Let's see if Harper and Julian want to join us. We'll make it a triple date."

"I love the sound of that," Coy said as he retrieved his cell phone from his bag. I suspected what he truly loved was any opportunity to spend time with my sister, especially now that I knew their big secret.

Julian answered on the first ring. "Hey, handsome," he said. "I'm almost home. Have you eaten yet?"

"No, that's why I was calling," I said and invited him to join the group. "Coy is checking to see if Harper wants to meet us too." Coy gave me a thumbs-up. "She's in. What about you?"

He didn't respond immediately, so I took a few steps away for a bit of privacy. "Julian, you still there?"

"Um, yeah," he said. "I'm here."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I could tell by his tone that something was up, but before I could ask further, he said, "I'm just really happy."

"Because you love eating at Pearl's?" I teased.

He laughed. "Yeah, that's it. What time do you want to meet?"

"Now," I said.

His laughter sounded lighter this time. "Hungry?"

"Starved."

"I'm on my way. Oh, wait. Harper's calling on the other line. I bet she wants to ride together. I'll rendezvous with her, and we'll meet you there."

"Sounds good." We said goodbye and clicked off.

"They're going to meet us at Pearl's," I said. The four of us headed to the parking lot, where we went our separate ways.

The restaurant was busy even for a Wednesday night, but the hostess told us it wouldn't be long before a table was free. Julian and Harper had ordered a Lyft and arrived not long after us. I soaked in the gorgeous picture my boyfriend made in his slim-cut gray pants, pale gray dress shirt, and a purple-and- gray corset vest. Those colors made his green eyes pop even more. Julian smiled warmly when I introduced him to Blue and Zeke. He'd already met Coy, which didn't surprise me at all. His devotion to my sister wouldn't allow her to date someone he hadn't vetted first.

I put my arm around Julian's waist, pulled him against me, and kissed the top of his head. The smell of his shampoo and soap eased the tension leftover from the confrontation at the ballpark, and I relaxed into the embrace he returned.

The hostess showed us to our table, and our waitress promptly took our drink order.

"I missed you today," I said softly. I'd texted him briefly at lunch, but the grueling pace the team set hadn't allowed for anything else.

Julian looked up at me and smiled. "I missed you too. Did you have a good day?"

"Mixed bag, but I'll tell you about it later," I said as our drinks arrived. I lifted my beer in a toast. "Tonight, we're celebrating friendship and loyalty."

"And kicking SFD's ass on the baseball diamond," Blue said.

Zeke snorted and rolled his eyes. "You want to sleep on the couch tonight, big guy?"

"To friendship and loyalty," Blue said. We all clinked our glasses together and took a sip.

Our steaks and seafood were delicious, but I enjoyed the laughter and camaraderie the most, which was saying something. I loved seeing how comfortable Julian was engaging with my friends. He charmed everyone at the table but none more than me, and I couldn't stop touching him as the evening wore on.

Blue and Zeke were the first to part after a brief argument about me paying for dinner. "You can pick up the tab next time," I said.

"Fair enough," Blue replied, holding his fist up for me to bump. "Keep your head high and stay on alert, boo."

"I will." I shook Zeke's hand and wished him better luck next game.

I ended up having the same argument with Coy until Harper distracted him with a kiss. They stayed until I settled the check, and the four of us left the restaurant together. I knew damn well I was looking at the future. Coy Beaufort had grown up and was madly in love with my sister. I had finally woken up and claimed my Julian.

"Hey, Toph," Harper said before getting in Coy's car.

"Yeah?"

"Maybe you should pack an overnight bag before heading to Julian's apartment for the night. You'll incite a riot or give someone a heart attack if you keep parading up and down the hallway naked."

"Across," I countered. "It was two steps, and I was wearing a towel. Your boyfriend is my witness."

Coy threw up his hands in surrender before getting into the car. I laughed because he'd already stuck his neck out enough for me. Harper blew us a kiss before lowering into the passenger seat.

Julian climbed up beside me in the cab and grinned. "So you think I'm a sure thing just because you bought me a steak dinner, huh?"

"Um, no. I just thought—"

Julian laughed before leaning across the console to kiss me. He trailed his fingers over my inner thigh and let out a sexy little growl. "I am definitely a sure thing."

Once again, I shifted the truck into drive instead of reverse. "Don't let it go to your head," I said after we shared a good laugh.

"Too late. Take us home." The impish look in his eyes warned me I was in for a wild ride once we got there.

And while I couldn't wait to experience the journey, I kept picturing us in a completely different setting than his small apartment. My mind wandered to a quaint craftsman that offered rich history for Julian and endless possibilities for the two of us. I'd rented the house on a whim because I'd wanted more space and privacy than an apartment afforded, and I fell in love with the woodwork and the abundant natural light in every room. My plan hadn't extended to furnishing the house. The meager furniture I kept in storage were hand-me-downs from my dad's man cave after he got an upgrade. They'd been good enough for my first bachelor pad, but I'd put them in storage when I moved in with Abigail. There'd only been room for my bed and dresser in Harper's spare room, so I was still paying for storage until I found another place. And now that I had, there was no way I was putting the old junk in my new house.

"Is everything okay?" Julian asked. "I'd started detailing the wicked things I wanted to do to you, and your only response was a deep scowl."

I glanced over with a wry grin. "I call bullshit."

Julian sighed dramatically. "It's true. I was giving you my best dirty talk."

"Nope," I said emphatically. "That would've brought me back from the dead, and I assure you, I'm very much alive. But you have my full attention now."

Julian shook his head. "I'm too shy to repeat what I was saying."

That made me laugh. I'd seen him act more reserved in certain company, but he was never shy.

Julian crossed his arms over his chest and huffed. "Fine, you caught me. But you were scowling. Are you thinking about those cops who harassed you?" Blue, Coy, and I had told the others about the incident over dinner, though I didn't divulge any more details than I had with Beavis and Butthead. It just wasn't my story to tell. I'd leave that to Mendoza and Babineaux when the time was right. "What were their names?" Julian asked. "Ebony and Ivory?" He started humming the song.

"Everly and Eads," I replied with a snicker. "Maybe they come together in perfect harmony, but I doubt it. And I was thinking about furnishing my new house." I grimaced. "And maybe panicking a little."

"No panicking allowed," Julian said. "Tell me your concerns, and we'll find a solution. Is it that you lack a design or theme, or are you more worried about the expense and the logistics of moving?"

"Yes," I replied.

Julian laughed. "Knowing you as I do, you'll want comfort and function over form."

"Absolutely. I'm a big man and—"

"Baby, I know that all too well," Julian said with a leer that made me blush.

"Size queen."

"No lies detected," he replied without an ounce of shame. I saw him fanning his face from the corner of my eye. "Better get the conversation back to home furnishings before I launch into dirty talk for real."

"You started it," I accused playfully.

"And I'll end it." Julian's voice was husky and rich with promise, stirring a strong reaction that still caught me by surprise. "When do you want to do it?"

"As soon as I have you behind a closed door."

Julian chuckled. "Not that. When would you like to move?"

"I should be out of the sling in two more weeks. It will take longer to regain my full strength, but I can do more than just tell people where to put things."

"We've already established I'm the bossy one in this dynamic," Julian teased. "We'll hit up estate sales and consignment shops. You'll get more bang for your buck there. You can have the items delivered directly to the house. Then you call in all the favors people owe you to help sort it out. I guarantee those broad shoulders have helped a lot of people move."

"True," I said as I found an empty parking spot at the apartment complex. I killed the engine and sighed in relief.

"Better?" Julian asked.

I reached over and cupped his face. "I'm good now."

He shook his head sadly. "Our clothes are still on, and our dicks aren't touching. You're just better right now." He pointed to the apartment building and said, "In there, I'll make you feel good ."

Julian kept his promise that night and over the next two weeks. Oh, the things that man could do with his body and the way he could make mine sing. But the biggest surprises came when we hit up every estate sale and consignment shop in a fifty-mile radius. Watching Julian wheel and deal had become my favorite pastime as we found the perfect pieces to fill the house without putting too big a dent in my savings. During one of our outings, an antique sewing table from the 1920s caught his eye. He'd fussed and stroked his finger over the dull wood while he got a faraway look in his eyes. "I can't begin to imagine all the types of garments and household goods this old girl would've helped create over the years."

"Do you want to get it?" I'd asked. "We can load it up on my truck tonight."

He smiled wistfully and sighed. "I don't have room for it."

But I would, so I waited and snagged a salesman once Julian was deep into bartering over the dining room set I wanted to buy. We arranged to have the dining set delivered to my house and the other salesman slipped me the receipt and assured me the sewing table would be on the truck with the other furniture pieces. I couldn't wait to surprise Julian.

When we got back to the apartment complex, there was no discussion about where I was spending the night. If I had my way, I'd never wake up without Julian again.