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Adam shook Seth’s hand. “Good job, today, Dixon. Heard you were injured.”
He shrugged. “I’ll live.”
“Hope we can work with you again in the future. I understand from Maddox we’ll be debriefing at the same time. We’ll see you at headquarters.”
After loading their gear, Seth tossed the keys to Teagan. “Drive the first leg of the journey home. I have a few phone calls to make.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
SETH CLOSED HISeyes, heart clenching at the sound of his mother’s crying. “Mom, everything will work out. You’ll see.”
“Baby, it’s not that. I know you’re hurting over the job. You’re a cop to your core, son. The news that you won’t be able to return to your job must be devastating.”
“Sweetheart,” Frank Dixon said. “He’s a grown man, well used to dealing with disappointments. Law enforcement isn’t the only job where Seth can use his skills.”
He sighed. “Thanks, Dad. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
“Never think that, Seth. I’m upset with your fellow cops. They shouldn’t want a dirty cop in their house. You had no choice. If you and your team had hesitated to do your jobs, innocent lives would have been lost today. I’m proud of you, son.”
His eyes stung. “I appreciate that more than you know. Hey, I want you both to meet Teagan.”
Silence, then, “Is there something you want to tell us, Seth?” Audra Dixon asked.
“I love Teagan and want to marry her as soon as possible.”
“Yes!” His mother laughed. “I’ve been waiting months for you to admit you love your running partner. We’d love to meet her, the sooner the better. Right, Frank?”
“Can’t think of anything better than to meet the woman who stole your heart.”
“Good. We’re on our way home now. Is tomorrow night too soon?”
“That’s perfect,” Audra said. “We should leave Otter Creek soon, so we’ll be home sometime tonight. Do you want to call your brothers about dinner tomorrow night, or shall I?”
He grinned. “I’ll take care of it. See you tomorrow. Love you both.”
When the call ended, Noah said, “Marriage, huh? Never thought I’d hear you say that word, partner.”
Seth lifted Teagan’s hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. “With a woman as special as Teagan, I don’t want to wait. Besides, I’ve been courting her for months on the running trail. If anything, I’d say I’m slow to seal the deal.”
Violet glanced at Noah. “For future reference, I don’t consider running on a trail to be a date.”
He chuckled. “I’ll make a note.”
“You do that.”
Smiling, Seth called Sebastian. “It’s Seth.”
“Tell me you weren’t involved in that debacle in D.C.”
“Can’t. We were on the right side of the fight, though.”
“Of course. I never thought otherwise, although you gave us a scare before you left Ardmore. Are you okay?”
“A few stitches, but otherwise unscathed.”
“Good. And Teagan?”
“Unhurt.”