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“And then…” He lifted his gaze. “You go back out there?”
“Yep.”
He didn’t say anything. Just stared. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why he looked as if he swallowed a bag of rocks. He didn’t like the idea of her being out there, maybe getting hurt. But that was why they weren’t dating, right? “If you can’t—”
“Why did you become a cop?” he asked at the same time.
“I became a cop because I wanted to help people. My mom…she was killed in a mugging when I was a kid. When I lost her, I wanted to do my part to make the world a safer place. And I do that, every day. I make the world a little bit safer, just like you do.”
“I’m so sorry about your mom.”
“It was a long time ago.” She cleared her throat. “Look, if yo
u can’t handle me being a cop, even though we’re just friends, then I can walk out of here right now. I feel no shame in my job. No hesitation. It is my life, and that won’t be changing any time soon.” She lifted her chin. “Not for you. Not for anyone.”
He shook his head. “I would never expect or ask you to. I was just curious what drove you to join the force, is all.”
“What made you want to be in the military?”
“I love my country, and I would die to protect it,” he said simply.
“Yeah. Me, too.”
Annnnd cue stare-down number three.
He broke it off first this time, laughing. “Guess we’re a lot alike, then.”
“Guess so. Do you miss it?”
“Miss what?” he asked, frowning.
“The military.”
“Yes. Every damn day.” He gestured toward the pictures on his dresser. “But I’m all she has now, and she’d miss me more than I miss the Marines.”
“What did you do over there?” she asked, staring at the pictures again.
“I ran security on the planes and the WMDs.” He smiled ruefully. “So, really, a job not all that different from what I do now. Only instead of guarding weapons of mass destruction, I protect old farts who love golfing and women young enough to be their grandchildren.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’ll be you, with a young floozy on your arm and a nine iron in your hand.”
“Nah. I prefer basketball.”
“Notice, you didn’t deny the young floozy part.”
He laughed. “I don’t know. I kind of see myself as the single-and-okay-with-that grandfather to Ginny’s kids. I’ll be the cool one. The one the kids always want to go see.”
“Do you want more?” She slid off the bed, picked up her panties, and stepped in to them. “Kids, I mean?”
“I’d have to be with someone for that,” he said, watching her. When she glanced around for her bra, he pulled it out from under the sheets. “I think I’m fine with just one, unless…”
“Unless what?” she asked, buckling the bra.
“Unless I somehow manage to fall in love again and ignore the screaming sirens in my head long enough to get remarried. Then, I guess, if she wanted to, I’d have more. I like kids.”
“I do, too. If I ever get married, I’d want some.” She picked up her shirt and pulled it on, knowing this conversation was going into dangerous territory. Just like their friendship was. “Ginny is beautiful, by the way.”
“She is.” He smiled, lighting up. “In every way. She takes after her mother.”