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There were hard male arms wrapped around her, keeping her tight against an equally hard male chest when she woke the next morning. Right there on a dark brown leather couch. With his hands…in interesting places.

“Enjoying yourself, you little badge bunny hussy?” a quiet voice asked.

Daryn turned her head quickly. A tall, dark-haired woman stood in the door—dressed in the familiar dark green polo of the TSP sheriff’s division. “Very much so. He smells wonderful. Feels wonderful, too.”

She wanted to bury her face against him and just breathe him in.

Daryn had woke a few times in the night herself. Neither of them had been in a big hurry to let go of the other. Not after last night.

“Probably Logan’s? Big surprise. I got up here as soon as I could. To help with recovery. I called Shelby. I’m going to be staying herewith her for a few days while Pen stays with family here in town. Help her…deal. Help her get this place ready to move into, too. Make it look less like it does, and more Shelby. Take charge of her life now that the TSP has given this place back.”

“It’s time.” Daryn wanted to sit up, but Mike’s arms were pretty tight. His heat scorched her. He had his head thrown back and was sound asleep. Snoring lightly. There were bruises on his face. His arms.

But he was alive.

“So how did you end up wrapped up in this guy’s arms? Not that he’s not a really pretty one and those muscled arms are rather yummy looking, but…as far as I knew, you weren’t involved with anyone yesterday. Now here you are. And I think I recognize him. He’s the last guy I would expect to find here.”

“He saved my life.”

“Is that worth giving him a little cuddle-cuddle?” Zoey stepped closer to the couch and stared down at Mike, a smirk on her lips.

Daryn just smiled. It felt right. Exactly where she was. “Maybe.”

“Then enjoy. I’m going to check on Shel, then I’m heading out. Seeing if I can connect with that hot sexy brother of yours, and make myself useful. You ok?”

“I’m good. And don’t say sexy and Darrell in the same sentence again, ok? That’s just totally wrong.”

Zoey gave a secretive smile. “You stay with Shel?”

Daryn looked at the man sleeping next to her. “Of course. What time is it?”

“Not quite five a.m.”

“Thanks.”

After Zoey left, Daryn knew she had a choice to make.

She could move away from the man holding her. Probably do the smart thing. Or she could stay just where she was and see what happened between them next. The decision seemed easy enough. Daryn rested her head against his strong chest and drifted back to sleep, his heartbeat next to her cheek.

And his arms tight around her like he’d never let her go. No. She wasn’t ready to let go, either.

Mike woke around nine the next morning, his leg feeling like it was on fire, and a beautiful pixie snuggled into his arms. He buried his face in her hair and just took the scent of her in. He wanted to remember her scent forever. He’d gladly take the fire in his knee if that was the price of having Daryn in his arms.

Big dark eyes opened. She blinked at him, gave a secretive smile. He smiled. “Hey.”

“It wasn’t a bad dream.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

Daryn pulled in a deep breath and sat up. Mike followed, cursing when his leg protested.

“You ok?” she asked.

“Yeah.” He didn’t stop to think she’d probably changed her mind. He just opened his arms again.

Then Mike was kissing her, like he really meant it.

Because he did.

Holding her into the night had made one thing clear: he was tired of living his life alone. No responsibilities—but no connections, either. He wanted what his parents had. That connection between them that was tangible at times. He didn’t want to face all of life alone.

Not any more.

The woman he wanted to build that with was pressed against him right now. And there was no one to interrupt him, to stop him from telling her, showing her, exactly what he wanted. He just hoped what he felt came across in his kiss, because Mike didn’t know that he’d ever have the words to tell her exactly what he needed.

Finally he pulled back. “Daryn Mabry, consider this your warning.”

“What?”

“Now that I’ve got you in my arms? I’m not about to let you get away.” He buried his fingers in her hair and just looked at her again, damned glad he had that chance. “I’m going to keep you forever, woman. You can count on that.”

How the storm had changed everything.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, I’m going to prove to you I’m not just the jackass you’ve called me before. I’m going to prove to you that I can be the man you want in your life. Forever, if I get lucky enough. And if you’ll have me. No matter what I have to do. So…what do you say, doc? Can you give me a shot?”