Page 63 of Her Baby, Her Badge

Because Grace wasn’t going to do it.

No. No more avoidance. No more trying to convince herself she was better off without him. But that was something she’d deal with after she found out why her mother had called.

“Yes, I’m with Dutton,” Grace said. “He’s right here next to me and listening to this conversation.” She left it at that, but her mother would know that meant she was in bed with Dutton, and since Aileen wasn’t a fool, she’d know what had gone on.

“Good,” Aileen replied, surprising Grace. “Because he’ll want to hear this, too. The town council meeting just finished their vote about having a recall election.”

Grace’s chest went tight. She certainly hadn’t forgotten about that, but she’d shoved it to the back of her mind. “And?” she pressed when her mother paused.

“And there’ll be no recall vote. Grace, you got the endorsement of the entire town council. They think you’re doing a solid job as sheriff.”

That chest tightness vanished. “It probably helped that the killer is dead.” And, yes, there was a tinge of sarcasm in her voice.

“It helped that members of the council realized they’d been letting a killer influence them about you. Added to that, the other person who spoke out against you, Wilson, is behind bars right now and will likely be charged with murder.”

That helped with the remaining resentment that Grace felt over her badge being threatened. “Good,” she muttered around the lump in her throat.

“I agree, and with Wilson and Cassie not spreading their hatred, I don’t think any more questions will come up about you being at the reins,” her mother concluded. “Oh, and I’m to tell you not to come into work tomorrow. That’s from Rory. He’s handling the postmortem on Cassie, and he and Livvy are doing the interview with Wilson.”

Grace was mentally shaking her head. “I can’t let them do that.”

“Sure you can,” her mother said. “Take tomorrow off. You’ve been doing nonstop duty to the badge. Now take a little time off for your baby. And for Dutton,” she added. “Dutton, thank you.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For keeping Grace and my grandbaby safe. I know that couldn’t have been easy. It probably helps that you’re in love with Grace. Yes, I can see that. I didn’t want to see it for a long time, but I know you’ll do what’s right by both the baby and her.”

With that, her mother abruptly ended the call, leaving Grace in shock. She figured Dutton was feeling the same, so she turned to him to give him an out. She would tell him her mother was wrong and that there was no need to do anything, no matter what her mother said.

She didn’t get a chance to say any of that.

Because Dutton hauled her into his arms and kissed her. Really kissed her. It was long, deep and incredibly hot. The hotness went up a significant notch when he pressed his naked body against hers.

The remnants of the dream came rushing back. Remnants, too, of the scorching sex they’d had hours earlier. But Grace got a jolt of other memories, too. Of Dutton being there for some of the worst, and best, moments of her life.

“I’m in love with you,” she blurted when they broke for air. “And I want you in my life.”

He froze, and for one horrible moment, she thought she’d blown it, that she had ruined this moment. But then he smiled. It was that cocky grin that could be considered foreplay. It certainly gave her another dose of heat.

“I’ve waited a long time to hear you say that,” he drawled. “Because, Sheriff Grace Granger, I’m in love with you, too, and I also want both you and our baby in my life…oh, let’s aim for forever.”

Forever suited her just fine.

He kissed her again. This one robbed her of all of the breath she’d just gathered. But Grace didn’t mind one bit. Because in that moment, that wonderful scalding moment, she, too, realized she’d also been waiting a long time to hear and say those words.

I’m in love with you.

They were absolutely true words. Ones that she felt with her entire heart, and she knew from the way Dutton kissed her, that it was the same for him.

So Grace pulled him against her, kissing him, and taking everything Dutton, and only Dutton, could give her.

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