Page 75 of Killer Honeymoon

“As he should,” Santiago said. “I’ll let you go. Let’s talk soon, okay?”

“Absolutely. Thanks for calling, Rio.”

After they exchanged goodbyes, Sawyer grabbed the wrapped gift beside his newHot for Teachermug on his desk. The Explorer academy was also located in the basement of the precinct, and Sawyer loved knowing Royce would be so close by. He found said husband pacing nervously in his office. He was wearing his dress blues and looking too fine to be legal.

Royce blew out a breath and eased up slightly when Sawyer stepped into the room. That’s when Sawyer noticed the Pride flag nestled among Royce’s other pins and medals. His love for the man swelled even more. Sawyer closed the door and crossed to where Royce stood, gaping at his chest. He knew precisely what held his husband’s fascination.

“Is that another corset vest?” he asked huskily.

“Yep.”

Royce lifted his gaze to Sawyer’s. “And you thought this was the night to debut it?”

“Yep,” Sawyer repeated. “I’m hoping to distract you from yourself.”

Royce’s lips quirked into a smile, and he ran a finger over the strip of embroidered fabric he could see. “Mission accomplished, baby.”

Sawyer lifted the wrapped box in his hand. “I come bearing other gifts.”

Royce groaned and leaned his forehead against Sawyer’s. “You can’t come in here dressed like a wet dream and talk dirty like that.”

“Talk dirty?”

“You saidcome,” Royce whispered ruefully.

Sawyer stepped back and shook his head. “Here. Open it.”

Royce accepted the gift and peeled off the paper. He set the box on his desk and opened it to reveal a silver three-photo frame, featuring images taken during their first-look photo shoot. In the first one, Whitney had stood in front of Royce and photographed Sawyer approaching him from behind. Royce was in focus while Sawyer was slightly blurred, drawing all the attention to the gorgeous blond man. Royce’s head was tilted back ever so slightly, his eyes were closed, and a serene smile graced his lips. In the middle photo, both men were in focus. It was also shot in front of Royce. Sawyer’s hands covered Royce’s eyes, and both men wore matching delighted smiles on their lips. The final photo was shot from the side, and it captured the moment when Royce had leaned his forehead against Sawyer’s and asked if Sawyer always looked at him like that. Sawyer’s answer was engraved at the bottom of the frame.

Only every second of every day.

Royce glanced up from the gift, his gray eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “You do always look at me like that.”

“I do. And it really doesn’t matter how the rest of the world looks at you.”

Royce smiled and kissed Sawyer’s lips. “I was nervous about speaking in front of the cadets and their parents.”

“I know,” Sawyer replied. “But you’re going to knock ’em dead.”

Royce grimaced. “No more deaths.”

Sawyer was about to reply, but someone rapped on the door. He took a few steps backward and opened it. Tara and Candy stood on the other side. Tara wore her dress blues like Royce, and Candy was rocking a light-blue halter-top dress that flowed over her curves and fell to her knees. Sawyer let out an appreciative whistle.

“Thanks,” Tara quipped. “You clean up okay too.”

Sawyer chuckled and gestured for them to come in.

“Nah,” Candy said. “We need to get going, or Cinderfella will be late to his own ball.”

Royce sighed, lovingly set his new photo frame on his credenza, and crossed to the door. “Watch it, Candace. One of these days, the two of you will want to go on a romantic getaway and need someone to watch the rug rats.”

“As long as it’s not your kind of getaway,” Tara said. “You can’t even go on your honeymoon without a homicide springing up around you.”

A month had passed since they’d returned, and they still hadn’t lived it down yet.

“It was a fluke,” Royce said as he turned off the light and closed his office door. He looked at Sawyer and mouthed, “Right?”

Sawyer chuckled and shrugged.