“Bring it on. I’m bored to tears in this hospital bed. I can handle a heavy caseload but, so help me god, if I have to eat one more pudding cup…”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be plenty busy. You’re going to have to juggle some extra cases.”
“Oh? Whose?”
“Mine.” Conor shrugs. “Since I’ll be taking some time off.”
“I’m sorry… it sounded like you just said you were taking time off, Gallagher.” Lucy’s blonde brows are by her hairline.
“Glad to know your ears weren’t affected by the blast, Sykes.”
She’s still staring. “You. Conor Gallagher. Taking time off.”
He nods.
“But you never take time off.”
“You’re right. Which is why I have about ten years worth of vacation days to use up. I intend to use them now.”
“Doingwhat?”
“A two-month road trip across the country, for starters.” His eyes cut to mine, full of warmth. “As long as my co-pilot hasn’t changed her mind…”
“Nope. Assuming I still have veto-power over your music choices, that is…” I wince. “I cannotlisten to Springsteen for five thousand miles, no matter how cute you look while singingDancing in the Darkoff-key in the Wrangler.”
He shakes his head at me. “You have no appreciation for the classics, Hunt.”
“You… but…” Sykes is having a hard time processing. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“Believe it.”
“This is a whole new world I’ve woken up to, huh, Gallagher?” Sykes is still baffled. “I mean… won’t you miss it? You live for this job…”
Conor never looks away from me. “I’m learning there are better things to live for, Sykes.”
My eyes gloss over with tears. I reach my hand out to him. Lacing our fingers together, he pulls me up from my seat, into his warm chest. When his lips brush mine, they’re still curved from his smile.
“Ugh. You two are disgustingly cute. Get out of my hospital room before I go into diabetic shock from this display of sweetness.” Sykes shoos us toward the door. “Oh, and Gallagher—”
At the threshold, Conor looks back at her.
“In case I didn’t say this before… I’m really happy for you.” Her eyes slide to me. “For both of you.”
* * *
“You ready?”
I glance at Conor as he loads the last suitcase into the Wrangler. “Ready.”
We climb into the Jeep. Leaning over, he kisses me — a long, lingering one that makes my heart soar inside my chest and my blood race with desire. When he pulls back, we’re both breathing hard.
“Maybe we should postpone this trip for a few hours,” he murmurs, eyes full of heat. “I have some very important matters to discuss with you concerning our route…”
“Oh, really?”
“Mhmm.”
“And where, exactly, would you like to discuss these important matters?” I ask. “Let me guess… in bed.”