“Want me to drop you somewhere?”

“Nah, I’ll take the Metro.”

“See you back at the house.”

Long after Gonzo drove off, Freddie stood there thinking over what Sam had said that morning. Getting shot at—again—had helped to bring things into perspective for him. Life was too short to spend it wishing for something he could have if he was willing to make some concessions. The thought of seeing Elin, of holding her and making love with her had him jogging for the nearest Metro station. If he got lucky, he’d catch her leaving the gym where she worked to take her lunch hour. She always went at two.

On the train, he thought about what he might say to her and imagined how she might react. He had to play it cool. That much he knew for sure. If he professed his love, she’d run for the hills. No, he needed to start all over again with her and hope for a better outcome this time.

He jogged up 16th Street just as she emerged from the gym wearing his favorite black yoga pants that showed off her amazing ass and a light blue down vest that offset her shockingly blue eyes. The wind caught her white-blonde hair, and she stopped to capture it into a ponytail. That’s when she saw him coming toward her.

“What’re you doing here?” she asked, clearly taken aback by his presence.

He put an arm around her waist and drew her in close to him.

Her eyes widened, and her lips parted.

“This is what I’m doing here.” He dipped his head and captured her mouth in a searing kiss that had him to firing on all cylinders. When her arms encircled his neck and her fingers combed into his hair, his legs went weak with relief. Having her back in his arms was the answer to his every prayer.

Like a famished man who’d just found food, he feasted on her, his tongue dipping into her sweet softness. “Missed you,” he whispered when he had no choice but to come up for air. He trailed kisses from her jaw to her neck and nipped at the base of her throat.

“I’ve missed you too.”

He’d never seen her looking more vulnerable than she did at that moment, and that gave him hope. Framing her face with his hands, he kissed her again, softly this time. “Come to Sam’s wedding with me. We’ll figure out the rest. I promise.”

Her hands found his chest under his coat, and he’d never wanted her more. Freddie had to remind himself they were standing on a public street and attracting more than a few curious stares.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” He knew she meant a relationship his pious mother disapproved of.