What? What? Fireworks of delight sparkled around her, even as a thickness filled her throat. She shook her head. “No, no, you’re wrong. You can’t love me.”

“No?” He tilted his head as if thinking. “Seems like I do. Yeah, I love you.”

“It’s not funny.” He was injured. She couldn’t hit him.

His gaze met hers. Straight. Clear. Honest.

He loved her? He really did?

Oh my God. What should she do? “I…I’m not ready. No, not ready for this.”

Fear constricted her lungs. Craig had loved her, and then he hadn’t. If she stayed and Gabe changed his mind, then… “I can’t, I don’t belong here. You shouldn’t love me. This isn’t right. I’m not ready. No. I have to go back to Chicago. I have a life there and—”

Babbling. She was babbling. Clamping her mouth shut, she stared at him. Shivers ran over her skin.

“Audrey, it’s all right.” He ran his hand over her cheek and smiled. “You tuck that in your head—that I love you—and stew on it for a while.”

His order sounded almost insulting, yet he knew her well. She needed to stew.

After a quick kiss, he made a trip to the bathroom and returned. Rolling onto his back, he tucked her beside him, her leg over his, her arm over his waist.

“Go on to sleep, sweetheart.” His voice dropped. “Gotta say, having you here in my arms is about my favorite thing in the world.”

With a sigh, she laid her cheek on his broad, warm shoulder. With a rumble of pleasure, he kissed the top of her head. As she breathed in his masculine scent, she knew she’d never felt so completely content.

Chapter Twenty-Six

In the station, Gabe watched the video play out the previous night’s ambush in the parking lot. “Seems like moving the security cameras worked.”

Sitting in the corner, Bull grunted his agreement.

Although Gabe’s trap had worked, the results made him want to puke.

Onscreen, the men surrounded him. He hit pause and reset the video to the spot he wanted. No need to watch it again. He had enough bruises to remember every blow.

The door to the station opened and closed.

Bull muttered, “The bastard’s here.”

“Yeah. Guess we finish this game now.”

Footsteps sounded in the office. Baumer had shown up for his Friday shift, right on time. “You in the office, MacNair?”

“Yeah. Come in.”

“Nice day out, isn’t it? Hey, Bull.” Baumer leaned on the doorframe. “Did you want a meeting today? Anything going on I need to know about?”

“I’m afraid so.” Gabe’s anger was a low flame in his gut. “I got attacked by a bunch of cowardly wimps last night in the parking lot.” Unable to resist, Gabe glanced at Bull. “Five men to just me. Am I really that scary?”