He nodded. “I know. It’s something Todd mentioned, because there weren’t any expected openings here in Kansas City, and he knows a guy in St. Louis. I did a phone interview and they really liked me. It’s a great opportunity—”

She pulled her hand away, and he stopped. “Did they offer you a job?”

“Yes.”

“What did you say?”

“Keep in mind, this was when we were broken up,” he started.

Lauren closed her eyes. “Just like that, you would leave?”

He scooted closer and put his hands on either side of her face, and she opened her eyes. He gazed into those green depths. “Would you ask me to stay?”

She just looked at him, her hesitation lasting a few seconds beyond comfort.

She wouldn’t ask him to stay?

“Please stay.” Her voice cracked.

Like a pressure valve being released, his insecurity dissipated, and he smiled widely.

“Okay,” he said, and kissed her.

She returned the kiss for several seconds, then pulled back. “That’s it? You’re not going to take a great job offer, just because I selfishly asked you to stay?”

He kissed her again. “Yes and no. Yes, I would do that. But I already turned it down, and that’s why I never said anything. The day you told me about Jasmine, and we got back together, I knew there was no way I wanted to live apart from you.”

A wrinkle formed between her eyebrows. “You shouldn’t have done that. We could have talked about it…”

“After all you went through for your job here? You’re not leaving, and I’m not leaving without you.”

“What will you do, then?”

“I’m not sure yet, but graduation is still months away. I’ve got time. I’ll just find something else until a local DA position opens up, and hopefully they’ll still want me.”

Lauren processed that for a moment, then put her hand on his forearm. “And if they don’t, or if you’re unhappy with what you find, we’ll talk about it, okay? Both of our careers are important.”

He pulled her close against his chest. “Deal.”

She relaxed into him.

“That wasn’t nice, you know,” he said into her hair. Damn she smelled good. “Sending me a text like that. You freaked me out.”

“Sorry. I was a little blindsided by Jeni’s comment about St. Louis.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything to her. She can’t keep her mouth shut.”

Lauren tilted her head up to look at him. “Women talk, you know. I’d have thought you knew that, having so many women in your family.”

“Hopefully, someday I’ll add another to it.”

“You’re not theoretically proposing again, are you?”

“No. But if I was, what would you say?” He loved this game.

“Maybe.” She elbowed him in the ribs. “Speaking of your family…can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”