Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
I nodded and folded my arms across my chest.
“I got the call, and when I found out she was arrested, I knew you would be there to take care of Charlie—so I came here.”
“With what intention?”
Palmer made a face that said she wasn’t really sure she wanted to tell me. “Well…I came to kick her ass. But by the time I got here, Captain Earl talked me out of that plan. So I decided I would simply talk to her. Try and find out what in the hell she was thinking by showing up at Charlie’s school. So, they brought Ashley into the interrogation room and the moment she saw me, she snapped. I didn’t even say a word.”
I raised a questioning brow at her.
“I didn’t!”
Officer Earl piped in. “She really didn’t. I was in the room with them.”
After giving Earl an appreciative nod, I turned back to Palmer. “Then what?”
“Then what?” she asked, drawing her head back in question. An evil-sounding little laugh escaped from her lips, and she replied, “I punched her. I mean, she was coming after me, so I pulled my arm back and hit her. Hurt like a sonofabitch, because apparently I don’t throw a punch correctly.”
“Um, that’s what we were teaching her when you walked in,” Captain Earl said with a sheepish grin.
“I see,” I replied. “What did Ashley do after you hit her?”
“Well, it was rather dramatic…wouldn’t you say, Clay?”
He nodded. “Totally dramatic.”
Palmer smiled at the kid, then looked at me. When I gave her a look, her smile faded. “She fell to the floor screaming and saying something about how she couldn’t believe I broke her nose. I can believe it—my hand is still stinging.”
I closed my eyes and fought the urge to smile. When I opened them, Palmer was looking up at me with those beautiful blue eyes of hers.
“Palmer, she’s crazy. Why would you risk coming here?”
She stared at me like I’d grown two heads. “She was trying to take Charlie! There’s no way I was going to let that go. No way at all.”
I dropped my hands to my sides and walked up to her, cupping her face in my palms. “I love that you rushed here to defend Charlie. Thank you for being you.”
She blinked a few times before she asked, “So you’re not mad?”
“Oh, I’m mad that you put yourself in a room with that nutcase. But I could never be mad at you for defending my son. I think I’m more jealous that you were able to get to her before I could.” I looked at the two cops. “Not that I would ever hit Ashley. I may want to hit her, but I would never follow through with it.”
Both of them lifted their hands as if to say they didn’t hear anything. I looked back at Palmer—then kissed her.
“Um…we’ll, ah…leave you two alone,” Captain Earl said.
Palmer grinned. “Thanks, Cap. Thanks, Clay.”
When I heard the door click shut, I kissed her again, this time deeper. We drew apart, and I ran my thumb over her lower lip.
“I said I wasn’t going to say this so early, but I love you, Palmer. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you. I want you to know that.”
A single tear slipped free from her eye, and I brushed it away.
“I have a confession,” Palmer whispered.
“Tell me.”
“I’ve been in love with you since I saw you walk into the Grill. There’s nothing in this life of mine that I want more than to love you and Charlie with my whole heart and soul.”
My heart felt like it grew six times its size.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for you, Palmer Bradley. And I honestly cannot believe we’re saying we love each other for the first time in a police department after you punched my ex-wife.”
She laughed and dropped her head onto my chest. “Now what?” she asked, gazing back up at me.
I pulled in a breath and exhaled. “Now we sit Charlie down and tell him about Ashley—and about us.”
Her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink. “I really love that little guy, you know that, right?”
I nodded and placed my hand on the side of her face. “I know you do. And you have no idea how much that means to me. I wasn’t planning on falling in love, you know. My focus was on Charlie. But I’m so glad I moved to Seaside, and even more glad that you were at the restaurant that day.”
“Me too.” She drew her brows in and asked, “Why did you pick Seaside?”
“To be honest,” I said as I looked up in thought, then back down to her. “I’m not really sure why I picked Seaside for Charlie and me. It felt…right.”
“I love that,” she said before lifting on her toes to give me a sweet kiss. “Let’s go.”