“No.”

“Tess, don’t be so quick to say that. Take your time. Think things through.”

She kisses my chin. “I don’t want to be taken care of, Curran. I’ve had that all my life.”

“You’ve had it in a bad way. You don’t know the good part of it. Will you let me show you and get you outta here?”

She keeps her small smile, but this time, I see all that sadness buried behind it. “I wish I could. But it’s not fair to saddle you with my problems or finances.”

“Shouldn’t it be up to me to decide what’s fair?” I ask, as I pass my hand along her back.

“Not in this case, cop. You have to admit, all these details you’ve learned about me, it changes things, don’t you think?”

“It doesn’t change how I feel, or that I want to be with you. Hell, you know you’re all I ever think about.”

“I didn’t know that…but I’m glad.” Her hand lifts to stroke the stubble along my chin. “No one’s ever kissed me or touched me like you. And no one has ever made me feel this happy. You’re everything to me, Curran. I just don’t want to rush the good things between us because of the bad things in my life.”

“What if I love you?”

She stops moving. “What?”

I take a strand of her hair and tuck it behind her ear. “I said, I love you,” I repeat quietly.

Her face falls against my chest and she starts crying all over again.

“Christ, Killian warned me this would happen.” She cries some more. “Aw, baby, come on. Me lovin’ you should be a good thing.”

“It-it is-is,” she blubbers.

Being the sensitive guy I am, once more, I crack the hell up. She lifts her head and sighs, like she can’t believe I’m the jackass she’s stuck with. Of course, that only makes me laugh harder.

“Come here,” I say, kissing her hard. I haul her on top of me as I fall back in bed, pulling away just enough to grin against her mouth. “Now, tell me you love me, too.” This time, it’s her turn to laugh. “Well, you gonna keep me hanging?”

“I love you,” she says softly.

My grin widens. “Say it again.”

“I love you,” she says, laughing.

My hands slide over her ass. “One more time—this time, with feeling.”

She smiles through freshly falling tears. “I love you, Curran. I love you so much.”

I kiss her again, my arms sweeping up her back and then down again, pressing her tight against me. She dips her chin to kiss my neck and straddles me, grinding against my growing bulge. I peel off her nightgown when she reaches into my shorts to play.

We spend the night fu—wait, what’s the word the chicks like? Oh, yeah, we spend the night making love. If it weren’t for her alarm, I would have slept straight into the weekend. She shoves up on her arms, her messy hair falling all around her face.

Damn, she’s killer sexy.

“Shit,” she says, slapping at her alarm to shut it off. “Damnit.”

“I can see my charm’s rubbing off on you.”

She moans and crawls back on top of me. “I have class in an hour.”

I rub my eyes. Hell, we only slept about two hours. She lies against me for another few minutes before she nips at my chin and tries to climb off me. I snag her wrist before she can go far.

She leans in and nuzzles my neck. “Later, I promise,” she murmurs.

I release her wrist and slide my arm over her waist. “That’s not it, at least not this time.”

Worry etches along her tired eyes. I think she knows what I’m going to say, but I say it anyway. “You told me things would change between us now that I know about your dad.” I wait for her nod. “Well, you’re right. I don’t want you here. And I’m not going to pretend like everything’s fine, or turn a blind eye if he starts shit.”

“I just need to get through the next few months,” she reiterates.

“No, you don’t. You’re choosing to, and you think you need to, but I’m here to tell you it’s not something you have to do.”

“Curran…”

“Hear me out. I don’t throw the word ‘love’ around. The last woman I said it to was my ma, at my cheating dad’s funeral when I was trying to tell her everything would be all right. But I said it to you, so that says something, you feel me?”

“I mean it, too,” she says, quietly.

I watch her for a beat. “So do I. And because I said it, it comes with something—a promise. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, physically or otherwise. Don’t care who he is, even if he’s your blood. So if you want to stay, then stay. I’m not going to strong-arm you because then you’re only subbing one asshole for another.” I sit us up then. “The minute you want out, you’re out. No questions asked. But I won’t hide in a closet if he shows up, or pretend like we’re not together. I owe you the right to choose to be here, but you owe me the same respect back as your man.”

“I know,” she says, letting her hands slide along my shoulders. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like you’re less to me than who you are. It wasn’t my intention. It was just survival.”

“I get it,” I tell her, and I do. That doesn’t mean it didn’t piss me off.

After a long while, Tess’s eyes travel to the alarm clock, only to widen. “Oh, shit,” she says again. She slips out of bed, nabbing my wrist in the process. “I need to get going. Will you help me get a shower?”

My lazy grin is answer enough. Oh, yeah, I’m definitely rubbing off on her in all the right ways.

Chapter 25

Curran

For all she says she’s not ready to move in with me, there’s not a night that goes by in the weeks that follow that Tess and I don’t spend together. That doesn’t mean I haven’t missed her lately. Both of us have been ready for her to finish law school, but I had no clue what it would take for her to graduate. Last week, I gave her space to study for her finals. This week, she finally took them. But between her exam schedule and all the shit she’s had to do on the Montenegro case, I’ve barely seen her.

“You know what I think?” I ask Declan. I pull Tess onto my lap, fast enough to make her squeak and drop the law journal she’s holding on the floor.

Declan raises his chin, taking us in. “That you should behave professionally and not fondle my intern during business hours?”

Tess buries her face in her hands. “Nah. That’s not it. Besides, it’s well after six.” My hand cups her knee. Man, she’s smokin’ in that pencil skirt and silk shirt. And don’t get me started on her legs in those high heels. I gave her a shopping spree for her birthday a few weeks back, but I didn’t know it would benefit us both. My fingers skim her hip as I wonder if she has another one of those lacy thongs on. “I’m thinking you should give her the rest of the night off,” I say to Declan, so I can take her home and maybe find out what’s beneath her skirt.

Declan returns to scribbling on his pad. “That sounds like a great idea. In fact, take her on a getaway—make a long weekend out of it. My big case—you know the one I’ve been working on for months—it doesn’t start on Monday or anything.”

“Declan, come on. You’re ready—I know you are.”

“That’s not the point, Curran.” He tosses his pen aside. “Montenegro and his team are ready, too. If something comes up, I may need her help.”

“Then call her at my place. We’ll both head back here, to your apartment, or wherever you want us.” I mean to sound relaxed, but in truth, I’m worried about my girl. Her finals wore her out, and she’s still waiting on grades for three classes. Yet despite her stress and the demands of finishing law school, she’s helped Declan with all the last-minute legal shit he’s needed.