“Oh, Oscar,” August sighed flopping down on her couch and mimicking the kissing lips her fish was making at her. “You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had. Seriously.”

Mercy had called them all together after the ordeal was over and the police had finally left. She’d given them the week off. August wasn’t so sure she wanted more time alone to ruminate over what she should and shouldn’t have done. Davina hadn’t been there; an ambulance had arrived and whisked her and Logan away before the police had even finished with Bryson. It was obvious she was going to need time off; she was clearly distraught. Rightly so. In fact, August would be surprised if the woman returned to Blue Belle’s at all. She was a receptionist. Not a tactical response officer.

“Men,” August tutted while she sprinkled fish flakes into Oscar’s water. “It almost makes me want to trade you for a girl fish, Os’,” she chuckled. Of course, she had no way of knowing that Oscar wasn’t a girl, and was kind of grateful that he couldn’t understand a word she said.

Toeing her boots off, she rotated her feet. Maybe she would head to the beach and visit her sister while she was on her break. It had been a long time since she’d really taken time off.

Work gave her a purpose in life, without it she felt like a failure. She would never admit this to anyone, but she was lonely. It was pathetic how much she had felt boosted by Reese’s words today. How long had it been since anyone had said anything like that to her?

Settling in for her usual evening of watching TV, she was startled by on knock on the door.

“Who might that be?” she asked her fish as if he might know.

Pushing herself off the couch, she made her way to the door, expecting to see the old lady from next door. Once a month or so, Gladys would come knocking and offer her some random food she had made. August didn’t mind, although she didn’t have the heart to tell the woman she hated her meatloaf.

Swinging the door open, she gasped when she first caught a whiff of the steaming pizza and then again when she saw Reese holding it.

“I hope you don’t mind me popping by unannounced. I thought you could probably do with some company and pizza,” he shrugged, holding up the delicious smelling box of goodness. “If not, you can have the pizza, and I’ll just grab something on my way home.”

“You’re not Gladys,” was all she feebly managed out.

“No, not Gladys. Just me.” He smiled that gorgeous little half smile he did when he wasn’t sure if she were joking or not.

“You have pizza?” she asked.

“Double pepperoni, hold the pineapple,” he recited her usual pizza order.

“How did you know?” she asked, again realising it was a defunct question before she answered it herself. “Mercy.”

“Mercy,” Reese nodded in confirmation.

“I, ah… I haven’t cleaned up.” She looked behind her at the floor that desperately needed sweeping and the basket of clean laundry waiting to be folded and put away. She hadn’t been expecting company. Turning back, she found Reese with his hip resting against her doorframe still waiting for an invitation.

“I didn’t come to check out your apartment, August. I came to bring you pizza and to see if you’re alright.”

He really was sweet. What had she been fighting all this time?

“Okay, come in,” she offered, moving out of the doorway and allowing him access. “Not a word,” she hissed at Oscar as Reese made his way to her couch and placed the pizza box down.

“So, how are you?”

“I’m okay,” she shrugged.

“Are you really?” he persisted, finding her eyes.

There was something about his look, maybe it was the kindness she saw there; perhaps it was her own loneliness. Whatever it was, the emotions she had tried to bury suddenly bubbled to the surface and tears pricked her eyes. She prided herself on being a badass and yet here was this man, bringing her to her knees.

“Yeah,” she swallowed hard, trying to keep the emotion from her voice. “I just keep seeing that little boys face.”

Closing her eyes, the image of Logan, his mother holding him tight, tears streaming down her face, flooded her memory. Warm fingers enveloped hers, and her eyes sprang open.

“It will get easier, trust me,” Reese said, with a sad smile. “Bryson will go away for what he’s done.”

“I just don’t get some people,” she shook her head and pulled her hand back abruptly. “I mean, how could he blame it on me? He was cheating on his wife, and yet, somehow it was my fault that his life was ruined. I think maybe I did his wife a favour.”

“I know. It’s sad.” Reese dropped to the couch, deflated.

Guilt clawed at her, she hadn’t meant to give him the cold shoulder. He had been sweet and caring. Now she felt awkward and wasn’t sure how to patch it up. Taking a seat beside him, she reached for the pizza.

“How do you deal with that?” she asked, before loading the first slice of Italian goodness into her mouth. “I mean, scenarios like that. You must have to deal with things like that all the time?”

“Well, I don’t have to take down crazy gunmen every day. But I do have to deal with lots of crazy scenarios.” He reached for a piece of pizza and for several moments they both ate in silence.

“I guess I never gave Roger much credit,” she finally said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

“He doesn’t deserve credit, August. We all have bad days at work; that is no excuse for taking it home and being an asshole to your family.”

“Am I an asshole to you, Oscar?” she asked, looking over her shoulder.

Reese chuckled. “I like you, August.”

“You’re kinda growing on me, too, Constable Fucker,” she laughed in response. “Thank you, for coming and checking up on me tonight. It’s been a long time since anyone has cared. Other than Mercy, of course.”

“She’s a good woman,” he agreed. His tone dropped, and he took on a serious look. The air between them seemed thin as he leaned closer.

“More pizza?” August piped up. Catching his stare, she paused, mesmerised.

“Ah, sure,” he said breaking the moment.

Their hands met as they both reached for the box at the same time. This time, she didn’t pull away. Her eyes found his and the edges of his lips curled up in a smile. August leaned in close. Reese’s breath was coming in short spurts, and she felt it hot on her skin. Just as their lips were about to touch, she felt his fingers slip into her hair at the back of her head. His grip firm but gentle.

After several long seconds, she pulled away, and her eyes dropped to where her lips had just been. Reese’s lips. She had fought against this, fought against feeling anything for this man, determined she was strong and independent and didn’t need a man to make her feel good. But damn, his lips made her feel something she thought she might never feel.

“Are you, okay?” he asked. “Is this okay?” his words were thick with passion.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “This is great.”

* * *

Laying back on her couch, her head resting on Reese’s chest, felt like heaven as they took in a movie. It barely mattered what the content even was. Her day had been fuelled by emotions. Fear, anger, lust. It was almost too much to comprehend in one sitting. Perhaps what she was feeling now for Reese was just a side-effect of the trauma of the siege. Either way, it felt good in the moment, so she chose to go with it.

As the credits for the movie rolled, she felt his fingers tracing her jaw.

“Are you still awake, beautiful?”

“Yeah,” she said sleepily as she pushed herself into a sitting position. She was groggy and could have happily fallen asleep.

“It’s time for me to get going,” he said sadly. “Will you be okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, of course,” she nodded.

“I had a great night tonight.”

“Great pizza, thank you,” she smirked.

“The movie was good too,” he agreed, offering her a similar look.

She guessed she had asked for that.

“Thank you for dropping by,” she said, rising to her feet and straightening her wrinkled shirt. She hated to think what her hair must look like. Reese hadn’t seemed to mind, he had called her beautiful not five minutes earlier.

“Do you mind if I call again?” he asked sheepishly.

August bit down hard on her bottom lip, her usual snark wanted to tell him no, just because she could. But she really wanted to see him again. Before she had a chance to answer, he had moved into her space, and his hands found her hips. Strong hands. Hands she had watched take down John Bryson earlier in the day. For a moment she thought about his hands on other parts of her body, and she closed her eyes, feeling them move across her skin.

“I don’t want to be alone tonight.” The words fell from her lips before she had a chance to take them back. Her eyes flew open and met with his, staring back at her, and she wondered if she had said the wrong thing. Maybe he didn’t want to stay. Perhaps she had been too forward.

Her questions were resolved as his lips found hers, passionate kisses and hot breath. His tongue snaked between her lips and tangled with hers. His arm wrapped around her lower back and pulled her in close. His body giving away the fact that he was as excited as she.

There was no time for thinking anymore. No more deliberation as to whether this was right or wrong. She scrunched his t-shirt in her fist and tugged it up. Her fingers finding his hot skin. Reese let out a sexy moan as he pulled away just long enough to pull the shirt over his head, tugging it from the back of his neck in the way only men did. It was the first time she had seen him shirtless, and his hard, rippled chest showed his level of fitness.

Tucking a finger into the buckle loop of his jeans she pulled him toward her, taking a step backward. He followed willingly as she traced the footsteps across the floor to her bedroom door. Making a quick mental note of the fact she had been tardy in her cleaning in there as well, leaving clothes strewn over the carpet. Although, she figured Reese wouldn’t notice right now.

His fingers traced the waist of her skirt before his hand came to rest on the skin just under her blouse. She wondered if he could feel the heat radiating from her. It felt like she might self-combust if she weren’t to shed her clothes soon. Reese’s fingers worked their way up to her bra, and after a couple seconds of fumbling, she felt it unhook, and her heavy breasts were freed.

Hastily, she unbuttoned her blouse allowing the fabric to fall away, taking the loosened bra with it, leaving her exposed. The cool air that pumped from the air-conditioning unit fell on her hot skin, causing it to pimple.

Reese’s lips dropped from hers and onto the crook of her neck as he trailed soft kisses down toward her boobs. When he reached the delicate area, she arched into him. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had held her and touched her in this way. Every muscle in her body ached for him, and she let out a sigh of pleasure.

“Is this alright?” Reese asked, moving to face her as one of his hands reached around and cupped her butt.

She nodded, barely able to speak.

“It’s been a long time,” he breathed. “I hope I’m not too rusty.”

August let out a small laugh at his confession. It had been so long for her she was sure she wouldn’t notice. “I want you, Reese,” she murmured, tugging at the buckle on his jeans. “I don’t care how rusty you are.”