Murders & Romance: A Psychic Detective Romantic Mystery (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 5) by Lashell Collins (ready player one ebook .TXT) 📗

Oh, God.

“Are you sure? Because I love you, Gavin. And I know it’s way too soon in this relationship for me to say that. But what you don’t understand is that I have loved you for so long. And now that you’re here in my arms, I don’t want to waste a single minute playing games. We have dangerous jobs, no matter what precautions we take; and I don’t want to miss my opportunity to tell you how I feel about you.”

The tears were flowing freely now, and her words had him speechless.

“But I know you have some kind of hang ups about our ages and our positions at the PD. So if you don’t think you can do this and really be with me, then I need to know that before my heart gets in any deeper. Please.”

Gavin stared into her tear-filled eyes, reeling from her rawness.

“Gerri, I…”

He paused, unsure of what to say. He’d screwed this up once because he’d said the wrong thing. Now, that the stakes were so much higher, he didn’t want to say something stupid and sabotage something great and wonderful before it had a chance to become great and wonderful.

“I think there’s a lot we should talk about.”

Gerri wiped another tear, and a tortured sour laugh escaped her.

“I guess I just got my answer.”

“No!” His voice was firm, and he stared into her eyes, willing her to hear him out and believe him. “No, that was not an answer. Gerri… you have to acknowledge that our relationship has its issues. Issues that have the power to affect both of our livelihoods.”

“Our jobs again.” She rolled her eyes.

“Yes, our jobs. Do you realize that if the wrong people found out about us, I could be demoted? I could lose my rank, and my position over the homicide unit. All for taking advantage of a subordinate.”

“But you’re not taking advantage of me!”

“I know that! And you know that. But that is not how it will look to IAB. I am your direct supervisor.”

Gerri looked stricken, and more tears hit her cheeks.

“So then, it’s hopeless? That’s what you’re saying?”

Gavin sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he met her gaze again. He’d vowed not to lie to her.

“While you serve under my command? Yeah.”

Gerri wiped her cheek.

“Then that’s all the more reason for me to transfer out and go to another precinct.”

Gavin rolled over and sat up in the middle of the bed.

“I would never ask you to do that.”

Gerri sat up beside him, pulling the sheet over her breasts.

“But you’re not asking. Gavin, I love working at the 3rd precinct. Do you know why?”

“Because it’s close to your apartment?”

“Because you’re there! But if I could have you, and we both still have our jobs, I wouldn’t care which precinct I worked at.”

Gavin sighed and glanced around the room.

“Well, at least you’re not still talking about quitting altogether.”

Gerri ran a hand through her hair.

“When I said that yesterday I was just upset. And I was trying to get out of talking to the shrink.”

Gavin looked at her. “Well, you do know that you can’t come back to any precinct until you’re cleared by him. You will have to talk to him again.”

“I know.”

Gavin took her hand, and they sat in silence for a long moment.

“So, let’s talk about your other issue,” she said.

Gavin looked up at her and laced his fingers with hers.

“What other issue?”

“The age thing.”

He groaned. “Well, let’s face it. I’m old enough to be your…”

He hesitated. They both knew the word he was going for. And it was entirely possible, if he’d had her when he was 16. But somehow, he simply couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Much older brother,” he said, finally finishing that sentence.

Gerri giggled at him. A genuine small laugh, without any tears, and Gavin smiled.

“That’s not true.”

“It is true. Do you even know how old I am?”

“Yes. You’re 44 years old. You just had a birthday four months ago, which you celebrated all alone, without so much as a cupcake because Trey was away at school, and you don’t tell your detectives when your birthday is.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“How do you know all that?”

A sexy smile slid across her lips.

“I’m a detective. I find shit out.”

“Hmm. And that number doesn’t give you pause? The fact that I’m 16 years older than you?”

“Only for half a year until my birthday. Then we’re 15 years apart.”

Gavin rolled his eyes. “And it doesn’t bother you?”

“Should it?”

“Gerri, you are closer in age to my 19-year-old son than you are to me.”

“So?”

“So? You probably have more in common with him than you do with me! That doesn’t bother you?”

“No. Why should it? Age is just a number, Gavin. A record of how long you’ve been on this earth. As long as both people are legally adults, age has absolutely no bearing on love or sex!”

They stared at each other for a moment, and Gavin wasn’t sure how to take her views.

“And you don’t honestly believe that I have more in common with a college boy, do you? I mean, you’re not seriously entertaining the idea that I might suddenly find myself attracted to your son, right?”

Gavin didn’t answer those questions. But hearing her say them, he couldn’t deny that the possibility had crossed his mind, back when he was telling himself all the reasons why they shouldn’t get involved.

“Because… don’t get me wrong, Trey’s a nice boy. But he’s just that. A boy. I need a man who can handle me. The way you just did.”

She trailed a single finger from his chest down to his pubic hair, and his dick stood up and said hello.

“If it makes you feel any better, my 29th birthday is in two months.”

She grinned at him, and Gavin laughed out loud. He pulled her to him and kissed her, long and deep. His hands roamed her body as his tongue explored every inch of her mouth. Then he pulled