“I’ll love you as much as I do now ten years in the future,” he continued. “Heck, I guess it’s possible I’ll love you more. What’s not possible is me loving you less.”
“But ....”
“No.” He made a face and pressed his finger to my lips. “I love you beyond reason, Avery. I had no idea when you first walked into my shop that you were going to become my life — and I would’ve called anyone who suggested such a thing at the time a filthy liar — but we fit. I think the reason you’re so worked up about this is because you know we fit and you can’t figure out how it happened.”
He wasn’t wrong, which only irritated me further. “I don’t want you to change your mind down the road.” I blurted it out without thinking. “I just ... I’m kind of attached to you.”
His eyes lit up. “That could be the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me,” he said. “The absolute most romantic thing.”
I was taken aback. “It wasn’t meant to be romantic. It’s simply the way I feel.”
“And that’s why it’s romantic.” He rolled, tugging me tighter against his chest, and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “This is new ground for both of us. It’s going to be okay. I wish you could just calm down a little bit. I guess you’re not there yet, huh?”
“I don’t understand why you’re not happy with the status quo.” I couldn’t let it go. “I thought things were going well.”
“Baby, they’re going very well. That’s why I want to take them to the next level.”
I stared into his eyes. “Maybe we could compromise.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Maybe you could revisit the idea of proposing in a year or so.” I realized that was giving him tacit agreement for a timetable and backtracked quickly. “Or we could just talk about if we’re ready to take that step in a year,” I hurriedly amended.
“Absolutely not.” He shook his head, firm, and my heart plummeted. “I’m proposing soon. I’ve even decided how I’m going to do it. I’m just waiting for you to settle.”
“But ...”
“No. You’re full of buts lately, and I hate it. It’s happening. Not only am I proposing, you’re saying yes.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know I’m going to say yes?”
“Because I know.” He kissed the tip of my nose and grinned. “Deep down, you want to say yes. Your busy brain is holding you back right now. Your heart, which is bigger than your brain sometimes, is already on board.”
I was fairly certain there was an insult buried in the heart comment somewhere, but I didn’t want to engage in an argument. It was too much on top of everything else. “I think you might be giving me an ulcer,” I complained, rubbing my stomach as I shifted gears. “I hope you’re happy.”
“You make me happy,” he said. “As for the ulcer, we can share meds. I know you’re giving me one with all the trouble you find.”
That definitely was an insult. “Hey, I get myself out of trouble, too.”
“Sometimes,” he agreed, running his hand over my hair to smooth it. “Speaking of trouble, I’m guessing you’re chasing the story on the dead Santas for the foreseeable future.”
I nodded, happy to talk about something other than an impending proposal. “You know it. I’m going to chase Beau Burton’s information first. I’m pretty sure Jake didn’t mean for that to slip.”
“Well, I didn’t say anything last night — and I don’t want you to get too worked up — but I might know a guy who knows a guy.”
“What does that mean? You might know a guy who knows a guy about what?”
“Burton. I vaguely remembered the story when you brought it up last night. It stuck in the back of my head. This morning, in the bright light of day while running from your drool, I remembered a bit more.”
I poked his side and sneered. “I thought you loved me no matter what.”
“I most definitely do. The drool is part of the package. I’m fine with it.”
“Then what’s the deal with Burton?” This time I was practically salivating for a different reason.
“I remember when that all went down, the story about him stealing from rich single women. A lot of those women were looking to hire professionals to track down information.”
I rolled to a sitting position and stared down at him. “Did you investigate him?” Things were about to get so much easier if he said yes.
“No.”
Ugh. Thwarted again. “Do you know somebody who investigated him?”
He hesitated and then held out his hands. “I know somebody who might be able to give us information. I need to make a few calls, maybe visit someone and feel things out. We’ll have to see how things go.”
That was not the answer I wanted. “Or you could just tell me who it is you think has information and let me track him down.”
“Yeah, I love you, but I’m certain that I don’t want you in charge of my professional relationship with other investigators ... or potential sources ... or just about anyone who could ever be of use down the line.”
I gasped as he grabbed me around the waist and dragged me to the mattress. “I’m pretty sure there’s an insult buried in there.”
“And I’m pretty sure that I’ll make it up to you.” He kissed my neck. “Give me a couple of hours. I’ll help if I can. I need a little room to maneuver.”
“I thought you were doing okay with the maneuvering,” I teased.
He tickled me again. “That’s a different maneuver. I’m more than willing to share it with you.”
I HEADED DIRECTLY INTO THE OFFICE because I wanted a sit-down with Fish regarding Burton. I remembered him
