One Tough Cop by Dahlia Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

after a few seconds. “Hey Jones, it’s me Max. I’m going to be texting you two numbers that I need you to save in your phone. If anything happens to me call them. It’s Nicole, my girlfriend.” Max looked at her. “Can I use the word girlfriend or does that make you uncomfortable?”
    She gave a quick nod. “I’m okay with it if you are.”
    He went back to his call. “She’s okay with the term girlfriend. So go ahead and do that. Nicole Henry.” Max listened for a minute. “Yes, the girl from the shelter situation and her son Jules. Tell your wife yes, I’ll bring them over soon.” She watched his face as he laughed. “You’re going to end up being a daddy for the fourth time, you watch. Anyway gotta go, I’m in her doorway begging for entry. Bye.”
    He pressed the disconnect button and asked, “Can I please come in?”
    “Not until you text him my numbers,” Nicole said.
    Max handed her his cell. “I’ve got a bum hand, you do it.”
    She stepped aside to let him in while she sent the text. Instead of walking by, Max closed the door and pulled her into his arms and she buried her face against his wide chest.
    “I thought you didn’t want me because of my past, that me and the baby were too much for you to handle,” she said against his chest.
    He lifted her face so he could look at her. Nicole could drown in that deep blue gaze if she let herself.
    “Don’t ever think that. You’re all I thought about every day since I met you,” he told her gently.
    “I’m just tired, Jules has been colicky and not sleeping, he cried all night and then I was worrying about you and us,” Nicole admitted. “I’ve been a hot mess.”
    Max kissed her nose. “You look gorgeous, but I tell you what, let me be on baby duty for a few hours.”
    “Your hand…”
    He shook his head. “I’m left handed so I’m good. The cut is not in my palm but across my thumb, they just bandaged it up like I’m a mummy. You go to bed and if Jules wakes up I can manage. If there’s something I don’t know how to do I’ll wake you, I promise.”
    “So you could’ve texted,” she pointed out.
    Max grinned. “I was going for sympathy, your mad face scared me.”
    “There’s pumped milk in the fridge in bottles, you just put it in the warmer for a few minutes to warm it up,” Nicole explained.
    He nodded. “Gotcha. Now can I have a really good kiss because I’m injured and I need it? Plus, I want to hold you some more.”
    She nodded and her heart gave an excited tumble. “Yes you may.”
    The kiss was even more amazing than the last. This time she let go of more of her reservation and while the nervousness was still there she enjoyed the kiss. His tongue penetrated her mouth and she felt almost faint. There was so much passion bottled up in this one man. She felt the emotions in the tense muscles of his arms as she held on while he plundered her mouth. She could also tell he was holding back, trying not to scare her or move too fast. She almost wanted to whisper let go , and see what it would be like to be with Max unrestrained. She gave a soft moan when he pulled away to hug her and nuzzle her neck.
    “Go get some sleep, honey,” he said huskily. “I’m on duty and Jules is safe with me.”
    “I know he is, if you need to leave because of a call just wake me up,” Nicole said.
    “That won’t be happening, injured on the job I’ve got two weeks leave,” Max winked. “You okay with me hanging around?”
    “We can watch an X-Files marathon,” she teased and then said, “I hope you do hang around, I really do.”
    It was a big decision for her, but after how she felt when she didn’t hear from him and then finding out he was injured Nicole knew she would be miserable without him. Maxwell Kincaid had struck something in her that she wanted to explore. He was willing to give her as much time as she needed, and more than that he was taken with her son. It was even more evident when she snuck out of her