KarsynFloored is an understatement, I never expected Tucker to give me a key to his house. Parking in his driveway, I feel a warmth in my heart I haven't felt in a long time. I'm trying to temper my expectations, but it's hard when Tucker keeps blowing them out of the water.My cell buzzes in the cup holder. Reaching over, I grab it out, smiling as I see a message from the man on my mind. T: The code to turn the alarm off is 6701.K: Thank you! I didn't even think about that.T: The last thing you need is the alarm company calling the cops because you're in a cop's house without the alarm code.K: True! Unless that means you're gonna be the one cuffing and strip searching me! ::wink:: Grabbing up all my stuff, I get out of the car, shutting the driver's side door with my hip. It's odd, turning this key and walking into his lair. It's like the culmination of a dream I knew I had, but didn't want to admit. For the first time, I allow myself to look around, to really g

Karsyn"Thank you again!" "You don't have to thank me," I remind Kelsea one more time. "It's really not that big of a deal. If you want to thank someone, thank Tucker for letting us use his house." I look back at Tucker who has the biggest smile on his face."Thank you, Tucker." She hugs him. "I appreciate it, so much.""No problem." He smiles wider, and I just know he's planning to do something. "Go, get home to your hubby." I push her toward the door. "Ella's asleep and D is playing with Major. Get out while you can.""We'll be back to pick them up." She worries her lip in between her teeth."I didn't think you'd just leave them here," Tucker deadpans. "I'm down to watch them for a few hours, but I'm too selfish to be a parent right now."Kelsea's smile disappears from her face. "Oh no, that's not what I meant.""He's joking, Kels. Go!"This time I do push her out of the door, locking it when I finally get her past the threshold. "What are you doing?" I look at

Karsyn"Shit!" I hiss as I drop the tray with the freshly cleaned medical equipment on it. I fight against the tears that are pressing against the back of my eyelids. "Are you okay?" Kels asks as she bends down, helping me pick them up. My hands shake, and I hate it. Literally hate it more than anything at this point. "I'm fine." I angrily swipe at the tears that have squeezed past my eyes."No you're not. What's wrong?"Since Kels became a mother, she's much more in tune with everything around her. I wouldn't say she feels more than she used to, because she's always been super emphatic. Now though? It's like times a thousand. I have a seat on the floor because I can't seem to pick myself up from where I've bent down. "The hearing's tomorrow," I whisper."Already? For some reason I thought there were at least a couple more weeks," she sighs, having a seat next to me."I wish." I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, bringing my knees up to my chest, tucking my chin in

TuckerI don't know who's more nervous, me or Karsyn. I'm holding her hand in a death grasp as we drive toward the federal facility in Birmingham. Neither one of us slept last night. I felt like we were awake every hour asking if the other was okay. "Talk to me," she whispers. "I need you to talk to me."It feels like I don't have anything to talk about, but I search for anything to put her at ease."The first time I saw you, I knew you were going to be mine." I grin over at her.She rolls her eyes blowing out a breath. "Sure you did.""No, I did. I told Ransom that night after I gave you the ticket, I was going to date you. When I told him your name, he gave me the rundown on you working at the clinic.""Yet, you still didn't call me, even though I left my number on the ticket," she teases."Let's be honest, I get flirted with a lot since I'm a man in uniform. I didn't think I was anything special, and it was presumptuous of me to call," I admit. "What did you tell

TuckerI watch Karsyn stand up to deliver her victim impact statement, proud as hell of her. I know how hard this was, could tell in the way she became quiet on me in the past few days. Withdrawing into herself is a coping mechanism and I allowed it, but after this I want her to be one thousand percent honest with me about what's going through her head.As her voice shakes, I reach over from where I sit beside her, rubbing my hand up and down her back. I don't want to take anything away from what she's doing, but I want her to know I'm here. Anger is making it almost impossible for me to sit without making a sound, though, as she mentions things she's never told me. Not that I ever expected her to tell me every bit of what happened to her while she was with him, but I'm angry. Angry enough I'd like five fucking minutes alone with this piece of shit.She's crying now, and it's literally tearing me apart. I hate to hear that vulnerable lilt to her voice. It upsets me to know she