Chapter 18

Cruz quietly unlocked Taylor's apartment door and stepped inside. He could smell the coffee that had been brewed, but she was nowhere in sight. He took off his coat and shoes, and when he looked up, she stood in front of him. "Taylor," he whispered as he wrapped her into his arms and squeezed her tightly. "Thank God you're okay."

"Thank God you're okay," she said as she hugged his waist.

"I wasn't there. I just responded," he said before kissing the first piece of exposed flesh he could find—her neck.

She bit her tongue. They both knew how dangerous his job was and how he could have been hurt or worse. It went unsaid. Joe whispered in her ear and she nodded.

He wiped tears from her eyes, she held him as close to her as he could get. "What the hell happened?" he asked, not understanding the restlessness inside him.

"It's the need to reaffirm life," she explained. "We see so much bad shit sometimes, we need to remind ourselves that it won't always be like that."

He looked at her like she was an alien. "So this urgent need to make love was normal?"

She nodded. "Making love one of the easiest ways to reaffirm life. Because sometimes a new life is created."

"Taylor-"

She touched his lips with her index finger. "Shhhh. No worries," she reassured.

"How'd you get so smart? I mean, I always knew you were smart, but-" he broke off before he made an ass out of himself again and made her mad.

"It's basic biology, Joe. You see something bad, you want to replace it with something good. And nothing is better than making love."

He smiled. "Got that right."

"And trust me, we're probably not the only ones. I'd bet you an entire casino that every cop, fire, emergency and healthcare worker that isn't injured and has a spouse or lover is doing the exact same thing."

"If you can prove that, you'd be a very rich lady."

"I'm already rich. I have you back."

"I'm nothing special."

"Oh yes, Joe Cruz. You are very special."

Joe kissed her. "You've always thought so."

"I have," she admitted. "I knew you were the one the first time you kissed me."

He smiled. Their first kiss was a bit awkward. He had waited until they got to the top of the Ferris Wheel at the Navy Pier. When he finally got the nerve to kiss her, the operator had started the wheel in motion again. His lips had landed half on her cheek, half on her lips. Luckily, she had turned her head so he could land the second kiss on her mouth. "I missed the first time."

"Wasn't your fault. The Ferris Wheel went forward too soon."

"You remembered."

"Girls never forget their first kiss, Joe. Or their first serious boyfriend."

He smiled and settled her on top of his chest. "I love you Taylor Elizabeth Williams."