Jason slid into the low, sleek vehicle, letting the black leather hug his body as he started the car and let it roar. He backed out of the lot, threw it in drive, then revved the engine. A smile crept up her face.
“You know, Officer Angelotti, I might break a traffic law or two today. Think you want to try to arrest me for that?”
Her smile disappeared, and she turned suddenly somber. “No.”
Hell, what had he said? “Did I upset you? I was just teasing.”
Face pensive, she licked her lips. He got hard at the sight and cursed himself. She was upset. As much as his cock wanted those lips around him, Jason had to focus on her.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
“It’s okay. It’s not you. I’ll explain after our stop.”
Something still bothered her. Jason examined their conversation from every angle, trying to determine what. Their marriage? This errand? He came up blank.
A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of the bank. Jason emerged and opened her door, curiosity eating at him. Whatever she was about, he wanted this settled so they could deal with their marriage and their tomorrows…and start letting Gia know that she was his.
As they approached the door, she stopped and placed her fingers on his chest. “Before we go in, I want to say a few things.”
He pulled her to the side to let another customer enter the branch and tried to rein his impatience. “Go ahead.”
“Whether you want to give me the money or not, it doesn’t change my decision. I won’t file for divorce. Obviously, I can’t stop you from doing it, and if you still choose to at the end of eight days, I won’t expect more money.”
His silly wife hadn’t yet grasped the way he saw their relationship working, but as soon as he figured out what she was up to, he’d make a few things clear.
“All right. Anything else?”
She nodded, then took in a shaky breath. “Last night, I gave a lot of consideration to my future, all parts of it. I took a long, hard look at my job and decided that I can’t keep working for a precinct where no one cares if justice is being served. When money becomes more important than right, I have no business being there. I talked it over with my dad. He understands. This morning, I quit.”
The words stunned him. Happily, of course. He never thought he’d see the day that Gia gave up the pursuit of order and goodness. He loved the idea that she wouldn’t be risking herself in the line of duty and possibly wind up a casualty like her brother, suddenly gone because some street punk had pulled the trigger. But Jason remembered their argument in his kitchen yesterday morning. She needed purpose in her life.
“If it’s a decision you’re happy with, then you made the right one. If you want my support, you’ve got it.” And he would totally provide for her. If she never wanted to lift a finger again, he’d be happy to give her everything she needed.
“That’s where the money comes in,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself as a breeze whipped through her sweater.
“So it’s a nest egg for the future?” Did she think she’d remain married to him but live separately?
“No, it’s the beginning of my new purpose. If I’m not going to be a police officer, I’ve got to do something good with my life. So I’m going to start a fund to help the families of slain officers. It will provide assistance for everything from burial expenses to child care to financial planning for the future. And grief counseling, definitely. Whatever these survivors need, I want to make sure they get. The money from the settlement will allow me to get a good start on fundraising and assisting others.”
Shock and pride both smacked him. God, Gia had the biggest heart. She made him feel alive for the first time in his life. Until her, he’d never known what it meant to think with goodness. Jason felt blessed to have her. If he had his way, he’d spend the next fifty years absorbing more of that love and giving it back to her.
“Did you already set up an account here?”
“No, but I did file the paperwork to create a nonprofit LLC so I could open one. Do you hate the idea?”
“No, baby. I love it. I think it’s every bit as amazing as you are,” he assured her. “Let’s get this started.”
An hour later, they emerged from the bank. Evening was just falling, leaving a bright orange-pink swath across the sky. Gia wore a smile of such serenity that she glowed. Jason had been attracted to her the moment he saw her, but he found her so much more beautiful because he knew how good she was inside as well.
“Congratulations,” he murmured as he helped her into the car again.
“I’m really excited to get started. Thank you so much for doubling the contribution. I can do more for others much faster.”
“My pleasure.” He started the car and drove back to the park.
It didn’t take long before they pulled into the lot again. Most of the minivans and SUVs had cleared out.
“So…that’s everything I had to say.” She looked at him expectantly. As Jason pondered the best way to tell her what was on his mind, she grabbed her purse and fished her keys out. “I’ll…um, get out of your hair.”