SHIFT EXCHANGE

Chapter 24

The next few weeks were a blur with the holidays just around the corner. The nights were full of DUI drivers and intoxicated domestic disputes while the days consisted of traffic offenses and accidents.

The director had approved several time off requests in an attempt to allow everyone the opportunity to spend some time with their families during the season. As the only unmarried, childless supervisor, Kara found herself behind the console more than anywhere else as the festivities occurred outside the world of the 911 center.

Jake too found himself working long hours trying to keep up with the work load and short staffing. They stole every spare minute they could to be together. Jake found himself curled up in Kara's bed more and more. It was warm, inviting and she was in it with him. Much more palatable than his cold, ultra modern apartment.

Christmas Eve dawned cold and bright. The thermometer read a cool -8 degrees outside and he patrolled the streets of town. The radio crackled to life.

"5823, Central, your status?" Her clear voice carried across the waves and made him smile.

"Code 4." He assured her he was fine and imagined her smile on the other end.

"Copy." She sounded chipper as always.

He had no idea how the woman had so much energy. In the weeks they'd been dating she'd work at least 30 hours of overtime a week. Last week she'd had guests at the B&B on her only day off and she'd still managed to spend a few hours with him between working and sleeping.

A large grin spread from ear to ear and a warmth suffused his body at the memory of what all they'd done in those few hours.

The truth was that he was happier in her presence than any other time and it wasn't just the sex. It was a true fact that she was dynamite in bed. He'd never been more attracted to a woman in his life. Everything about her turned him on. He'd never felt this way about his ex-wife; didn't even know it was possible. Even in the quiet moments when he was sitting at the kitchen table with his lap top and she was buzzing around, elbow deep in flour and sugar, making some amazing confection that was going to add miles to his morning workout, he was happy.

There was a level of peace and contentment he hadn't even known was possible just being in her presence. She seemed equally content, excited to see him, and willing to make room for him in her life.

So far they'd managed to keep their relationship private and out of the gossip circles. Anita had given him a couple of sidelong glances and secret smiles, he felt as minimum suspected if she didn't already know. Kara was confident that she'd keep their confidence.

Weirdly enough, it was himself that he had the most trouble keeping in check.

He wanted to brag about how good he had it. He felt people really needed to know what an amazing person she was and how lucky he was to be chosen by her. Keeping his hands off her was also a struggle. When he'd stop in to say hi on shift, it was a physical battle to leave without planting a kiss on her temple. Right at that tender spot near her hair line he liked so much.

He'd decided to talk to her next time they were together about how important it really was that they remain secret. It seemed all of the reasons they had cited before no longer held the importance they previously had.

The light turned red and he came to a stop. He reached over and opened the glove box to check that the long black velvet box was still inside. He'd stopped by and picked her Christmas present up that afternoon before work.

He'd thought long and hard about it. At first he'd been afraid that jewelry would be too much too soon. Then all the other gifts he'd come up with had felt like they lacked enough importance to properly express how he felt.