“He’s, um, not here,” Joe said, unable to help the disappointment in his voice.

  Jules’s smile fell away. “What happened, Joe?”

  “How long do you have?” Joe muttered. She leaned over and patted his hand.

  “As long as it takes. Tell me. What happened?”

  Joe took a deep breath and proceeded to tell Jules everything that had happened since she was last in, from the break-in to the fake Feds, the fights, the shoot-outs, the kidnapping, all the way up until Tom’s departure. “Oh, and his name’s Liam. Liam Baker.”

  Jules stared at him. She was so still Joe was afraid he might have broken her.

  “Jules?”

  “Wow. I don’t even know how to respond to that. My God, Joe. I’m away for a few weeks and you get mixed up in some kind of federal sting operation? Are you making up for lost time? That’s crazy!”

  “I know. Believe me, I know.”

  Her expression softened. “You fell in love with him.”

  Joe opened his mouth to deny it, but he couldn’t bring himself to. “Am I being an idiot?”

  Jules shook her head. “Joe, you’re one of the most sensible people I know. Tom—I mean, Liam—is a good man. I don’t think he’s the type to mince words or string someone along. I remember the way he looked at you. The man’s got it bad for you. If he asked you to wait for him, then he’ll be back. Listen to your heart. It’s gotten you this far.”

  “Yeah, well, it hasn’t got the greatest track record of reliability,” Joe huffed.

  “Joe.” Jules met his gaze, her expression somber. “Don’t make me send Bea after you, because you know I will.”

  Joe narrowed his eyes at her. “You wouldn’t.” She arched an eyebrow. Dang it, she would. He stood a better chance against a trained assassin than he did Bea. She was still telling him she told him so. “All right. Fine.”

  “Good.” She smiled smugly and stood, giving his cheek a kiss. “I have to go, but I’ll call you.”

  “Hi.”

  Joe stood and turned, his heart pounding at the sight of Liam standing there, dressed casually in dark jeans, a black T-shirt, and black leather jacket, like the first day they’d met.

  “Hi.” Joe felt silly. Just because Tom’s name wasn’t Tom didn’t mean he was different, or that Joe didn’t feel the same way about him. Yet everything was different.

  Jules gave Joe a wink before heading to the side door and giving Liam a hug. “It’s good to see you. I’m glad you got your memory back.”

  Liam hugged her back. “It’s good to see you, Jules.”

  “Well, I’ll leave you two to talk. Joe, call me if you need anything.” She waved good-bye and was gone before Joe could say another word. He really should say something.

  “I guess this must all seem a little boring now.”

  Liam smiled warmly and walked to Joe, giving him a sweet kiss. Joe melted against him. How he’d missed that warmth. Liam pulled Joe down with him as he sat on the stone bench. “Joe, I can assure you nothing about you is boring.”

  “I guess you’ll be heading back home. To Virginia, if that’s where your home is?”

  Liam nodded. “We’re still wrapping things up, and I have a mountain of paperwork. Funny thing is, Virginia’s where home was. Now I’m not so sure.”

  Was it too much to hope for? “Oh?” Joe held his breath as Liam turned to face him. He took Joe’s hand in his, his silver eyes filled with affection.

  “Before we get to that, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  “Oh God, you’re married. I knew it. Of course you are. Look at you.” Joe shook his head, his heart sinking. It was stupid to think a guy like Liam was—

  “I’m not married. Unless you count my job. We’ve been in a pretty intense relationship for years, and I think it’s time we saw other people.” Liam gave him a cheeky smile. “Break the news I kind of met someone.”

  Joe chuckled. A huge weight lifted off his shoulders, and he couldn’t help his dopey grin. “You said you needed to tell me something. Why couldn’t you tell me over the phone?”

  Liam’s smile fell away, and Joe braced himself.

  “I needed to tell you this in person, so I hope you forgive me for waiting this long.” Liam took a deep breath and let it out slowly before speaking up again. Whatever it was, it was important. “A few years ago, I came across a beautiful man who was in a good deal of trouble. When I reached him, he looked right at me. He had eyes like the ocean. Before I could say a word, he passed out. Every night at the hospital, I’d stay by his bedside and play old jazz tunes. I’d talk to him, keep him company. And then one day I received the call I’d been waiting for, and I was off to DC. I hated leaving him, knew I was giving up something good, but I was young and I wanted to help people like him. A few days later, the hospital called to inform me my dream guy was awake and would be fine.”

  Joe couldn’t believe what he was hearing. When he spoke, his voice was almost a whisper. “Baker… It was you. You’re Officer Baker.”

  Liam smiled bashfully. “I thought about you every day after that. Wondering what it might have been like if I’d stayed in New York. If I’d been there when you woke up. When this job came up in the city, I jumped at the chance. Not because of what it would do for my career, but because I might see you again. I knew I couldn’t make contact, but sometimes I’d sit across the street with a cup of coffee and watch you go about your day.”

  Joe gasped. “You drank someone else’s coffee?” He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think I like you anymore.”

  Liam chuckled. “Sorry.”

  “So what happened that night when you ended up in the garden?”

  “I was in the neighborhood when I got the call to make the drop. That’s when I realized I was being followed. I managed to give him the slip and then surprised him. That’s why my knuckles were bruised. Knocked the guy out. Chances were the guy wasn’t alone. I needed to stash the SD card, somewhere it would be safe. You came to mind. I jumped the gate and hid it in the pot of pink geraniums. I was about to leave when they whacked me on the back of the head. I’m guessing something or someone interrupted them, because they left me there.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “Why didn’t you come see me? Or call me? I tried looking for you everywhere. When I finally found your precinct, they said you were no longer on the force. I couldn’t find anything else on you after that.”

  Liam looked remorseful. “You were moving on with your life. I didn’t want to bring that pain back to you. Plus, I was scared.”

  Scared? Joe found it hard to believe Liam could be scared of anything. “Of what?”

  “That once I talked to you I wouldn’t be able to let you go.” Liam met Joe’s gaze and brought his hand to his lips for a kiss. “I had a lot going on at the time, and I was getting ready to go undercover. Had to have my head in the game or a lot of people could get hurt. The thought of you getting hurt because of me? I couldn’t have that.”

  Joe thought about everything Liam had said about his job and his home in Virginia. It was a risk, putting his heart out there, but looking at Liam now, at those familiar silver eyes, Joe knew he would regret it if he didn’t try.

  “I was wondering if maybe you’d be interested in making some new memories? Ones that include me.” Joe chanced a glimpse at Liam, his smile stealing Joe’s breath away. Liam leaned in to kiss Joe’s lips, sweet, slow, and filled with a need Joe had never felt from anyone.

  “I’m pretty sure I lost my heart to you a long time ago, Joe, and even if all I had were memories of you, it would be more than enough for me.” Liam put his hand to Joe’s cheek. “How about tomorrow I come down on my lunch hour?”

  Joe frowned. “You’re going to fly in by helicopter for lunch?” There was a wicked gleam in Liam’s silver eyes. What wasn’t he telling Joe?

  “I was thinking about driving. And if you ever fancy meeting me for lunch, you can drop by the Federal Plaza down on Lafayette.

  Lafayette? “Wait, but I thought you worked out of Virginia.”

  “I did. I put in for a transfer to the New York office. Figured it was time to come home.” Liam placed his hand to Joe’s cheek. “Now that I’ve found my way home. That’s what took me so long. I was waiting for the transfer to come through. I wanted to surprise you.”

  “You’re moving to New York?” Joe’s heart was all but ready to burst out of his chest.

  “Yep. Maybe you can help me find a new apartment. Somewhere close to a place I can get some good coffee and the best pie in town served up by a gorgeous guy with eyes like the ocean.”

  Joe could barely contain his smile. “How about a slightly awkward guy who only has eyes for a certain sexy Fed?”

  “Deal.” Liam wrapped his arms around Joe and brought him in for the sweetest most wonderful kiss Joe had ever experienced. Just when he thought Liam couldn’t surprise him any more, he’d found a way to sweep Joe off his feet. To think all those years ago, Liam entered his life. The very first time Liam saved him. Was that why being with him seemed familiar? And now Liam transferred to New York to be with him. Joe pulled back to meet Liam’s gaze. He had to be sure.

  “Is this what you want?”

  Liam ran his thumb over Joe’s bottom lip. “I let you go once. I won’t make that mistake again. Will you forgive me for not telling you sooner about who I was?”

  Joe wrapped his arms around Liam, his smile just for the amazing man in his arms. “If you promise not to get whacked on the head and forget me.”

  Liam threw his head back and laughed. When he looked at Joe, his eyes were filled with adoration. “I think I can do that.”

  “Liam?” Joe swallowed hard. He forced himself to hold Liam’s gaze.

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  Liam’s dazzling smile washed away any fears or insecurities Joe might have had left. “I love you too, Joe.”

  They kissed, and Joe gave himself over to the warmth and excitement spreading through him. He’d spent so much time running from his past, unaware of how it would not only catch up with him, but end up in his arms.

  A Note From the Author

  Thank you so much for reading Forgive and Forget. I hope you enjoyed this sweet category romance. If you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Reviews can have a significant impact on a book’s visibility, so any support you show these fellas would be amazing.

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  Follow me on Amazon to be notified of a new releases, and connect with me on social media, including my fun Facebook group, Donuts, Dog Tags, and Day Dreams, where we chat books, post pictures, have giveaways, and more!

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  Also By Charlie Cochet

  FOUR KINGS SECURITY

  Love in Spades

  Be Still My Heart

  Join the Club

  Diamond in the Rough

  FOUR KINGS SECURITY UNIVERSE

  Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts

  LOCKE AND KEYES AGENCY

  Kept in the Dark

  PARANORMAL PRINCES

  The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard

  The Prince and His Captivating Carpenter

  The King and His Vigilant Valet

  THIRDS

  Hell & High Water

  Blood & Thunder

  Rack & Ruin

  Rise & Fall

  Against the Grain

  Catch a Tiger by the Tail

  Smoke & Mirrors

  Thick & Thin

  Darkest Hour Before Dawn

  Gummy Bears & Grenades

  Tried & True

  THIRDS BEYOND THE BOOKS

  THIRDS Beyond the Books Volume 1

  THIRDS Beyond the Books Volume 2

  THIRDS UNIVERSE

  Love and Payne

  COMPROMISED

  Center of Gravity

  NORTH POLE CITY TALES

  Mending Noel

  The Heart of Frost

  The Valor of Vixen

  Loving Blitz

  Disarming Donner

  Courage and the King

  North Pole City Tales Complete Series Paperback

  SOLDATI HEARTS

  The Soldati Prince

  The Foxling Soldati

  STANDALONE

  Forgive and Forget

  Love in Retrograde

  AUDIOBOOKS

  Check out the audio versions on Audible here.

  About the Author

  Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.

  Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

  Website: www.charliecochet.com

  Email: charlie@charliecochet.com

  Sign up for Charlie’s newsletter:

  https://newsletter.charliecochet.com

 

 

  Charlie Cochet, Forgive and Forget

 

 

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