Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Will I see you at dinner tonight?”
Her teeth dug into her lower lip, and I forced myself to keep a neutral expression. “I’m not sure. Probably not.”
I nodded. “Well…we’ll miss you. Bye, Harper.”
She smiled slightly and said, “Bye, Officer Gallagher.”
I rolled my eyes, and Harper laughed quietly as she picked up the hose once again to finish watering the plants.
As I walked away, I tried to think of a reason to say something else. Anything. Turning, I walked backward and called out, “Try not to assault anyone else with that water hose.”
Her smile grew. “I’ll do my best.”
Facing forward, I walked a bit faster to catch up to Gavin. Once I fell into step next to him, we walked in silence until we got to our patrol cars. We stopped at mine, and before I could say anything, Gavin looked at me and smiled. Actually, it was a shit-eating grin, so I knew something smartass was coming.
I just didn’t expect him to say what he did.
“So…how long have you had a thing for Harper?”
Harper
I stood back and surveyed the flower shop. The apothecary cabinet I’d bought months ago looked adorable. I had dried flowers in frames in the upper cabinet behind the glass doors, small gifts tucked inside some of the drawers I’d pulled out, and a few small flower bouquets that I couldn’t resist adding. It was currently my favorite piece of furniture in the shop.
The bell above the door rang, and I glanced over my shoulder. My breath caught in my throat when I saw who it was.
Holy. Shit.
Declan Gallagher stood at the front of my shop dressed in his police uniform.
It took everything I had earlier today, when he and Gavin had stopped by to chat with me and Sean, not to stare at him. I’d seen pictures of him in his Marine Corps uniform and always thought he was handsome, but Declan in a police uniform was hot. Very hot.
“Declan! What are you doing here?”
His one brow rose as a smirk played at the corner of his mouth.
“I mean…hi, what brings you by the shop?” A part of me didn’t want to admit that I was hoping it wasn’t to buy someone flowers, unless that someone was his mother.
“My mother asked me to stop by and see if you had any daisies.”
I laughed. “We’re not called Crazy Daisies for nothing.”
He smiled, and I tried to ignore how that smile made my stomach clench with desire. “How does this work?”
You strip me naked and take me right here on the floor, the counter, the chair…anywhere.
Declan walked farther into the shop and glanced around. There was something strange about having him in my space like this. No, strange wasn’t the word. It felt…right.
“Um, well, I’ve got some premade bouquets over here, or loose flowers. With those, your mom can make up her own bouquets at home.”
He frowned. “I’m not sure which she wants.”
I chewed nervously on my lip as I tried to avoid looking the man up and down. He looked so good in that uniform. The next time I saw Sean, I was going to punch him. It was because of him that I couldn’t openly ogle his brother. Or flirt. Not that I would flirt with Declan, he’d never even looked twice at me before, as far as I knew.
“Did you want to call and ask her?” I suggested, making my way behind the counter and distancing myself from him. Was it hot in here?
“No, it feels comfortable to me,” Declan said, pulling out his phone and swiping through it.
My eyes widened in horror. I’d said that out loud? You idiot, Harper! Idiot!
“Oh, good, I wasn’t sure if I needed to turn on the AC. I’m sure before you know it, I’ll be turning it on.”
Declan just gave me a look, then spoke into his phone. “Mom, did you want premade bouquets or loose flowers?”
I was pretending to look through some papers, and when I glanced up, Declan was watching me. He grinned, and I found myself smiling back like a stupid, love-struck idiot.
“Yes… I’m not sure if she’s coming or not.”
Oh no. The dinner tonight.
I didn’t want to pretend to be with Sean in front of his whole family, especially since I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about his brother. And not in an innocent way.
“Mom wants to know if you’re coming for dinner tonight.”
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. If I were truly dating Sean, I would want to be there for their anniversary dinner. I found myself reluctantly nodding. “Of course, I’ll be there.”
“She said yes.” Declan turned away and walked toward the other side of the shop.
Ugh. I don’t want to do this. It was hard enough knowing that Sean would be falling all over Caroline while Maddy would be pushing him toward Crystal—being a bitch to me the whole time. Now I had to be in the same room as Mr. Hot Cop here, somehow pretending he didn’t make me want to combust.