Page 33 of This Feeling

“Did you see him?”

He shook his head. “No, I didn’t see anyone. What did he look like?”

I ran a hand down the side of my face. I should have just come down and asked why he was snooping around the bookstore when it was closed. “Young, mid-twenties. He had a ball cap on, so I couldn’t see his hair, but I had a clear view of his face when he glanced around to see if anyone was watching him. He was wearing jeans and a navy-blue T-shirt.”

“You think he was trying to break in?”

“I’m not sure. Has Aurora had any problems with break-ins?”

Gavin shook his head. “No. No one has. It’s not really a problem in town.”

Nodding, I looked around. “I’ll keep my eyes open. If I see him again, hopefully I’m on duty.”

Smiling, Gavin hit the side of my arm. “We’ll be glad to have you onboard.”

His radio went off, and he answered. “I didn’t see anyone, but I’ll make a few rounds around town and see if I can spot the guy. Declan gave me a description.”

Once he was finished, I walked him to his patrol car. “It’s pretty quiet so this would be rare, having someone stake out a place.”

“Just because it’s a small town doesn’t mean there isn’t any crime,” I said, as I glanced around again.

“I didn’t say there wasn’t any crime. I said it was rare.”

Turning back to Gavin, I sighed. “Sorry, dude, I didn’t mean to come off like you don’t know your job. Maybe it was nothing and I made it into something. I’m used to always dealing with bad guys.”

Gavin’s megawatt smile was back. “I sure hope you don’t get bored with this job. The most action we see is during Christmas, when the book club has its annual party and they all get drunk. Last year, we had to pull Betty Lou Stark off of Judith Turner when Judith stepped on Betty Lou’s fancy new shoes, and they got into a fight about who would pay to have them cleaned.”

I was pretty sure the look on my face was incredulous.

He laughed. “Yeah. Nothing like breaking up a catfight between two grandmothers. Especially when one of them says she’s going to call my mother and tell her I ‘manhandled’ her.”

I lost it laughing. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

Gavin mock shuddered. “I wish I was.”

“I better get back upstairs. I have to be at the station soon.”

“Good luck!” Gavin called out, as I jogged across the street.

“Thanks!” I replied, before heading down the alley and to the back of the toy store.

I knew I was probably making a mountain out of a mole hill with this guy at the bookstore. But nonetheless, I quickly dressed and hightailed it out of my apartment and into my truck.

“Next stop, a new career.”

“Officer Gallagher! Oh, Officer Gallagher!”

I let out a small groan as Gavin laughed. It was my first day on the job, and the first person Iwouldhave to see was the town gossip.

“Sounds like you’re needed…Officer Gallagher.”

Giving him a go-to-hell look, I turned and plastered on a fake smile as I watched Betty Lou Stark make her way over to me.

“Officer Gallagher! I’m so glad I caught you.”

Betty stopped in front of Gavin and me. She placed a hand over her heart and took deep breaths as she smiled up at us.

“Mrs. Stark, please just call me Declan.”

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