Page 39 of This Feeling

Gavin laughed as I shot him a dirty look. “No, it’s not. I was just messing with Declan here. Tried to talk him into going after a jaywalker, but he’s holding out for a hardened criminal.”

Harper giggled. “Well, thanks for the warning. I’ll have to make sure I don’t do anything illegal, then.”

The image of a completely naked Harper handcuffed to my bed flashed through my mind. I shook it away…and let out a sound that was something like a groan mixed with a sad attempt to clear a frog away.

“We should get going. Have a good day, Harper.”

Gavin gave her a wave. “See ya around, Harper.”

Harper waved back. “Sorry again for the pants!”

Gavin laughed as he started down the road. When Harper gave me one last look, I had to fight to keep my breathing under control. She was so damn beautiful. Her brown hair was pulled back into a low pony and those eyes seemed as if they could gaze right into my soul. Today, they were more on the gray side than blue.

“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.

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