Page 45 of This Feeling

He let out a low whistle. “That, I’m not sure. With my previous career in the Marines, I was hardly stateside and shared a three-bedroom apartment with a few friends. We were all on the same team, so we were gone at the same time and home at the same time. Which wasn’t often.”

“It makes sense you’d have an apartment.”

“Yeah. And that allowed me to put money away. Hoping I’ll buy a house someday.”

I pushed a blue carnation into a vase and looked over at him. “Why not now?”

He shrugged and kept his focus on his flower arrangement. “I don’t know. I guess I just figured I’d buy a house when I got married, or was seriously dating someone I saw a future with. What if I buy a house now, and the woman I end up with doesn’t like it?”

“That is seriously the sweetest thing. Who are you, Declan Gallagher? What happened to the jock from high school who only cared about football and the Marines?”

He laughed. “He grew up fast.”

“I bet,” I said, pausing what I was doing to look at him once more. “From what Sean has said, you loved being a Marine. Why’d you get out?”

“The program I was in was like the Navy SEALS, but for the Marines. It was honestly just time for me to come home.”

“Makes sense. What made you want to be a cop?”

He looked up, and his hazel eyes seemed to grow darker. “It wasn’t actually my idea to become a cop. It was James Quinn’s suggestion. We’ve kept in touch over the years, and when I told him I was moving back to Moose Village, he mentioned there’d be a spot on the force for me if I wanted it. I was thinking of state police, but this allows me to be home. I’ve been gone for so long, and I didn’t want to do that to my parents again.”

“That was thoughtful of you. I hope your mom gives you more breathing room than she does Sean.”

He scoffed. “Sean needs to grow a pair when it comes to my mother and father.”

“Thank you!I said the same thing.”

His brow quirked up. “Did you?”

“Yes. It’s insane how he lets your mother walk all over him, and this whole stupid arrange…” My voice trailed off when I realized what I was about to say.

“Stupid what?”

Frowning, I stepped back and studied my vase. “This stupid arrangement isn’t looking the way I want.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw him look at it, then back to me. When I glanced his way, I plastered on a fake smile. “Look at you! Those look amazing, Declan.”

When he glanced at his arrangements and smiled, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

The feeling of guilt inside me was almost unbearable. It wasn’t like I owed Sean anything, and Declan had always been so kind to me, and here I was lying to him. Maybe I should tell him the truth. Sean couldn’t be mad about his brother knowing. Could he?

“Harper? Harper?”

Declan’s voice pierced through my wandering thoughts.

“Sorry, I was in my head there for a minute.”

He nodded. “It’s okay. I’ve got mine finished. How many more do you have?”

Looking over the table quickly, I replied, “Four more.”

“Move over, I’ll help you.”

I did as he said and watched as he picked up an array of flowers to put into a vase. It was interesting to see what type of flowers he chose. He’d noticed I was sticking to red, white, and blue, and he proceeded to make an arrangement that could actually put mine to shame.

“Whatever you do,” I said, pushing a blue delphinium next to my Asiatic lilies, “don’t let my mother see how good you are at this. She’ll put you to work here part time.”

He laughed. “I thought you owned the place now?”

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