Single Dads Collection. Lynne Marshall

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СКАЧАТЬ Lucy looped her arm through her friend’s. “Come on in and let’s see what junk food we can find.”

      “I’d rather have a drink at Gallagher’s and dance,” she muttered.

      Lucy mounted the steps and held the door open for Tara. “Well, right now we’re going to binge watch some kid shows and eat ice cream out of the carton.”

      While Tara and Marley were getting spoons and taking the ice cream to the living room, Lucy checked her phone, which had been charging in the kitchen.

      She’d missed three texts from Noah, so apparently he wasn’t ignoring her completely. Lucy opened the messages and was in the middle of reading them when she realized Tara was looking over her shoulder.

      “So, getting closer with the new officer, are you?” Tara asked, raising her brows. “I’d much rather hear all about this development than discuss my messed-up life.”

      “Your life isn’t messed up,” Lucy stated as she clicked her phone off. “And Noah and I aren’t developing.”

      Well, that was a blatant lie, but Lucy wasn’t ready to share just how far she and Noah had gone. She wasn’t ready to comprehend it all herself, let alone be analyzed by anyone else.

      “From the looks of those messages I’d say you are,” Tara retorted. “I saw something about his daughter. Are you sure you guys aren’t getting all cozy together?”

      One side of Lucy wanted to jump at this chance to potentially find happiness again. On the other hand, there was that fear and guilt that seemed to be more present now than it had been in months.

      “He brought Emma out to see the horses the other day,” Lucy admitted. “I simply asked if she’d like to come out and ride another time. I was heading out anyway, but apparently they were busy at a birthday party for one of her friends at the babysitters.”

      Tara’s lips quirked as the television from the living room blared with some cartoon’s explosion. “You know an awful lot about Noah and his life for someone who isn’t getting closer.”

      The back screen door opened and slammed shut. “He’s such a jerk,” Kate declared as she walked into the kitchen and headed straight to the fridge.

      Tara raised her brows at Lucy in an unspoken question, but Lucy shrugged.

      “Problem?” Lucy asked Kate’s back as her friend shifted through the shelves of food.

      “Gray Gallagher can go to hell.”

      “Watch the language,” Tara warned. “Marley is in the living room.”

      Kate threw a glance over her shoulder. “Sorry about that. He just pushes my buttons and infuriates me.”

      “We’ve already got the cookie dough ice cream out,” Tara supplied. “We can grab an extra spoon.”

      Kate shut the refrigerator doors. “What are you upset about?” she asked Tara.

      Tara shrugged. “A man. What else? But I was in the process of getting Lucy to spill her secrets about her and her officer when you barged in.”

      Kate’s eyes widened as she took a seat on the stool. “That’s better than any ice cream. Let’s hear it.”

      Lucy groaned and closed the back door. “There’s nothing to tell.”

      “Except that she’s had Emma and Noah over to see the horses,” Tara added. “And he sent her three texts while she was outside.”

      “Really?” Kate drew the word out. “That sounds like progress. And we know he’s a hero, between rescuing the boy in the creek and then stepping in to between Gray and that jerk to save the day the other night. Noah has that whole hot cowboy thing going for him, too. That accent alone is drool-worthy.”

      And there was nothing like hearing that accent while he whispered in her ear with their bodies joined.

      “What’s that face?” Kate demanded, peering closely at Lucy. “You’re not sharing everything.”

      Lucy merely shrugged. “Not right now. Just give me time.”

      Those words were exactly what Noah had told her moments before he backed her into the shower and made her feel so much, too much. They both needed time, but they were in this together and they’d have to take this slowly. Lucy only prayed no one ended up hurt on the other side.

       Chapter Thirteen

      “Ma’am, I’d recommend not blocking the fire hydrant next time.”

      Noah hated giving the elderly lady a ticket, but she’d parked illegally and apparently the shop owner on the corner had warned her several times he’d call the police.

      “There are no handicap spots on this street,” she argued.

      Noah pulled in a deep breath and glanced around. There were no designated spots, but that didn’t justify breaking the law. He’d talk to the captain about the parking, but for now, Noah had to do his job.

      “You’re new in town,” the elderly woman said. “Maybe you don’t know who I am.”

      His pity for her instantly evaporated. Here he was, his shift over, yet he stood on the sidewalk arguing with a woman who thought she could throw her name around.

      “No, I’m not sure who you are, ma’am,” he informed her, shifting his stance and crossing his arms over his chest. “But I do know that nobody is above the law and Mr. Harris would like for you to not block the front of his store.”

      Noah had worked four hours overtime to help the captain out while he was short-staffed today. The wife of one of the other officers had gone into labor so Noah and the evening officer were splitting the extra shift. Which was how Noah found himself dealing with more traffic violations than usual.

      “My husband is the retired mayor of Stonerock,” she exclaimed. “Maybe you should worry about writing tickets for actual criminals.”

      Noah rubbed his forehead and adjusted his hat. “Ma’am, I can’t pick and choose who gets to obey the law. Please, just find another place to park and I’ll see what I can do about the handicap spaces.”

      She tipped her chin and adjusted her purse over her shoulder before snatching the ticket from his hand. Then she spun on her heel and got into her car, pulling away from the curb and running a red light.

      Noah shook his head as he walked around the corner to where he’d had to park in a legal spot. Now he could head back to the station and end his shift. He was more than ready for a day off. His schedule had been so screwed up over the past week, he’d barely had time to see Lucy other than at work. He missed her, and that was such a telling sign that she was more to him than just a friend.

      Each time her voice came over his radio, he couldn’t help but flash back to when he’d spent that morning in her bed, then the afternoon in her shower.

      Keeping СКАЧАТЬ