The Bachelor Project. Victoria Chancellor

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СКАЧАТЬ go around comforting hysterical women in the middle of the night.”

      Parker laughed. “I don’t have a wife. Never have had one, although I have been close a time or two.”

      “Really? There’s a story there, I’m sure, but I’m not bold enough to ask.”

      “Good, because I wouldn’t answer. At least, not over a first cup of coffee when we’re supposed to be talking about getting you acclimated to country living.”

      “Oh, yes. I almost forgot.” She probably shouldn’t have admitted that, she realized as she turned around and poured the coffee. Pasting a confident smile on her face, she walked the few steps to the table and placed the cup before him. “Cream or sugar?”

      “No, thank you. I’ve learned to drink it black.”

      “You obviously have a tougher stomach than I do,” she said as she helped herself to sweetener and powdered creamer. Thank goodness she’d remembered to pack the basics, since the grocery in Ranger Springs had closed before she’d had a chance to go shopping.

      “It’s a prerequisite for law enforcement work.”

      “I thought the dietary requirements included the ability to consume endless doughnuts.” She took a sip of coffee, hoping he didn’t take offense over her attempt at cop humor.

      “Enough with the clichés,” he said with a short chuckle. “We have to stay a bit more healthy than a steady diet of doughnuts would allow.”

      And he certainly did look healthy…and fit. She squirmed a bit in her seat, deciding she’d better change the subject quickly. “So, what animals should I expect?”

      He gave her a speculative look, but didn’t pursue the personal remarks. Leaning back in his chair, he took a tentative sip of the hot coffee. “The common ones are squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rabbits and deer. You’ll probably have some foxes and coyotes visit, too, but you may never see them. They’re pretty shy of humans. We’ve even had some cougars sighted, so be careful if you’re out at night.”

      “Cougars?” She barely suppressed a shudder. “I didn’t realize I was that far out in the wild.”

      “Actually, we keep intruding into their territory. San Antonio has spread pretty far north, and Austin is spreading south and west. We’ve built new roads and vacation homes through the Hill Country. The animals migrate where they can find food, which is often around humans.”

      “I’ll make sure they’re not finding it at my back door.”

      “That’s the best thing you can do. Of course, the deer will eat anything in the yard—grass, trees, shrubs, flowers. It’s hard to discourage them. The feed store has a few solutions, but a hungry deer is more persistent than anything I’ve seen so far.”

      “I didn’t know house-sitting was going to be so challenging,” she said, shaking her head.

      “You’ll get used to it.” He looked at her over the rim of his mug, his expression unreadable. The unspoken part of his remark echoed between them—if you’re going to be here that long.

      She didn’t know the answer to that question.

      “I’ll try my best, especially the part about staying away from the meat-eaters.”

      Parker leaned forward. “Don’t make the mistake of treating any of the wild animals like house pets. Opossums have more teeth than any mammal in North America, and even a squirrel can seriously injure you by biting your finger instead of whatever you’re trying to feed it. What appears cute and cuddly can quickly become dangerous.”

      She wondered if his warning applied to off-duty police chiefs. “Don’t worry. I’ll limit my feeding to putting out seed for some nice, safe birds.”

      “You’d be better off not putting anything out at all.”

      “I like birds. I never get to feed them from my condo balcony.”

      “Then you’ll also get squirrels and the rest. They like seed, too.”

      “You’re not exactly a walking, talking advertisement for rural life, you know,” she complained halfheartedly, unable to suppress a smile.

      Parker chuckled. “No, I suppose I’m not. As a police officer, I tend to focus on prevention. If I can’t prevent, I apprehend.”

      “And answer calls from hysterical women with a raccoon problem.”

      “That,” he said, placing his empty mug on the table, “was a very rare event. I doubt I’ll need to modify my job description, unless you’re planning on calling in regularly.”

      She traced a cross over her heart. “I promise I’ll look for four-legged visitors first.”

      He looked at her speculatively. “Will you?”

      “Of course.”

      His expression grew more serious, more inquisitive, reminding Robin that he was, as a law enforcement officer, a trained interrogator. “You were pretty upset—maybe not a hundred percent from the raccoons.”

      She shrugged, not wanting to discuss the subject. She wasn’t sure why she’d brought it up. “New-house jitters. A change in life-style. I’m fine now.”

      He didn’t look convinced, but, thankfully, didn’t argue. Instead, he pushed back his chair and rose, towering over her until she was forced to stand, or get a crick in her neck.

      “I’d better let you get some sleep. Are you sure you’re okay?”

      “I’m fine. And I really enjoyed the coffee, and the conversation.”

      “I’ll have the next patrol officer drive by a few times tonight, just to make sure you’re safe.”

      “I’m sure that’s unnecessary.”

      “I’ll sleep better knowing you’re okay.”

      “I…I suppose that’s a good idea.” She smiled. “I wouldn’t want to be surrounded by angry raccoons.”

      “Or held hostage by hungry deer,” he teased.

      “No.” Her smile faded as the joking ended. She felt the tension building now just as surely as she’d smelled coffee brewing earlier.

      “Well, then, thank you for the coffee,” he said.

      He seemed to take up way too much space in the kitchen. His blue eyes, as warm and dark as the coffee he’d brewed, looked at her in a very un-policeman-like manner.

      “You’re welcome,” she answered, her voice an octave lower than when she’d stood on her front porch in her sleep shirt and robe. “Thanks for fixing it.” Darn it, she’d already thanked him for that once. Did he think she was babbling? Well, perhaps she was.

      “No problem.”

      The silence stretched on for just a moment too long. A breathless, quiet moment that made her forget about СКАЧАТЬ