Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“I’ll work until you’ve finished training the new hire.” I push to my feet. It’ll be weird not to see my big brother and police friends every day. But it’s time to do this. Time to start pursuing new dreams. I only wish those dreams included a certain lodge owner.
Brock moves around his desk too, and in an uncharacteristic show of emotion, he hugs me close. “Be happy, Pip.”
I smile at his old nickname. Things may not have turned out the way I wanted them to in my love life, but I have an amazing support system. I’m leaving my job to pursue a dream I’ve always wanted to. I have a lot going for me.
Moving back to my desk, I take a seat beside Cleary. “Did you do it?”
I let out a slow breath and nod.
She gives me a thumbs up but before she can say more, the bell above the door rings signaling that someone has stepped into the police department. Our cubicles are by the front entrance, so I only have to look up to see who’s entering. Given the location of the dispatch desks in the office, it’s common to have to direct visitors to the various areas.
But this time when I look up, my heart skips a beat. Standing in front of me is Gray holding a bouquet of sunflowers. I blink but he doesn’t disappear. Is this real? Is he here? Or am I having another one of those dreams where he shows up?
He scans the office and when his gaze finally lands on mine, time stops. How is it that we’ve been apart for over a week and he still looks so damn good? Then again, I guess that’s what happens when your heart isn’t the one that’s broken.
“Another flower delivery?” Cleary asks in her crisp, professional tone. She knows the flowers are from Gray. She doesn’t know that he’s flown across the country to deliver this particular bouquet. But like all the others, it’ll be donated to the local hospital.
I duck my head and pretend I’m busy entering data into my computer.
“I’m here for Piper,” he says in that deep, rumbling voice he has. I remember the way he wrapped his arms around me in the shower. The dirty things he murmured as he pressed kisses along my heated flesh.
“You can put them wherever you want, Gray.” I keep my gaze on the screen, relieved when my tone comes out cool and unaffected. I haven’t acknowledged any of the deliveries before this and I’m not about to start now.
Cleary’s eyes go wide and before I can say anything else, her fingers twitch. It’s the slightest move but I think she just hit the panic button. It’ll send the station into instant lockdown. It was a system designed to keep a criminal from escaping the building.
A half second later, my guess is confirmed when three police officers tackle Gray and take him down to the ground. The flowers are crushed in the ensuing chaos, smushed between his big chest and the faded linoleum.
I stand so quickly that my chair rolls backwards. “Stop! Stop! The button was hit by mistake. He’s not a criminal!”
By this point, Brock is out of his office and his officers look to him for guidance, awaiting a word from their chief. But my brother is focused on me. “What’s going on here?”
“That is Gray from the lodge,” Cleary answers with a little too much delight. She’s always had a thing about justice. It wouldn’t surprise me if in her spare time, she were one of those superheroines that goes about the town dishing out justice. I could totally see her in a cape and mask, stealing from the rich to provide for the poor.
“Let him up.” Brock’s voice is made of steel.
The officers don’t hesitate to obey their leader. They take off the cuffs and one of them lifts their knee from Gray’s back. In their defense, they thought he was a threat and responded according to their training.
They help him onto his feet and Gray straightens his plaid shirt. He scowls. “Heck of a response team you got, Sheriff.”
“You have ten seconds to get out of here before I find a real good reason to arrest you,” he answers.
Gray looks to me, his brown gaze searching mine. I remember the way he looked so happy when we settled on the patio at the bookstore, how we sat together and read for hours. If there were ever a perfect date, that was it. “I’m here for her.”
I continue standing but don’t bother to dismiss the officers. Whatever he wants to say to me can be said in front of these strong men that won’t hesitate to tackle him again if he makes me cry. “What do you want?”
“I’m an asshole.” He raises his voice, making sure everyone in the office can hear him. No one is even pretending to work anymore. They’re all staring openly at us. Especially Brock who has his hands on his hips. I imagine it’s taking all of his self-restraint not to throttle this mountain man.