I glance down at Gavin as he finishes adjusting the towel.
Up close he looks even bigger somehow. Broad shoulders. Strong hands. Dark beard that I’m longing to run my fingers through.
Stop that, Sophia.
I clear my throat. “Any chance I can get you to close the chicken coop for me?”
“Of course. I’ll be right back. Raider, stand guard.”
After he leaves, I shift the bag of peas a little and look down at the dog. “So, Raider, just between us… is Gavin into me, or is it all in my head?”
Raider yawns before bellyflopping onto the ground and closing his eyes.
“Fine, keep his secrets.”
But now that I have Officer Holt in my house… I’m going to find out for myself, once and for all.
Chapter 4
Sophia
Raiderissnoringsoftlyon the floor when Gavin returns. He takes one look at his dog and laughs.
“Guess he’s decided he’s off the clock for the night,” he says.
“How about you,” I ask. “Are you off the clock, too?”
He runs a hand through his dark hair. “Do you want us to go?”
“Not even a little bit,” I admit.
I adjust the towel around the bag of peas on my ankle. The swelling has not gotten worse, but it definitely has not improved either.
“Does it hurt?” Gavin asks.
“It’s throbbing.”
“Do you have any OTC pain meds?”
“There’s Ibuprofen in the bathroom cabinet.”
“I’ll grab some for you.” He returns a moment later with the bottle. “What would you like to drink?”
“Tap water’s fine.”
He washes his hands, grabs a few ice cubes from the freezer, and fills the glass with water. Then he returns to my side, handing me the pills and the glass.
“You hungry?” I ask.
He runs a hand through his dark hair. “Want me to fix you something?”
“I asked ifyouwere hungry.”
A faint smile pulls at the corner of his mouth. “You always this stubborn?”
“Only when people try to avoid answering simple questions.”
I push up from the chair and reach for the table to steady myself.
