Page 44 of A Love Like Candle Light

“Stay strong. It’s supposed to be sunny over the weekend. Right in time for the autumn fair.”

“Hell ye-“ Suddenly, Abby tugs on her leash so strongly I almost fall into a very spiky-looking bush, only catching myself at the last possible moment. By the time I find my balance, she’s already pulling me away. “Oh my God, Abby, what’s—hey, where are you going?”

I stumble after her. She might look small, but when she really wants to go somewhere, I don’t stand a chance.

“Nice hanging out with you!” Kieran shouts after me. When I look over my shoulder, he’s giving me a friendly wave. What makes him think I’m not returning? As if I’d be rude enough to just let my dog whisk me away.

When I look in front of me again, I realize why. Abby has spotted Erik and is making a beeline for him.

And just like that, my resistance on the leash lessens. Only a little.

He hasn’t seen us yet. His back is turned to us as he puts a to-go coffee cup and paper bag on top of his police car, both probably freshly bought from Caleb’s. I keep staring at his broad shoulders. The way the leather of his jacket strains over them. His really pretty side profile as he looks down the street.

Before I know it, we’re right behind him and Abby nudges the back of his knee. He turns around with a start.

“Oh, hey, you two.” As soon as he sees us, his face lights up and his smile sends a wave of heat into my cheeks.

“Hey, Erik.” Moss green eyes meet mine, and all of a sudden, I feel my pulse in my throat and forget how breathing works. “Are you on your lunch break?”

“Yeah.” He rubs the back of his neck. “But I still have some time, in case you want to, you know…” He leans down and runs his fingers through Abby’s fur. “Chat.”

“You just want to pet my dog, don’t you?”

He fully kneels on the ground now. Abby showers him with kisses and whips him with her furiously wagging tail.

“Maybe.” He shoots me a sheepish grin. What can I say? I get it. I also love petting my dog. I shake my head at him but with a grin so wide he can’t mistake it for disapproval.

“Well then, pet away.” After all, my dog is craving his presence enough to drag me through half the park.

I swipe my hair behind my ear, but the wind is stubborn. There’s a grumble in the distance, tree branches swinging in the heavier growing winds.

Erik gets up with a frown and stares at the dark purple clouds. He opens his mouth, but just as he’s about to speak, we’re not hit by a little raindrop or two. No. From one second to the next, it starts pouring buckets.

“Oh damn.” He grabs his coffee and pastry from the car roof and pulls the passenger door of his cruiser open.

“Break over.”

“Come on, Abby, let’s run to Caleb’s!” But Erik stops me with a hand on my forearm and nods at his car.

“Come on. Get in.” My eyes dart between the café and him. Really? I don’t want to keep him from work. Softer, he adds, “Hang out with me.”

I stare at him. One blink. Two. Come on, Kylie. You’ve got to talk if you don’t want to get soaked to your bones.

“Okay. I mean, yes.” I nod. “I’d love that. To hang out. With you.”

“Wonderful.”

Before I realize what’s happening, he opens the back door for Abby, who jumps into his car without even an ounce of hesitation. Then he opens the passenger door for me like the gentleman he is, waits until I’m seated, then closes it and hurries around the car to get into the driver’s seat.

“I’ve got to say”—I wiggle in my seat and shoot him a grin—“this thing is really comfortable.” And warm. And it smells like him in here.

“Admittedly, the passenger side is not often in use.” He grins and reaches for his coffee. “And neither is the backseat. We don’t get many crimes around here.”

I glance at the rearview mirror and burst into laughter. “Oh, Abby, you little criminal.” She rolled up in the middle seat and stares at the two of us, utterly unimpressed. “Oh God, I need a photograph of that.”

Quickly, I pull out my phone and take a picture of her through the heavy bars separating the driver from the presumed perp in the backseat.

“I have to send this to Gabriella, she’ll get a kick out of this.” I slide the phone back into my pocket. “And Kieran will be SO jealous he never thought to ask you.” Hell knows, Dick would deserve some time in car-jail with the way he’s acting.