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He’s not angry, but concerned. Like overprotective concerned.
I guess he is a cop after all, and his job is to keep people safe.
“But I…” I try to tell him, not able to hide my hurt, and before I know it, the only wetness I can share with him is the tears streaming down my cheeks.
I’ve probably lost my job anyway, probably about to be sued for trying to kill my boss too. And now the cop in charge of Moose is at my door, wondering why I haven’t even bathed his dog and probably thinking I’m a halfwit for advertising my address and cell number to an entire city block.
He frowns, looking down at his feet before he looks up at me again.
“Hey, don’t cry,” he says apologetically. “And please don’t call me Officer Parker. Just Parker,” he adds, as I sniff and run the back of my hand across my face.
“I just meant it’s dangerous for a pretty young lady to go posting her address in a window is all…” he sighs, a hand almost reaching out for me, but falling before he can commit to it.
Did he just call me pretty?
I want to ask him in, to do something to make him stay just a little longer, but I’m too tongue tied, upset, and embarrassed to do anything but stand there like an idiot.
“Well, thanks for looking out for Moose,” he says finally, sounding disappointed all over again.
He lingers as long as politeness allows before letting me know he’ll head to the hospital and check on Sasha himself.
I stand helpless, speechless again as I watch his back turn, slowly moving down the hall.
Moose lingers too, looking from me to his owner, letting out another high pitch whine as his head tilts before choosing to follow his master.
The man I can’t believe just walked into my life and is now walking out again just as quickly.
The man I know I’d let master me any day of the week. Any time. Anyhow.
But once I see his huge frame find the stairwell, not even turning to look back, I know I must’ve imagined the look in his eyes.
Must have been kidding myself a real man like that, a man who could have any woman he wants would even look twice at a younger, chubby girl like me.
Who am I kidding? He probably refers to all women he meets as “pretty” out of politeness because he’s a gentleman.
No man would look at me, let alone someone like Parker.
Never even got his first name.
I want to stay, to keep waiting for him in the hall in case he comes back.
But my tears return.
The loud, barking sobs of my own self-loathing as I rush to get inside before anyone else sees or hears me.
I throw myself face down onto the sofa-bed in my one room apartment, crying like I’ve never cried before.
Crying like someone who’s seen what life could be like, but knows it never will be.
It’s the story of my life but I’ve never felt it hurt so much as it does today.
Something in me really believed that Parker was interested.
That I really stood a chance in this life.
In this body.
Even just for a moment.
And it felt freaking amazing.
Chapter Four
Parker
It feels like the same dream I’ve just walked into, I’m now walking away from.
What the fuck are you doing?
The most beautiful girl in the world, and I’m walking away?
I got Moose back, and I told Naomi she’s irresponsible for advertising her whereabouts.
Cop job done.
But that’s not what I’m feeling inside.
Not by a long shot.
It’s not what I want to leave behind and just walk away from.
My first instinct after seeing her there in her doorway is to cover her up.
To get that body of hers out of view of any other prying eyes, she’s too perfect for anyone but me to see.
That’s my gut instinct. To cover her with my own arms. My whole body against hers.
My non-cop side, Parker as a man instinct.
She’s mine. That’s the only thing I can tell myself when I finally manage a single thought, once I make it to the stairs.
I don’t even look back. I can’t.
Proving to myself I’m just walking away would destroy me.
Moose bucks and lags a little, something he’s never done when he’s on his leash with me.
Like I said, his keen senses pick up on everything, and it’s nothing for him to notice that there’s already something wrong with this picture.
He’s sure glad to see me, but it’s obvious he likes being around Naomi as well.
We both do.
I try and tell myself I’m just overtired, that there’s no way I’d have a chance with a girl like that. I mean, she must be half my age…
Those eyes.
That hair.
Jesus, those hips.
That chest.
I feel the pleasing ache returning to my crotch as it thickens again at the memory of her.
