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But the mayor held up a finger and shook it. “Ah-ah, let’s not jinx it. I’m proud of Snow Hill’s reputation as being a safe community, so we don’t want to go ruining that by attracting work for our newest officer.”
Jack’s gaze flew to Robin, and though he doubted the mayor noticed, he saw her slight wince. Snow Hill might be a safe community, but that didn’t mean nothing bad ever happened here.
“What do you say, Officer?” Andrew asked.
Jack had time for a chat with the mayor, so he amiably agreed. But as he stepped away from his desk, he knew the real reason he’d so readily given in was more time spent with the woman whose heels continued to steadily echo on the mayor’s other side.
CHAPTER8
Robin
By the timeRobin picked up Abby from school, she was worn out. They’d spent only thirty minutes in the police station, but it was enough to siphon the energy out of her like she’d run a marathon. It was more time than she’d spent in that building since the early days after Matthew’s death—when she was still hopeful they’d catch the man responsible.
Holden had barely looked at her when she’d approached the office space he shared with Jack. He’d given her a polite, disinterested smile, and then he’d gotten up with a mumble about hitting the bathroom while Jack and Andrew were busy talking.
Truthfully, she was grateful for his speedy exit. It was a lot better than the awkward hugs they shared any time they ran into each other at the grocery store. Robin knew he held himself responsible for what happened that day, so she didn’t blame him for being uncomfortable around her. But it wasn’t his fault he’d gotten another call and couldn’t be there for his coworker. If anything, she would have thought they could’ve bonded over their shared loss.
But… apparently not.
Abby was particularly chatty as they walked home from school, which was good because it meant Robin could escape the mess that was on her mind and fully immerse herself in engaging with her daughter.
But then a police cruiser pulled up next to them, and Jack’s smiling face appeared through the open window, bringing it all back. The way he’d basically taken her breath away as he’d stood in the station wearing his uniform like he was about to star in a hot cop crime drama. The sleeves had been snug on his biceps and forearms, and even though the officers wore long sleeves since it was winter, there was no denying how impressively muscled he was beneath the dark-blue fabric.
Like it was the easiest thing in the world, he’d chatted comfortably with the mayor as they’d strolled through the station, proving that the man was an expert at communicating with strangers, even though his general disposition was far more reserved than his sister’s.
And finally, the most impactful moment of the day had come when the mayor had unwittingly tried to steer them down a hallway where Matthew’s memorial was mounted. They’d been strolling through the relatively small space while they talked because Andrew felt that it would put Jack at ease to do that rather than sit in a conference room.
Jack must have realized where they were headed, and before she’d even had time to brace herself to walk by Matthew’s official police portrait without losing it in front of both of them, he steered the mayor away from the hallway without even pausing in his answer to one of Andrew’s many questions.
It was a small, subtle move that Andrew likely hadn’t noticed. But Robin would never forget it. And another wave of guilt washed over her as she remembered how it made her feel, draining her energy even more.
“Hey, you two,” Jack called from behind the wheel of the cruiser as he slowly rolled alongside them.
“Hey, Jack,” Abby replied. She ran up to his car, so he stopped and put it in park as she leaned on the open window. “Whatcha doing?”
“Oh, you know, protecting and serving. The usual.”
His cheesy reply made Robin roll her eyes, but then she gave him a wave of her own. “Hey.”
He nodded at her, then turned his focus back on Abby. “How was school?”
“Good,” she said, then launched into a story Robin was sure Jack didn’t have time for.
Even if what she’d said earlier about him being busy with casework wasn’t true, the man probably had about a million things he’d rather be doing than listening to her daughter prattle on about some kid who tripped in the lunch line. Even if it was a cute story that had made Robin very proud when she’d heard it only a few minutes earlier.
“Wow, so you’re the only one who helped him?” Jack asked when she finished her tale.
“Yep. I was like, ‘Come on, people, stop laughing. You wouldn’t like it if you tripped and spilled cafeteria mac ’n’ cheese all over the place.’ You know? Kids these days.”
Jack laughed loudly at that, causing Robin’s own smile to widen. He didn’t look at all impatient with Abby’s story. In fact, he looked positively riveted.
“Well, great job, kid. Good lookin’ out for your community.”
“Yeah,” Abby said, pausing to sweep her hair over her shoulder, “maybe I’m good at protecting and serving too. My dad was a cop.”
Robin’s heart sank as Jack’s gaze met hers. One side of his mouth quirked up as he focused on her daughter again. “I know he was, and with a dad like that, it makes sense you’d help someone when they needed it. Especially if no one else was stepping up.”
“Yeah, that’s why I like superheroes so much.”
