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Gunnar looked at him. “You an expert on Dr. Haldyn Harris now?”
“Might as well be. She doesn’t breathe without me next to her to count the breaths right now.”
“You could ask to be reassigned. I heard Brett Naylor say he wouldn’t mind doing babysitting duty with your precious little rabbit specifically. He has a real thing for her, I’ve heard.”
“That guy is nothing but a damned player. Trying to go through as many women at the TSP as he possibly can.” And if Brett Naylor got anywhere near Haldyn, Jarrod was going to take Naylor’s head off. It was as simple as that. The Naylor brothers seemed on the up-and-up, but Jarrod wasn’t about to take chances. Not with her. “Haldyn won’t be that gullible. Besides, I’ve heard it on great authority, Haldyn doesn’t date cops.”
“That got your shorts in a twist? Things heating up between you?” Gunnar always did talk when he should keep his mouth shut. Just going on and on and on about things he shouldn’t even think about.
Hell of it was, the baboon was usually right. Like now.
“None of your damned business. Hell, they are taking off. Fast as little…rabbits. Come on.” They’d looked at Gunnar and him, before abruptly turning directions.
They were trying to ditch them. On purpose.
Those two were far more trouble than they first appeared. “They’re ditching us. Look at them go.”
Gunnar swore. Something he usually didn’t do. “Where does she think she’s going? I told her she had to stay where I could see her at all times.”
They hurried down the path like hounds after their little rabbits, but had to stop to let a bunch of seriously hot women and a dozen dark-haired children cross in front of them.
He recognized two of those seriously hot women—Heather and Hope Coleson in casual wear—who shot him and Gunnar looks. Heather stopped walking. Eyed them suspiciously. No surprise—the woman always looked at them that way.
She was probably one of those mothers you couldn’t ever pull anything over on. Heather was the type who just knew when someone was doing something they probably weren’t supposed to.
“What are you two up to, Foster?” It was her day off. Heather looked completely different than she normally did. She looked very, very good, too. Heather wore a tiny little dark purple T-shirt and form-fitting jeans that made a man sit up and beg.
A month ago, he’d have begged like a dog.
But now, he preferred his little rabbit.
Heather Coleson was the sexiest woman he had ever seen. But there was nothing now.
Hell. Haldyn had destroyed him. If a woman like Heather couldn’t make him drool anymore, than…what was left for him?
He was afraid of the answer.
“Still doing babysitting duty. Want to trade?” Jarrod asked as Heather shifted the baby carrier in her hands. Jarrod took a quick look at the baby. He’d never seen the little baby Heathers before, and he was curious. There was a small girl around three or so clinging to Heather’s left knee, eyeing him suspiciously, too. With her mother’s big brown eyes and dark hair and beautiful face. Kid was definitely her mother in miniature. He pitied the men of Finley Creek in twenty-five years.
The baby was babbling and playing with her tiny feet. She gave a smile that made Jarrod laugh—she was a baby Hope-gremlin through and through. How utterly beyond cute. “These are seriously cute kids. And I bet they are a lot less work than Dr. Haldyn Devil Harris.”
“I’m sure you’re wrong on that. But this one needs a change soon. Have fun. Today is my day off. It’s time for my family.” Her hand brushed her oldest daughter’s hair gently.
“Hey, Foster. Look good in casual wear.” The Hope-gremlin grinned at him, lifting the preschooler into her arms when the child reached for her. “Too bad Heather and I don’t date cops—like ever. You two are almost enough to make us change our minds. Who is the big blond hottie, Heath?”
Hope shot a flirtatious look up at Gunnar—from beneath her maroon knit hat. It set off the baggy overalls she wore so well. The baby wore a matching hat and overalls. Funny.
“Gunnar Erickson. I don’t think our paths have crossed yet. Though I think I have definitely heard of you.” Gunnar shot Hope a smile. Jarrod waited for the inevitable fluttering to come. It didn’t. She just smirked in return.
Well, Hope wasn’t fluttering over Gunnar at all. How interesting. Women always fluttered over Gunnar.
“Oh, from where?”
“From my pal Miggy actually. He had a lot to say about you, Dr. Coleson.”
Hope snickered. “Really now?”
“I’m sure he did,” Heather said. “Hope makes an impression. That’s for sure.”
