Page 103 of Wag More Bark Less

Maybe Maggie wouldn’t stay in Bluebell Springs, and that was going to gut punch me when she left. But I no longer clung to this idea that I’d live out the rest of my days as a bachelor.

I wanted a wife, kids tearing through the backyard with laughter, and a dog causing just the right amount of chaos. It might be years down the road yet, but I was ready to make space for what I’d always wanted deep down. Maggie helped thaw the layers of ice around my heart, and there was no going back to the chronically grumpy pain in the ass I’d been since Raquel jilted me at the altar.

I was moving forward with life, one demolished wall at a time.

“You’re that sick of renting, huh?”

“Tenants are exhausting,” I said, my voice purposely loud. Maggie rolled her eyes playfully in response. “I always planned to make it one unit. It’ll take some time to pull the permits, but I figured now is as good a time as any to get a plan put together.”

“I’ll come by Thursday and take a look,” Beckett agreed.

“Thanks, man.” At the sound of a circular saw firing up, I glanced at the door in the back of the hall. I asked Beckett, “We low on anything? I was going to make a run to the hardware store.”

“I called your dad about some hinges and wood screws.”

“I’ll go pick them up.”

I looked back at Maggie, catching her gaze already on me. Blood rushed south, and I adjusted my jeans before things got awkward. When she came this morning with my hand between her legs, I promised we weren’t done. I’d been thinking about getting her home since we showed up at the Legion Hall hours ago.

“Need some fresh air?” I asked her.

“I could definitely use a walk.”

Ellie instantly rolled onto all fours, tail swishing. Maggie reached for the leash, and as I predicted, the pup swatted it away three times before letting out a dramatic sigh and giving in.

What would it be like if this was every day?

But it wasn’t, of course. Not only because Maggie and Ellie would leave town. But because my own forced vacation was up in a few days. I swore a duty to serve and protect the town of Bluebell Springs, and once the badge went back on, this illusion would already start to fade.

“Ready to go?” Maggie smiled at me, and the decision became easy. For a few more days, I would pretend the clock wasn’t ticking.

THIRTY-SIX

MAGGIE

“Is this not the best buffalo stroganoff you’ve ever had?” Luke asked, bumping his shoulder with mine. The booth was big enough for six people, and yet, Luke’s thigh pressed against mine as if we were fighting for space. He had no problem staying close to me, even with his dad in the seat across from us. I liked how it felt to have him near. I hadn’t realized how starved for physical touch I was in my last relationship until Officer McGrumpy started being affectionate. It was addicting.

“It’s the only buffalo stroganoff I’ve ever had. I don’t know if that counts,” I teased.

“People drive up from Denver to order this,” Luke insisted.

Joe shrugged and poked his fork into the pile of egg noodles on his plate. “He’s right, they do.”

The stroganoff was better than good. It was savory with a flavor palate that threatened to make me moan in public. But I enjoyed riling Luke up. I’d miss this.

I stuck my fork into a chunk of buffalo tenderloin, moving it around in the rich demi cream sauce, willing myself to forget that in a little more than two weeks, this sense of normalcy would all be in the rearview mirror.

“Oh, hey. There’s Hudson.” Luke set his fork on his plate.

“I thought you weren’t supposed to interfere in police business until next week,” Joe said.

“She’s been doing a helluva job,” Luke said. “If the mayor wants to get sore at me for telling her so, that’s an ass chewing I’d welcome.”

He slid out of the booth and headed for the female officer standing at the bar waiting for a takeout order.

I took my time with another bite as Luke interacted with the officer who was in charge in his absence, and smiled. She was the same one who interrupted our first kiss and gave us a ride home. She’d been kind enough to ignore the obvious tension that night and yet bold enough to give Luke shit for staying out past curfew. I liked her.

“It seems Luke’s got good officers working with him,” I said to Joe.