The voice at my back sends a ribbon of longing down my spine. With everything I have, I want to turn around, but I’m worried if I do it too quickly everyone will know something is up between the two of us. I also worry that anyone looking at me can see the reaction written across my face. The heat along my cheeks and the flush along my neck is enough to clue the people surrounding us in.
“Rookie, nice to see you today.” He reaches out a hand to shake with Danny.
Slowly, very slowly, I turn to face him. He’s not standing with anyone. Alone, he’s come over to talk to his Chief and the family. “When I’m able, I like to come with my parents” He nods over to where a large group is standing. “My brothers and their families. Thought I’d come over and say hi.”
“Don’t know if you’ve met my daughters, but this is Hailey and Hayden.” Dad stands between us, putting a hand on each of our shoulders. It’s as if he’s presenting us.
“Nice to meet you both.” He reaches in, shaking hands with my sister.
Jealously rails in my stomach as she turns a flirty smile to him. She’s doing this to fuck with me since she knows I can’t do anything about it.
“We’ve heard things about the Rookie,” she smirks.
“Really?” Dad asks. “I didn’t think I’d talked too much about him.”
“You do,” I interrupt. “Not all the time, but we’ve learned a few things.”
His brow scrunches like he’s trying to figure out what he’s said about Danny. Finally his gaze lands on me. “Hayden?”
“Danny?” I reach my hand out, our palms meeting.
Freaking electricity crackles between us. If no one else can see this, they have to be blind.
“Nice to meet you,” he says, his voice deep.
“You too.”
Is that me? Sounding so breathless?
“Danny!”
A woman who looks a lot like him yells from across the parking lot.
“Be right there! I’ll see you at work, Chief. Hopefully, I’ll be seeing you all again very soon.”
The rest of them may miss the promise in the low tone of his voice, but I don’t. And I’m looking forward to it in more ways than I can count.