She blows air out between her lips and rolls her head toward me. “Yeah, that would be great, thanks.” Her grateful smile warms the air between us and my hand sneaks out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. When she laughs at my action, I snatch my hand back.
“Sorry,” I mumble, feeling like an idiot.
“Don’t apologize. I’m only laughing because you have no idea how many times I’ve had to stop myself from doing that toyou.”
My embarrassment turns into confusion until she reaches out, removes the toque from my head, and twirls the lock of hair that is always in my eyes around her finger. Only then do I let out a chuckle of my own. She wasn’t making fun of me. Fucking anxiety.
“Thanks.” I pull my hat back on. “But what do you mean you’ve had to stop yourself?”
Kat tugs her lower lip between her teeth and her eyes drop down to her hands.
“Because I…I didn’t think we were like that. I mean, we’re friendly, sure, but you’re friendly with everyone. I didn’t want you to feel like I was being too forward.”
“You didn’t want to be too forward and touch my hair, but you have no problem asking me to be your date to a fancy dinner?” I pull out my humour to dispel the last few tendrils of worry and embarrassment swirling inside me.
Her face turns pink, but she giggles. “Yeah, I never claimed to be smart.”
That’s a reminder I didn’t need. Kat Donnellyissmart. Too smart for a guy like me.
The radio strapped to my shoulder chooses that moment to come to life, dispatch informing me I’m officially off shift and should return to the station. My replacement is on their way. After I give my confirmation and inform them I’m on my way back to station, I turn to Kat.
“Ready to go? Or would you like to hang out in the icebox for a while longer?”
Her laughter tells me I’ve made the right call, infusing the situation with jokes. I’ll take having Kat as a friend, even if I wish things were different,I was different, and we could be more.
But I know from past experiences that women like Kat, women who have their future planned out with goals and dreams, they don’t want guys who will never be more than a regular old police officer with zero chance of moving up in rank.
Together we collect her belongings and make our way back to my patrol car. Moments later we’re back on the highway, slowly making our way toward town.
Once we’re in the warmth of my car, Kat removes her heavy winter coat, twisting her upper body to put it behind us. The action brings her close to me, and I get a wave of her shampoo, some sort of fresh tropical smell. Her shoulder brushes mine as she turns to face forward and I shift in my seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly. We’ve never been in such close quarters. This is going to be torture.
“Thanks for this, Hunter,” she says quietly, and I chance a quick look at her. She’s watching me.
“Of course. It’s my job to save helpless maidens, you know,” I reply, continuing with my jokes. Humour has been my defense mechanism for so long, it’s just natural when I feel out of my element.
And being this close to Kat? I’mdefinitelyout of my element.
“I’m going to ignore the helpless maiden part of that, and just say I know it’s your job, but I’m still really glad it was you who came to my rescue.”
My dumbass heart flip-flops around in my chest. That stupid idiot doesn’t know any better; doesn’t know Kat Donnelly is not for us.
“I’m glad it was me, too.” The words slip out, quieter and more serious than anything else I’ve said so far.
All too soon we’re pulling into Dogwood Cove. Kat gives me directions to her house and I come to a stop outside of her dark house.
“Want me to shovel your driveway while I’m here?” I ask, half hoping she’ll say yes, half hoping she won’t because Ihateshoveling snow.
“No, that’s okay. Beckett always comes over to do it after he finishes Mom and Dad’s house.”
“Okay.”
Kat hesitates, her coat and bag in her arms.
Ask her out, you dumbass.But I don’t.
Instead, I just sit there as she climbs out of my patrol car and leans back down through the open door. “Thanks again, Hunter.”
“No problem.”