I pulled in waving the permit. A few of the crew gave a groan that it was time to work, but most were looking for the steady pay that my brother offered. I jumped in on the sweatiest jobs that took all my concentration so I wouldn’t think about the look on Parker’s face.
The build took up most of my attention for the rest of the week and into the next.
I worked on Parker’s office when she was off or when she was on the day shift, but every night I watched for her car. The light was on in the lower apartment of her two-family house.
On three different nights, I almost went over there to help, but I couldn’t quite do it.
Between the hurt on her face, and the shadow cast over the night we spent together, the street between us felt more like a wall.
And maybe there was only one way over it.
Chapter 12
Parker
I pausedat the door to my office.
The faint hint of paint and his Sauvage cologne sat in the room. My office was complete. The walls had been freshly painted and the ceiling was a gleaming white. The room felt more open, less like my predecessor’s hand me downs thanks to the soft gray area rug that took up half the room. Now there was a defined space for where I worked and a small sitting area he’d created for meetings.
Professional, but leaning into the feminine without detracting from the fact that I was a cop.
How did he know to do that?
How did he know me better than any man with only a few intimate moments between us?
I touched the fat, waxy leaves of a plant by my window. Real, not plastic. There was a small card inside with a feminine scrawl.
She’s only thirsty once a week. Keep her by the light and she’ll flourish.
Anna M
Cash’s mother.
I shook my head and put the card in the window for the cleaning lady to have the instructions so I didn’t kill it. I wasn’t exactly known for my green thumb.
Nora told me her future mother-in-law was a plant lady and had been showing her how to beautify the house’s landscape.
“Boss?”
I turned at our day admin’s voice. “Yes, Patty?”
“The mayor’s on the phone.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Which line?”
“Three.”
“Thanks.” I moved to my desk, sinking in my chair and counting to ten before I picked up. “Mayor Finley, what can I do for you?”
“About the warehouse?—”
“Mayor, I’ve been trying to get together enough people to?—”
“Oh, I know. Could you meet me over there today? Say in an hour?”
To do what? Go over the endless list of things she wanted me to do? With what people and resources? I needed to hire at least two more officers, but that would only take some of the load off of me and my team. There was no extra until Jonas came back from leave.
That was if he came back at all.
