Page 12 of Always My Love

It was clear to everyone that Harper was jumpy around police. Any police. Not just him. It wasn’t just a man in a uniform, either. Military, firemen, and coast guard personnel came and went in the restaurant, and Harper acted relaxed with them. But the second a cop walked in, you could see the tension building. She became an ice queen, stiff and scared.

At first he thought she was running from the law. Then he’d gotten to know her and her sister.

Criminals didn’t move into a family member’s home and get jobs. And it was obvious they were related to Hank. If they were running, they wouldn’t want anyone to know who they were.

This led him down the rabbit hole of Harper hiding from an ex. He knew that not all cops were good. If she’d dated a cop who had been abusive, that might account for her reaction.

Going on that theory, he’d steered clear of her for the first few months. After that, he’d started slowly flirting with her until it had sort of become the norm. He still saw fear in her eyes whenever she saw him in uniform, but there was an attraction towards him as well.

The more he was around her, the more he could see that icy shield that surrounded her emotions melt. When he’d seen her with the puppy, he knew he could no longer hide the spark he felt for her.

He could, however, be a little smoother than blurting out that he liked her smile.

Sitting in his yard on a wooden bench he’d built himself, he ate his burger while Blue ran around the yard, sniffing and peeing on everything.

When his dog gave a few happy barks and rushed towards the side gate, Nick glanced over to see Harper’s car parked next to his Jeep.

He set the last of his meal down and walked over to greet her. He was happily surprised when she pulled Lucy out of the car.

“I figured they could use a playdate. I can’t stay long, but even a few minutes might help.” Harper smiled.

He opened the gate wide for them to step through, happy that Blue didn’t try to bolt this time. “That’s a great idea,” he said as she set Lucy down. Instantly, the dogs started playing with one another as if they’d been together all along.

He wanted to ask Harper why she was really there. It was obvious she was trying something different. Maybe his compliment had gotten through to her somehow?

While they watched the brother and sister race around the yard together for a few minutes, he kept silent. This was her move.

“I’m not used to compliments,” she said after a moment.

He lifted his eyebrows slowly. “I would have thought that you would get them all the time in your line of work. I mean, men drinking beer and being served by a beautiful woman such as yourself…”

She chuckled. “I get what you’re doing. I didn’t at first, but now I do.”

This time when his eyebrows rose, it was genuine. “What am I doing?” he asked as he motioned towards the bench.

They walked over and sat down as the dogs continued to race around the yard.

“You’re deliberately trying to make me feel comfortable around you. Dressed like that.” She motioned to his uniform.

He wanted to disagree but knew that it was at least a small part of it.

“I’d love to hear why you’re uncomfortable in the first place, but something tells me anything you said now might not be the whole story.” He leaned back and threw his arm over the back of the bench. “Maybe someday soon you’ll realize that, whoever hurt you in the past, we’re not from the same mold.” She remained silent, so he decided to try a different tactic. “Did you know that I was named after my mother’s childhood boyfriend and fiancé, who died in the military?” She shook her head. “I never met the man, but he and my dad were best friends growing up here in Pride.”

She watched him. “Hailey and I didn’t know our father.”

He nodded, happy that she’d at least opened up to him that much.

“Both my dad and Nick joined the army together. After I graduated from high school, I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I followed in their footsteps.” He sighed and turned to enjoy the view as he rattled on about his boring life. One of the reasons he’d bought the home in the first place was that the beach was less than a block away.

The other homes around his were all higher up on the hillside. His sat lower, making the home feel more secluded. Still, there were unobstructed views of the Pacific from the yard and every room facing west .

When Harper continued to be quiet, he rattled on about his mother and his aunt opening the bakery, about his cousin, Brook, and about his sister, Kate, returning to Pride to start her own dance studio.

“It sounds like you had an exciting childhood,” she said, sounding a little sad and distant.

He shrugged. “It wasn’t without struggles. Being in a town where everyone knows you and your history, well, it can be tough. Still, it beats not knowing anyone at all. There’s a huge benefit to having a group of people around you who will stand up for you. Everyone in Pride is like that.” He reached down and picked up Lucy when she brushed against his leg. “What about you and Hailey? Did you move around a lot as kids?”

She shook her head. “No, we lived in the same house all our lives. Up until six years ago.” He opened his mouth to ask her more, but she stood up suddenly and took Lucy from his arms. “I’d better get her back home and head back to work.”