“I don’t know what you see in him,” Kai grumbles. “He looks so angry all the time.”
“He’s on duty.” I defend my crush. “Law enforcement officers have a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders.”
“Yeah,” Charlie agrees, though I’m not sure if he’s agreeing with me or Kai. At least he’s turned to face us now so he can’t stare at the police officers. “I don’t think I’d put him in front of a camera. His anger would shine a negative spotlight on the Portland Police Bureau and that light has already been pretty bright. However, Karson’s partner might be perfect.”
Charlie spins his chair around again, and my gaze lands on the cheerful guy in uniform with biceps the size of Mt. Hood. The man shakes hands and offers high fives, his laughter carrying across the room. He’s his own spotlight.
Karson says something to his buddy, and the man claps his hands. “Let’s hit it!”
Karson leads the way to the front of the room. His gaze washes over the class, so I should have been bracing for impact, but the moment he spots me, I’m toppled by a sneaker wave. I lose my breath as I’m tossed in the depths of his ocean-blue eyes.
His head swivels, holding our eye contact, while he continues forward. What’s he thinking? He doesn’t smile, but I knew not to expect joy.
My chest tickles, and I’m suddenly an eight-year-old at Six Flags with my family. Mom had agreed to go on the free-fall ride with me because nobody else would. Strapped in seats, we faced outward, our legs dangling a couple of hundred feet in the air. At the very top, in the seconds before they dropped us, Mom yelled, “I can’t believe I’m letting you do this!” I yelled back in terror, “Ican’t believe you’re letting me do this!” Then we plunged toward possible death. After the screaming stopped, we got back in line to ride again. There was nothing else as thrilling.
Could Karson be feeling the same thing? Is he thinking,I can’t believe I’m letting you do this?Is he afraid he’s about to fall for me?
Charlie grips my arm. “He saw you.”
“You think?” Kai quips.
A few of the participants glance our way.
I pat Charlie’s hand to hush him.
Karson’s cool gaze travels from me to Charlie, then back across me to Kai. He’s reached the front of the class, but he keeps walking toward the whiteboard, turning his back on us for a moment. He lifts an arm to run a hand over his short hair.
I curl my toes in my canvas slip-on sneakers.
He pivots to face the room but barely brushes me with his gaze before addressing everyone else. “Welcome. I’m Lieutenant Karson Zellner.”
Ooh, he’s a lieutenant now.
Charlie leans toward my ear as if he’s about to whisper. If only he knew how to whisper. “I wonder if he’s become lieutenant because so many cops have been taking early retirement or quitting.”
Karson crosses his arms and waits for us to quiet. This time when his gaze meets mine, an eyebrow arches in challenge.
I put thegrinin chagrinned. He’s just so cute when he’s one-hundred-percent business. Which I’m beginning to think is always.
Rather than look away again, he narrows his eyes, so I know his tiny headshake is for me.
I feel special.
His eyes roll to the ceiling before he extends an arm toward his colleague. “Officer Drew Harris will be helping me lead this training. Our goal is to educate in order to create a greater understanding of public safety’s role.”
I sigh with sweet anticipation. I have my summer off from teaching to really focus on writing, and I can’t think of a more inspiring way to spend it than right here. Thanks to my new muse, I may even become the next Nora Ephron.
“That’s right,” Drew chimes in. “During the first four weeks, you’ll be here at the police department. Then, for the last four weeks, you’ll be training with firefighters.”
Oh, I didn’t realize that. I hope Karson has to oversee the firefighting weeks as well.
Karson glances at me as if he’d heard my thoughts and disapproves. “Here at the PPB, you’re going to get some experience with self-defense, work with our K-9 unit, and even race our cars through the practice course.”
Charlie straightens at the mention of a racecourse. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” Drew nods. “Though you’ll have to get through tonight’s hands-on training first. And by hands-on, I mean we’ll be taking your fingerprints and running background checks.”
The class chuckles in response, but I’m too lost in my daydreams of Karson to join in. His eyes bulge my way in warning, and I realize I’m staring. I’m as bad as Charlie.
