Page 17
Chapter Four
Then
The morning breeze blows through the open window of my car as I creep down a back road to my parents’ house, taking my time to enjoy the beautiful weather before eating brunch with my family. With Love Song by Sara Bareilles playing over the radio, a smile stretches across my face and I throw my hair back, singing along to every word at the top of my lungs. I’m running on eight hours of sleep total for the past two days and by all accounts, I should be struggling to stay awake but I’m not. In fact, I’ve been in a fabulous mood every day since I met Ryan and I had a really successful day at the market yesterday so I doubt there’s anything that could bring me down today.
My phone buzzes in the cup holder with an incoming call and I turn down the radio before grabbing it, grinning when I see the name flashing on the screen. “Officer Wheeler, what can I do for you today?”
He chuckles softly, his voice still thick with sleep. “Well, Miss Harrington, you can get some dinner with me tonight as previously discussed.” His tone is all business and it makes me giggle.
“See, I would except I have to work tonight.” For the first time ever, I’m a little disappointed that I have to work tonight.
“You’re not making excuses to avoid me, are you?” he asks and I shake my head even though I’m alone in the car.
“Never.”
He sighs and I bite down on my lip, feeling a little guilty that I’m not free. I suppose Moe wouldn’t have a problem with giving me the night off but that would leave him short staffed and I can’t do that to him.
“All right, when are you free?”
“Tomorrow is my only night off this week.”
He’s quiet for a moment as I hear shuffling on the other end of the call. “Okay. I’ll just see if I can switch shifts with someone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I’m not going to miss my one chance to go out with you.”
Blush stains my cheeks and I bite down on my lip as I struggle to contain my grin. “You’re going to spoil me.”
“What do you mean?” he asks, surprising me once again.
“No other guy has ever gotten out of work just to see me or put new tires on my car. You’re almost too good to be true.”
His deep throaty laugh greets me again and my heart skips a beat as I picture his dazzling smile.
“I don’t know about all that but I like you and if I have to move my schedule around a little bit to see you, I will. As for the tires, I’m glad that I could do that for you.”
“You have to let me pay you back.”
He scoffs. “Not a chance.”
“Ryan, I - ,” I start but he cuts me off.
“No, Emma. I liked doing it for you and now you still have your money for a new car, which will be safer for you. If you think about it, this is really for me. It’s a totally selfish move. I’m really a jerk.”
I laugh and shake my head.
“There’s that beautiful laugh,” he murmurs and my cheeks heat again, warmth spreading through my chest. I sigh, at a complete loss for words.
“So, what are you up to today?” he asks with a yawn.
“Did you just wake up?”
“Yeah.”
I shake my head, fighting back another smile. My cheeks hurt from grinning so much and I’m sure that if anyone drove by and saw me, they’d think I was certifiably insane. This guy is something else and I secretly love that I was the first thing he thought of when he woke up. In the past, my boyfriends have made me chase them but not Ryan. With him, I feel important and special in a way that I’ve never felt before.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Ryan says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
