Once the hot water hit my body, I relaxed some. I’d been in Salem for two months and had to keep reminding myself that it was a small town. It wasn’t Chicago. Back home, if my neighbor had spoken to me, it was only because they wanted me to arrest the guy next door for having another party with music that was, in her opinion, too loud. No one had cared if I was or wasn’t dating. And my elderly neighbor would never have thought of trying to play matchmaker.
Laughing, I soaped up and couldn’t help but think about Sydney. The way her blue eyes had sparkled when she smiled at me earlier. The cute way her lips pressed together when she forced herself to stop talking. Damn, they looked soft. I let myself wonder what they would feel like when I kissed them. What she would taste like. Would she twist her fingers in my hair while I kissed her or would she place her hands on my chest and moan into my mouth?
“Jesus, Murphy, knock it off and stow the damn th
oughts,” I said as I reached over and turned the water over to cold.
Once I was in my squad car and heading to the station, I was able to clear my thoughts of one Sydney Burch and concentrate on my shift. That was until I was stopped at a red light and saw her hugging Wesley Youngsten outside his office building. As I waited for the stoplight to turn green, I watched them carefully. They looked like they knew each other well. Very well.
An instant rush of jealousy zipped through my body. With a nod of my head, I tried to shake away the intense feeling.
“You’re being ridiculous,” I said, my eyes locked on the two of them. No matter how hard I tried to look away, I couldn’t.
When they walked into the building, his hand on her lower back to guide her, I faced straight ahead again and gripped the steering wheel.
Are they an item? I needed to find out.
When I walked into the station, I went right up to the one person I knew would have all the answers I needed.
Louise. She was one of the station’s dispatchers.
“Hey, Lou, how are you today? I brought you your favorite iced coffee.”
She glanced up at me and smiled. Her husband, Bill, was also a police officer and worked the same shift as I did. He was a nice guy, born and raised in Salem, as was Lou. They were trying to have a baby, and he wasn’t shy talking about the… positions… they had tried while attempting to make that happen. I quickly learned what not to say to avoid that topic.
“I’m doing well. Heard you ran into Sydney Burch last night.”
My jaw fell open in shock.
Small town, Mike. Small. Town.
“Um, yes I did.”
She smiled. “She’s a sweet girl, and we’re all happy she’s back in town. It’s a shame, though, she won’t be practicing with her grandpa. It was a dream of his.”
I nodded, remembering my conversations with Virgil about his granddaughter. We’d met the first time I went into Brewer’s Coffeehouse. We’d hit it off and talked almost every morning. He’d said he couldn’t wait to introduce me to Sydney. My heart broke for her. My grandfather had been like a second father to me growing up. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about him. I missed him like crazy.
“You should really get to know her better. Maybe ask her to lunch.”
My brow rose.
She winked. “I’m just saying she’s a pretty girl; it wouldn’t hurt you to get to know her. After all, she is running Burch Animal Clinic now. You said yourself you need to meet more of the business owners in town. Did I mention she’s a sweet girl?”
I let out a chuckle. “I believe you did mention that. Sydney isn’t seeing Wesley Youngsten?”
Laughing, Lou waved her hand at me. “Goodness, no. They’ve been friends since they were little. Thick as thieves, those two.”
I smiled, and Lou leaned in closer to me. “You are interested in her! I knew it! That smile tells me that little bit of information is what you were looking for, coming over here and buttering me up with iced coffee. Have you no shame?”