Relapse

I pull a sippy cup from the fridge full of grape juice and place it in Lilly’s mouth. She sucks on the bottle and I let out a sigh of relief.

Until she pushes it away and starts to wail again.

I pick her up again and try rocking her, but nothing changes. She’s going to make herself sick if she continues to cry like this.

Ding. Dong.

I barely hear the doorbell over Lilly’s cries and when I do, I curse again. I don’t even bother trying to apologize to Tanner, who keeps watching me with wide eyes.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell him, shuffling to the door and rubbing Lilly’s back.

I check the peephole, my heart rate picking up when I see the police uniform.

Fuck. Fuck.

Fuck.

I take a deep breath before pulling the door open.

The man standing on the other side of the door is gorgeous. Wavy, dark brown hair falls over radiant hazel eyes. A mustache sits just above plump lips, a matching, neatly trimmed beard complimenting it. His arms are at his sides, his muscles hard to miss in the neatly pressed police uniform. The nametag on his shirt reads Rivera.

I blink as Lilly’s nails dig into my arm.

“How can I help you officer?” I manage to ask, rubbing Lilly’s hair gently in an effort to calm both her and me.

The man frowns, opening his mouth before closing it. He shakes his head slightly before gazing at Lilly. “Is she okay?” he questions.

Holy shit, has someone reported me for child abuse on my first day alone.

I shift from foot to foot. “Uh… Yes? I mean, no, sorry yes.” I shut my mouth, realizing I’m talking myself into an unsalvageable situation.

It wouldn’t be the first time, or the thousandth…

“Ma’am?” the man inquires, raising a brow and leaning in closer to get a better look at Lilly.

“I’m sorry… she’s fine, just a little grumpy.” That sounds better than saying I don’t know what in the hell is wrong with her and that as soon as I close the door on him, I’m making a call to my grandma to see how soon she can get here to help.

Obviously, I can’t manage this on my own like she told me I could.

“Ah…” An awkward silence falls between us before the man holds out a hand and for a second I think he’s trying to cuff me. Again, it wouldn’t be the first time. “Sorry,” he says with a small chuckle that instantly makes me relax some. “I’m Chase Rivera, one of your neighbors.”

Okay, no one told me there’d be a hot, police officer living by me.

I may have reconsidered moving here since a man in a uniform is my weakness, especially when they seem to have trouble written on them. I take in his bright eyes and lips tipped up into a charming smile.

Definitely trouble.

I shift Lilly to one side, her cries have tapered out, but it seems to be more out of tiredness than being appeased. She buries her face in my shoulder and lightly chews. I ignore it. I hold out my free hand to the officer. “Ivy Hendersen.” His grip is strong as he latches onto my hand and I have to repress a shiver.

“I was just coming over to introduce myself and welcome you to the neighborhood when I heard the little one crying.” He releases my hand but doesn’t move back and I have to crane my neck back to look up at him. “I do hope she feels better. How old is she?”

“Two.”

He nods. “Maybe your husband will be able to help get her calmed down,” he says casually as his eyes roam behind me.

Huh.

I may be attempting to settle into a boring, domestic life now, but I’m no stranger to men or fuck, even women for that sake. So, I don’t think for even a second that the question is as casual as he tries to make it.

Oh no… this man is fishing.

Too bad I’m no longer throwing out any lines.

I give him a slight smile, trying not to think of the delicious possibilities I could have with this big man if I wasn’t trying to be better. “No husband,” I tell him before quickly moving away from the topic. “Thank you for coming over, but I need to get her inside and taken care of.”

“Of course, I understand.” He tilts his head to the side slightly. “It was nice meeting you Ivy Hendersen, I’m sure I’ll see you around and if you ever need anything, I’m just next door.” With that he backs off of my doorstep and turns to leave before pausing and calling over his shoulder. “For the record, I think she may be teething.”