Page 27 of Espresso Your Love
I take in the turning leaves with the morning sun starting to shine on them. The serenity of the park usually calms my mind and my worries. But today? It’s not working. I focus on the feel of my feet, on my breath, anything besides the man who is haunting my daydreams.
I turn around the corner of the pond when a flash of fur appears in front of me, and my feet falter. I stumble, expecting a face full of grass and crunchy leaves. Instead, my fall is more graceful. When I open my eyes, I see tousled brown hair peeking from under a baseball cap. A pair of striking green eyes meet mine.
Oh my Meadowbrook.
I quickly brace my hands when I feel the solid chest beneath them, realizingheis what broke my fall.
“Cassie?” Ryan says slightly winded, eyes wide.
I take my headphones out of my ears. “Hi,” I reply—half question, half statement.
I can feel his heart beating rapidly under my hands. A flush of heat spreads across my cheeks when I realize I’m still lying here with my hands on his toned chest.
Before I can move, Max leaps onto us. I close my eyes and scrunch my nose as he excitedly licks my cheek. We both start laughing, and I can feel Ryan’s chest rumble beneath my hands.
“Max, c’mon boy.” Ryan attempts to push Max off us but instead he turns his attention to licking Ryan’s cheek.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I quickly push myself up to my feet and dust myself off. Offering a hand to Ryan, I feel a rush of warmth as his hand engulfs mine. He stands and dusts off his Meadowbrook Police Department sweatshirt.
“I’m so sorry. I turned the corner and tripped over Max causing me to land on you. Oh my gosh, I landed on you. Are you okay? Did I hurt—”
Ryan grabs my arms, and I finally take a deep breath.
“Cassie, I’m fine. I should be asking you that question.”
“Yes, I’m fine. Embarrassed, but fine.”
He lets go of my arms, and I wish he hadn’t.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about. Sorry about Max tripping you.”
Max comes to me with his tail wagging, and I crouch down to pet him. “Are you okay, boy? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Max licks my face once more.
“I think that’s a no,” Ryan says, chuckling.
“Well, good. I would feel terrible if I did.”
“He’s resilient.”
“All that police training, huh, buddy?” I coo playfully. I glance at Ryan who’s smiling at me. His gaze is different than normal, and I don’t know what to make of it.
I quickly stand up. “Well, I should get back to…” I thumb over my shoulder and immediately start running in the direction I came from.
What is wrong with me?Not only do I embarrass myself by tripping and falling on top of Ryan but I run off when he’s looking at melike that. I don’t even know what it means, but it felt likemore.
I run faster than I ever have in my life, determined to get home before Ryan does. I unlock my door quickly and rush inside, taking a hot shower before grabbing my work bag. I peek out the peephole to make sure the coast is clear then run to my car and quickly leave.
I planned on going to Coffee Loft before my errand in Richmond, a bigger town next to us. But I can grab breakfastand coffee there instead. I don’t want to risk running into Ryan again, literally or figuratively.
As I arrive in Richmond thirty minutes later, my phone rings through the car.
“Hey, Ash,” I answer the phone on my dashboard.
“Hey, I thought you would’ve been here by now.”
“I have to stop by Sal’s in Richmond first.”
