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He made a face but said, “That sucks. We’ll come keep you company after we kick some ass.”

I just nodded, turning my attention to Mr. Mann, who was ready to check out. He’d chosen a small bouquet of gold chrysanthemums.

“Nice choice. I love the variety. Always a different flower.”

His mouth twisted into a charming grin. “Roses are so trite.”

“You think so? I still love them. It’s not their fault they’re so popular. Leave the card blank?” I asked him, as that was his usual custom.

“Yes, thank you. I like to add my own personal touch.”

“That’ll be six fifty-nine.”

I processed his payment. $6.59. Again.

The number snagged my attention for a beat.

“Babygirl?” Clayton asked.

I blinked. “What?”

“You okay?”

Babygirl was me.

Five Bishop boys, two families that had long ago stopped bothering to distinguish between whose kids belonged to whom, and somehow I’d wound up the only girl. The name had stuck before I was old enough to remember getting it.

“Yeah.” I finished the transaction, ripping the receipt off the printer a bit more roughly than I intended. “Sorry. Zoned out.”

Mr. Mann was still smiling at me. Nothing strange about him. Nothing strange about six dollars and fifty-nine cents.

Numbers repeated. Numbers meant nothing.

I watched him leave. He was as nice a sight going as coming.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Clayton said, laughing at me.

I smiled ruefully. “I don’t need to. He comes in all the time.”

“I don’t get the appeal,” Clayton said. “Who calls roses trite? Makes him sound like a hipster douchebag.”

“Don’t be a hater. I check out your ass just as hard when you’re walking away.”

Clayton winked at me. “Ditto, babygirl.”

Chief’s jaw tightened. Barely. So little I might have imagined it.

Then again, I'd spent years becoming an expert in the microscopic changes of Declan Bishop's face.

“I’ll be in the truck,” he said abruptly. His drawl rolled slow and smooth through the words.

My body reacted before my pride could stop it.

Then he left. I didn’t comment on his departure, and neither did Clayton.

This was the usual way he acted around me.

I’d been so consumed by him that a lot of other things slipped my notice.