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"But not any up her entire backyard still be boring? Crazy, yes Boring? Not so much"

Officer Leprechaunmy personal space, but still, it felt like an advance He reached around h ofrelief? Disappointment?

"It doesn’t look crazy out there," he said while attacking theto can come end of summer If you want, I’ll help you But you don’t need et"

"We could all use help, but need? That’s a different thing entirely" He dried his hands on the one clean spot on a tomato-juice-covered towel The air in the kitchen, already as hu time since ame up, and I didn’t knohat to do I didn’t knohat I wanted to do

He slowly folded a paper towel, held it under the faucet for a moment, and pressed the excess water into the sink "Co; it wasOfficer Leprechaun had soft blue eyes, the kind that gave the appearance of thoughtfulness I stared into the moment, and then took one step forward, then another When I’d h for him to reach me, he smiled

"You’re a mess," he said, and reached over to dab h away to lend the action soently rub the dried tomato juice from my cheek, my hairline, the side of my neck I could hardly ainst ertips as they pressed lightly on my cheek I closed my eyes, no expectations but sensation, and when his lips touched asped at the contact He froze for a moment

"Is this okay?"

Okay? I didn’t knohat that rief, the ever-present e to take over fro

"I--I don’t know"

He leaned back, face flushed with concern and hopefully not embarrassment "I’ether,the moment hadn’t happened Afterward, I walked hiht, but the war so clichéd about the heat "Thank you," I said instead "I learned a lot"

"Well, that could be taken in a nuhter in his voice "But I’ll keepprocess"

He opened the door but seeet what he was ain? I promise to dress nicer and stay relatively clean"

"I’m not sure"

He nodded "I understand You’re not ready"

"Not exactly" I smiled at hi you Officer Leprechaun inat all for a moment, and I wondered if I’d insulted hih ruether, and you don’t know one on for too long"

He slid into the driver’s seat "It’s Sean Sean Doherty And now that we’re et another date?"

"This was a date?"

Laughing, he drove away, slowly and carefully, like a good cop should