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scent that I try to remind myself to ask Parker about before I slip into a full bath coma.

Forgetting about everything, all my troubles, even my own body as I float downstream in the miracle that is a properly run bath.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Parker

Once I know Moose has adopted Naomi too, I know I’m doing the right thing. But I can’t help but feel a little stab of hurt when he decides to watch over her, in her bed. Without me there.

It should be me in there, but like I told her, taking her time to make up her mind about what she wants is fine by me.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t make up for our little fight or even do a little this or that while she sleeps to make sure she knows how much I care about her once she wakes up.

Moose too.

He’s done great the past few days, saved my ass, and protected Naomi like any officer who deserves a medal of bravery would.

If it was up to me, I’d apply for his citation myself, but if it were up to me he’d get a medal every day of the week.

While she’s been sleeping I’ve done some thinking too. Reminding myself about what I decided originally.

Show her what life could be like instead of trying to convince her with just words.

If she’s with me, she’s my queen and this is her palace. She can have whatever she wants, whenever she wants.

My mom’s words echo in my mind too, as much as I hate to admit it.

She’s right.

I shouldn’t wait a second longer to start a family, not like my dad did.

He was a great father, but it left us far too little time together by the time I was old enough.

Back in the day, you wouldn’t start a family unless you could afford it. And ironically, you also needed time as well as money, which for most hard working folks was spent earning the money they needed just to get by.

No credit cards in my dad’s day. And no real handouts either. Or so he kept reminding me.

I never knew just how much he’d saved, how much he’d invested for his own family's future until he passed.

I never got a chance to really thank him for that.

Maybe the highest honor is to have a family of my own. Pass on everything I’ve learned as well as everything we have to our kids.

Naomi and me.

That’s where my mind’s at right now, but like I keep telling myself.

Leave it up to her to decide. No strings. Remember?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I’m trying to tell myself that.

But I don’t want her even talking about walking away again, not until she sees how Moose and I treat our queen.

I’m not a bad cook.

I’m a great cook actually, so after I deal with some lingering paperwork and bills, I set to work on a feast fit for our queen.

A whole sirloin roast with all my favorite trimmings, including gravy from scratch and vegetables from the garden is a no-brainer.

Dessert I’m okay with, but with time being a factor, I order in the best pecan pie I know from the local deli.

There’s another call to the florist for roses and a quick call to my man downtown. The one who makes me my cologne.

Can he do the same in like a bath thing? Yes, he can.

Within the hour, I’m all set, and even Moose hasn’t stirred to interrupt anything.

It’s just perfect. The perfect afternoon to get the perfect evening ready for my girl.

I feel a weird excitement. Not like I’m thinking what’s in any of this for me. Just wanting to make someone realize just know how much they mean to me, how special they are. It lights me up inside.

Like when Moose gets his rewards and treats, but I hate to say it, old buddy… Naomi ain’t no Moose.

She’s the Queen of Queens and tonight is all about her.

I leave her to it, and lifting my eyes to the heavens, pray that I don’t get called in for work.

I waited months to have the full three day weekend off, but now that the guys downtown know I’m not staying out of town after all… It kinda puts me unofficially back on call.

Moose seems to read my mind, and looking up at me from his mat in the kitchen, he lets me know with a single glance what we both know.

What my dad taught me and what I’ve learned every day since.

Cops are cops. And the call could come at any second. It’s always in the back of our minds, even when we’re having downtime.

“Just one night, huh?” I suggest to him, silently praying to the gods of justice to cut me some slack, even though I’ve been handed the greatest treasure ever in the form of Naomi.

Just one night to show her how special she is.

With all the final touches, including feeding Moose before anyone else, I fill the time Naomi has in her bath with getting things just right.

Moose lets me off the hook once he sees his own feast I’ve made ready for him, and wastes no time in shooting out back to get all dirty again to bury a bone I’ve kept for him too. Reminding myself why I never give him bones in the first place.

He buries them and then keeps guard over them, even when they stink terribly and he digs them up all over again.

I want to check in on Naomi a thousand times, but force myself to give her that space we talked about.

If she doesn’t agree to stay and doesn’t want anything physical?

No. I can’t think like that. But I can at least give a girl an hour or so in the tub by herself.

Doing whatever she needs to do.

That’s fine.

But when I feel the urge to check on her, me checking the clock every two seconds, I know I’m might be out of my depth. Just a little.

Until I hear her calling my name.

Not in