except for Harper. She was too busy saving her drool for a certain someone who was related to her best friend, who sheâd bet a million bucks also filled out his uniform oh-so-finely.
Wren? She was glaring at Tate like she wanted to rip his head off. Or his clothes.
Huh.
âWhatâs your deal?â Harper asked, leaning across the table so Tate wouldnât overhear them. âYou look like you want to gouge his eyes out.â
âThat wouldnât be a bad idea.â Wren grimaced. âHeâs a jerk.â
âHeâs been nothing but nice to me,â Harper defended. âI like him.â
âRight, because you were protected in your cozy little relationship. Wait until Tate finds out youâre single. Heâll try and make a move on you, Iâm sure,â Wren said bitterly.
âWait a minute.â Harper frowned. âDid he try to do that to you?â
Wren blinked. âDo what?â
âMake a move on you?â And if so, why hadnât Wren gone for it? Tate was gorgeous. And nice. And hot. Close in age. Oh and single, a rarity in Wildwood.
âWren Gallagher.â
They both glanced up to find Tate standing right next to their table, smiling down at them, his hands on his hips. Harper leaned back in her chair, smiling at him in return, but all Wren managed was a glower.
Yikes.
âHarper.â Tate nodded, his green eyes twinkling. Oh, he was pretty. Why hadnât she ever noticed it before? Had she been so focused on making it work with Roger that she hadnât noticed the other good-looking men in her life? âGood morning.â
Harper parted her lips, ready to wish him a good morning as well when her best friend interrupted her.
âWhy are you in your uniform?â Wren asked, rolling her eyes. âTrying to turn on the ladies?â
âConsidering youâre the only one I want to turn on and yet youâre immune to my charms, Gallagher, that would be a no.â He turned his attention to Harper. âI just got off work. Thought Iâd grab a coffee and a doughnut, then go crash for a few hours.â
âTough shift?â Harper asked politely. Sheâd always liked Tate. Heâd come to Wildwood just over a year ago and fit right in like he was homegrown. He was nice, if a little egotistical sometimes, cocky but never rudely arrogant. And he had reason to be. Women seriously fell at his feet. She saw it happen once out at the lake last summer while heâd been out on a call. The woman had literally fainted on top of his booted feet.
He came by his reputation rather naturally.
âBrutal. But what else is new? Weâre out there fighting fires and saving lives.â He returned his gaze to Wren, letting it linger. âI hear your brother starts his first shift at my station tomorrow.â
Wren nodded. âHe sure does.â She said the words like she was reluctant to even speak to him.
âWell. Canât wait to meet him. If heâs anything like Holden Iâm sure weâll get along fine.â The barista called Tateâs name, and he winked at them before he started to walk away. âSee you later, ladies.â
âSomething in your eye, Tate?â Wren called after him but he ignored her, too busy chatting up the cute barista who was batting her eyelashes at him.
âWhat was that about?â Harper asked as soon as Tate left the coffee shop.
Wren shrugged. âHeâs annoying.â
Uh-huh. Just like Harper found West so annoying. âWhat did he ever do to you?â
âI donât know. Breathe?â Wren rolled her eyes and laughed. âIâm ridiculous, I know it. But thereâs something about him that bothers me. Heâs so . . . sure of himself.â
Most women would find that an attractive quality.
âHis attitude borders on arrogant. He always smirks at me, like he knows my deepest darkest secrets no matter how much I try to
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