Asher

Every muscle in my body burns and my lungs feel like they are on fire but it only makes me run faster.

Harder.

Determination pushes my feet down the sidewalk near the river. I don’t normally run here, but today I felt like venturing outside of my regular routine. I’ve been doing that a lot lately.

Ever since I started my therapy.

I smile to myself, thinking about her and how much she’s helped me already. Talking about my past was tough and it tore open a lot of wounds, but if there is one thing I’ve discovered about myself it is that I’m still in control.

I might have gone off the rails there for a while but I’m back now, and this time, I’m going to get it right.

Starting with her.

I slow my run to a walk and glance up as someone approaches, but I stop altogether when Marley’s smiling face comes into view.

And fuck, if I thought she was beautiful before, nothing compares to the way she looks right now.

The air whooshes from my lungs as she walks toward me. The wind lifts her curls, whipping them across her face, her slender fingers attempting to tame them behind her ear but it’s a lost battle, those sexy curls cannot be tamed.

My hands clench at my sides, wishing I could tame them myself, wrap them in my fist and hold her lips to mine until they are red and swollen from my kiss.

I wonder why she’s so happy. Who is responsible for that breathtaking, gorgeous smile on her face, and more so, what the hell do I have to do to earn it myself?

She’s only a few feet away when she finally notices me, and though she’s surprised she doesn’t tense up or shy away like I thought she would.

Instead, she offers me a guarded smile.

“Asher, hi.” Her eyes are hidden behind a pair of cute cat-eyed sunglasses.

I glance down at the little girl holding her hand who is the spitting image of her mother.

“This is my daughter, Lyla.”

“Very nice to meetcha,” the little girl greets, offering me her tiny hand.

“Asher.” I wrap my fingers around her hand and give it a shake, introducing myself.

Marley pushes her glasses onto her head, momentarily taming those luscious curls, and her bright green eyes sends blood rushing to my cock.

Fuck, not in front of the kid, stupid.

Puppies.

Ponies.

Pirates.

Pirates? Really, dumbass?

“Asher is a police officer,” Marley says, looking down at Lyla, breaking into my twisted thoughts.

“But where’s his gun?” she asks, squinting her eyes up at me.

Marley and I share a laugh.

I squat so I’m at eye level with Lyla. “I only wear my gun when I’m working.”

“And right now you’re not working?” Lyla asks.

I shake my head and smile. “Nope. It’s my day off.”

Lyla looks unimpressed and I laugh. Standing up, I look at Marley. “She’s cute.”

“Thanks...”

“Mommy, can Asher go with us?”

“Oh, I don’t know, sweetie...”

I like this kid. She’s like a built-in wingman. “Right.”

“See, Mommy. He can push me on the swing like Uncle Peter does.” Lyla returns her attention to me. “Can you push me really high, Asher?”

“I can push higher than Uncle Peter,” I reassure her.

Marley gives me a pointed look.

“Yay!” Lyla squeals, clapping her hands and stomping her feet.

Marley laughs, shaking her head, then lowers those sexy cat-like glasses back down over her eyes and walks past me. “I don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into. An hour at the park with this little girl will wear you out.”

I give her my best smile, jogging to catch up with her. “I’ve got plenty of stamina. Pretty sure I can keep up.”