“That’s really sweet, Hank, but you know as well as I do what a run can do to you. Sure, it burns off energy. But it can also fill you with a whole ’nother kind.”

“I know. But jumping into the physical side of things isn’t the best way to start a relationship that’s going to end up in marriage. Is it?”

Bridget shrugged. “Again, you are such a man.”

Why were women so confusing? “Are you saying I should sleep with her?”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes, but that’s not the point.” The thought of Ivy beneath him, stripped bare, and his to pleasure filled him with such bone deep desire that he almost needed to sit down.

“If that’s not the point, why did your eyes change color?” Bridget shook her head. “Dude, you’ve got it bad. I’m a little surprised. I didn’t think you of all people would go in for the criminal element.”

“She’s not a criminal.” Irritation edged his voice. “Stop calling her that.”

Bridget’s brows seemed permanently stuck in the air. “You’re defending a Kincaid?”

“A Kincaid who’s about to be my wife. You befriended her. Why are you giving me such a hard time?”

“I’m not giving you a hard time, just curious why you’re all into her. And I befriended her because you know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

“I’m ‘into her’ because I’m about to be married to her and better to like her than not, don’t you think? Why don’t you trust her?”

“Do you?”

He exhaled. “She’s alone in my house right now. I’m trying to think positively.” He lifted his hand. “I do trust her. Until she gives me a reason not to. Cut her some slack. I get the sense she hasn’t had an easy life with Clemens Kincaid as a father.” He cleared his throat. “Or as a single mother.”

Bridget almost fell off her chair. “What?”

“She’s got a kid.”

“Where is he?”

“With her parents.” He could see the wheels in Bridget’s mind turning. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Like hell it isn’t. You have to accept that kid as your own.”

“I know. And I’m okay with that.” He shot her a look. “So you need to be too. Understand?”

Bridget held up her hands. “If you’re okay with it, then I will be too.” Her eyebrows bounced once in a ‘how about that’ expression. “Okay, back to you and your need for romance. Let’s take it one day at a time, shall we? If she’s making dinner, you should bring flowers. Not those awful limp things from the buckets in the produce section of the Shop & Save. Nice flowers. Go see Marigold over at the Enchanted Garden. She’ll fix you up.”

He hesitated. Marigold Williams was one of three sisters, who along with their mother, Corette, were the most well-known witches in town. Alice Bishop was probably the most powerful, but she worked exclusively for Elenora Ellingham and tended to keep to herself. “At what cost? I’m not giving her any of my hair or anything weird like that.”

Bridget rolled her eyes. “Not every bunch of flowers she sells comes with a witchy price attached to it. Just tell her what you need. She’s got a gift. With flowers. Now I have a bar to run and you have a woman to get home to.”

She laughed. “Wow, that sounds even weirder out loud.”

“It’s not that weird.” He opened the door.

“It’s totally weird. You haven’t had a girlfriend in how long? Since the Rangers? Bro, do your parts even work?”

“Don’t worry about my parts.” He frowned at her, but there was no denying he’d had a long dry spell. Deliberately. But Bridge didn’t need to know that.

“Why haven’t you had a girlfriend?”

“I’ve been busy.” Truth was, he’d never seen a reason to get involved, knowing that an arranged marriage would most likely be required of him as the pack leader’s firstborn. And so, instead of entangling himself in a relationship that would only come to a forced end when his father dictated it, he’d opted to avoid relationships altogether.

It was also a way to spare Bridget and Titus from having to sacrifice their happiness for the sake of the pack. If he was available to be married off, they wouldn’t have to be.

For a soldier, sacrifice was easy. Being sheriff felt very much the same. Long hours, hard work, sometimes unfavorable conditions, the willingness to be the first line of defense…it was what he did best. Who his father had raised him to be.

Bridget sighed. “Well, I guess you’ll have to find a way to be less busy now, huh?”

“I guess. Thanks for the advice.” He left and drove to the Enchanted Garden.

Not until he called out if anyone was there did Marigold come out from the back room. She had a leaf in her wild brunette hair and a piece of green tape stuck to the front of her work apron. “Hey, Sheriff, what can I do for you?”

“I need flowers.”

Her eyes widened a little. “Good thing you came here then. What’s the occasion?”

“Dinner.”

She nodded, leaning forward a bit. “With?”

He wasn’t ready to make the marriage pact public. “A woman.”

Marigold pursed her lips. “Is this a romantic thing?”