The Deputy's Unexpected Family. Patricia Johns

      “That?” He hooked a thumb toward the half-open door. “First of all, you don’t have a right to question anything I do. Second, don’t judge a situation before you know what’s going on.”

      “I’m not asking,” Harper replied. “You’re right. Not my business.”

      Gabe eyed her for a moment, then sighed. “I should have come back into the store.”

      “Yes, you should have.” But coming here had been a mistake. She could feel it already. These were his stomping grounds, not hers, and she’d probably see more than she wanted to. Gabe might be Zoey’s dad, but he wasn’t anything more to Harper, so she’d better start appreciating those boundaries now.

      “I was around, you know,” he said. “I didn’t just leave you there without police supervision.”

      “That would have been nice to know,” she said.

      “I’m sorry if you felt...unsafe.” His voice lowered. “I was there. I’m not proud of how I handled that, and I think I owe you an apology.”

      There was his charm again—but charm wasn’t going to be enough here.

      “It’s okay. I get that I dropped a bomb on you. I came by tonight because I was worried.” She glanced in the direction Tammy had left. “Although I probably shouldn’t have bothered.”

      A humored smile tickled his lips. “I’m a big boy now, Harper.”

      “Actually, I was more worried about Zoey,” she retorted. “Obviously, you can fend for yourself. You always have.”

      Gabe ignored the inference and sighed. “Did you tell Zoey about me? I’d assumed you wouldn’t—not yet, at least.”

      “No, no, I haven’t told her,” Harper replied. “But this does concern her, doesn’t it? You’re her father, and if you don’t want to be in her life, I can live with that.” In some selfish part of her heart, she might even be hoping for it, she realized. “But I need to know where you stand on all of this.”