Daisy Hardy was the model student—polite, diligent, and always prepared, so it was quite a surprise to hear she’d gotten herself into a bit of trouble at school. It wasn’t anything serious, just enough to raise an eyebrow. Apparently, she’d landed in detention for a minor incident and, while there, had made a special request: she didn’t want her dad chosen for the upcoming parent-teacher conference. Naturally, the teachers decided to do exactly that, and now, Alec Hardy found himself summoned.

Alec, a Detective Inspector, couldn’t fathom why he had to go. He wasn’t one for small talk or school functions, mingling with teachers, all their bloody smiley bloody faces. It left him more than a little uneasy. But Daisy, practically glowing with excitement, helped him into his suit, straightened his tie, and even fussed over his hair with unusual enthusiasm.

"Don’t you go smiling, young lady. You’re still in trouble after this,” he muttered in his thick Scottish accent, giving her a quick kiss on the head before heading out.

Arriving at the school, Alec felt his discomfort rise. He made his way to the classroom, pushed open the door, and saw you standing there. He froze. He’d seen you a few times before, each encounter intentional on his part. You were Daisy’s teacher—warm, understanding, and endlessly patient. More than that, you were astonishing. Caught off-guard, he felt his pacemaker’s rhythm quicken as he cleared his throat, and tried to fix his tie, suddenly more nervous than he’d been at any crime scene.