She smirks at me. “Will you stop saying sweet things to me?” She elbows me in the side.
“Sorry. I’ll try to be on my best behavior.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to fool her, or myself.
18
Sierra
The next week, I’m rushing around the bakery like a mad woman, trying to finish baking the cupcakes that Glenna ordered. I still can’t believe she asked me to do this for her.
I pull my batch of German chocolate out of one of the ovens and set them on the counter to cool while I whip up some coconut pecan frosting. These are Grandma Rose’s absolute favorite, so they were the first kind she ever taught me to make when I was growing up.
Claire and Avery are both out today, busy with their families, but I’m enjoying the silence. I love my best friends, but I tend to get more done when we aren’t all together yapping.
The bell above the door dings, alerting me of a customer. I look up from my mixer and see Glenna walking in.
“Hello, darling.” Today she’s in a leopard print pantsuit and matching heels. She looks ridiculous, considering it’s still over a hundred degrees out.
“Hi, Glenna.” I force a smile. I have to remind myself that she gave me her business. Maybe she’ll recommend me to her rich friends. I can use all the help I can get. “I’m just about done with this last batch.”
She looks around my shop and I kind of feel like I’m being scrutinized. “This is a nice little place you have here.” She pulls a chair out at one of the tables and takes a seat. “I didn’t know you wanted to do this with your life. Why did you wait until you came back to open a bakery?”
Her question throws me. In all the years I’ve know Glenna Greene, she has never once shown interest in my life unless it had something to do with her son. I was honestly surprised she even came to our wedding. She was appalled that we didn’t take the offered check she wanted to give us to marry at her country club. We wanted simple, but she is the furthest thing from modest.
I fill my piping gun with frosting and squirt it on to each cake. Normally this is what comforts me, but right now, there’s a tension in the air that I don’t like. I need to finish so she can be on her way.
“Um…” I stutter. I’ve loved baking since I was a little girl, but Miles and I didn’t have the money for me to start something like this. Plus, I stayed busy with Auggie and going to school soon after I met Claire. I don’t want to tell her that though because her money has always been something she’s shamelessly flaunted around. I never told my husband this because I didn’t want to be a burden to him. Don’t get me wrong. Doing this as a single mom of two very active boys, is not an easy feat, but now that they’re older, it’s more probable.
I look up at Glenna, and she’s now staring down at the phone in her hands, seeming to have forgotten that she asked me a question. That’s fine with me.
“So, these are for a tea you’re having?”
“Huh? What?” she stammers out as she looks up from her phone. “Uh, yeah. We have it once a month for all the women. You should really come.”
Uh, what? Did she really just invite me to be part of a social gathering with her?
“I have to get the boys from school and wouldn’t have anyone to watch them.” It’s a lie. I’m sure I could find someone to help me out, but I refuse to go with her anywhere.
I place all five dozen cupcakes into boxes, and then she walks to the counter to pay me, seeming to not care about my reason for not being able to attend her event.
The bell above the door goes off again, and I look up to see the most handsome police officer I’ve ever seen. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him in his uniform. Seeing him without a shirt last week in the pool did things to me that I’m a little embarrassed to admit. Just a little though.
“Officer Harris.” I smile at him, and then Glenna turns to acknowledge him. I’m excited to see him, but I’m a bit uncomfortable that he’s here while the Wicked Witch is.
He tips his hat at my mother-in-law before looking at me. “Ms. Greene.”
I shift on my feet, hoping that Glenna will take a hint and leave now, but, of course, I can’t get so lucky.
“What can I get you?” I ask, feeling the warmth spread to my cheeks. This man makes me so flustered, but I can’t say I mind.
He stares at the cupcakes behind my display case, a finger resting on his chin as he contemplates what he’d like. I could gawk at him all day, but I’m brought out of my lust-filled thoughts when Glenna speaks again.
“How do you know my daughter-in-law?” she asks with venom in her tone. I think it’s her mission in life to make sure mine is miserable.
Caden looks at me for help. I’m sure he can tell this woman is only trying to cause problems, so I answer for him.
“Officer Harris is a friend of mine.”
She grabs her large purse off the counter and flips her hair before grabbing her cupcakes.
“Well, I must be going but lunch tomorrow?”
What the actual hell? I am not having lunch with her tomorrow, or ever.
“I have to work tomorrow, Glenna. I’m sorry.” I’m totally not sorry.
“Oh, well, I guess another time. I’ll be by to see the boys soon.”
Without letting me get another word in, she’s out the door.
“What was that about?” Caden asks, bringing me out of my confused fog.
I turn toward him. “I have no clue.”
“That’s your mother-in-law?” he asks, pointing toward the door she just exited.
“Yeah. Well, she was. I don’t think I have to actually call her that anymore.”
I head to the kitchen, pretending to be busy, when I really just need a breather for a second. Between Glenna’s off-the-wall comments and Caden being here, I need to calm the hell down. I grab a couple bottles of water along with a chocolate strawberry cupcake before making my way back out to the front.
“Here.” I hand him a water and the treat. “These are my favorite.”
His face lights up, just like it did last time he came in. He’s definitely all man but my sugared treats seem to bring out the little boy in him.
He takes a bite of the chocolate yumminess and then looks up at me, concern on his face.
“You okay?” His hand covers mine on the counter. I kind of feel like I could throw up with how nervous I am right now. This is not me at all, so I don’t know how to handle the emotions I’m feeling. I fell in love with Miles at a very young age, but I don’t remember ever feeling like this.
“Yeah. She’s just not the most pleasant person, if you hadn’t already guessed.” I rub at my temples in annoyance.
“I kind of gathered that. Has she always been like that?”
“Unfortunately. I wasn’t good enough for her son, and she made that fact very well known on several occasions.”
He shakes his head, seeming to be biting his tongue. “Do your boys like her? I mean she doesn’t seem very grandmotherly.”
“Honestly? Not really. I mean I never talk bad about her or anything like that, but she doesn’t treat them great.” I pause. “In fact, they’ve only seen her once since we moved back.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Seriously?”
I sigh heavily. “Yeah. I took them to her house the day after we got here, and she yelled at Auggie for touching a picture of Miles, and when he accidently dropped it and broke the frame, she was a complete bitch to him.”
“What the hell? Are you serious?” I can tell he’s pissed, and the thought warms me.
“Yeah, it’s not just me she’s a witch to, but when you mess with my boys, we have a real problem on our hands.”
I pull away from him, not sure how to handle his touch, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it.
“I’m sorry that happened. They’re good kids.” The way he speaks of my kids melts my heart. They are the two most important people in my life, so that means a lot to me.
“They can be.” I joke. “
No, but really. They’ve been great with this move. I uprooted them across the country, and I suppose it could have been a lot harder for all of us.” I fidget with a napkin resting on the counter. “So, um…”
“What is it?” I love how caring this man is. I barely know him, but he seems to always be able to read me. Not that I’m exactly good about hiding my feelings.
“Last week you mentioned wanting to go out sometime.” I stumble across my words. “You know, as friends.” There. I put it out there. I silently high-five myself for putting my big girl panties on.
“Are you asking me on a date, Sierra Greene?” He gives me his signature sexy smile, which causes an ache between my legs. God, this man.
I groan. “I said as friends.”
“Right, as friends.” The look on his face tells me he knows I’m full of shit. Damn him. “Where are you taking me?”
“Well, you’re a cop. Surely, you know all the coffee shops around town, right?”
The laugh that slips from his lips does something to my insides.
“Have you been to The Bean down the street?”
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t. I don’t have to be in until tomorrow afternoon. Want to meet around nine? I mean, unless you have to work.”
I realize how old I sound, asking him to go out in the morning. Don’t most people go out at night? But this isn’t a date.
“Oh, my God. I sound like a grandma, don’t I?”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s a date.” He turns from the counter, heading toward the door.
“It’s not a date!” I holler at his retreating back, and I hear him chuckle.
“Whatever you say, Sierra Greene.”
I can lie to myself all I want, but this is so totally a date.
19
Caden
I pull into The Bean, noticing the parking lot is nearly empty, and it doesn’t look like Sierra is here yet. I know she said this isn’t a date, but whatever she wants to call it, it’s a damn date. I went to her bakery yesterday with plans of asking her out again, but I didn’t have to because she took that first step. I could tell she was nervous about bringing it up, but she wouldn’t have asked if she wasn’t interested.
I finally see her pull in five minutes after nine. She looks flustered as she climbs out of her car, but fuck if she isn’t the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. Her blonde, highlighted hair is piled on top of her head, and she’s wearing a sleeveless cream-colored dress with little flowers all over it. She definitely isn’t dressed for baking cupcakes, which tells me she wore this little getup just for me. The thought of her taking extra time on herself for me makes me hard, and I need to get it under control before I can even think about getting out of my truck. Not that I want her to think she has to try to be beautiful because she has a natural appeal about her. I can tell she doesn’t think that of herself, but that only makes her even more stunning.
I’m finally calm enough and swing the door open as she’s walking toward me.
“Well, good morning, Ms. Greene.”
She gives me her breathtaking smile. “Officer Harris.”
I grab her hand, and I know I’ve surprised her when I feel her tense up. I pull her toward the door of the coffee shop, and she quickly relaxes into my grip, which makes me feel on top of the world.
We enter the small building, and thankfully there’s only a few other patrons in here, so it’s not hard to find a seat. I walk us to a corner booth away from everyone else.
“What would you like?” I ask her once she’s situated in her seat. She looks a bit nervous, but I’m hoping I can calm her nerves a little.
“You don’t have to buy my drink, Caden.” She swipes ChapStick on her luscious lips, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so jealous of an inanimate object before.
“I want to. What will it be?” I stare down at her, hoping she knows that I want to do this for her. I’d love to give her more than just a damn coffee, but it may be a step in my favor.
She grabs the small menu on the end of the table and quickly glances at it before setting it back down.
“I’ll just have an iced vanilla coffee.”
I make my way to the counter to order our drinks, and I don’t miss the way her cheeks turn crimson at my words.
When I walk back to her, she’s glancing down at her phone.
“Everything okay?” I ask as I set her iced drink in front of her. I hope I’m not being nosey, but I want her to know that I care.
She tucks her phone back in her purse. “Yeah, everything is fine. I just wanted to make sure their schools didn’t call. I know, I worry too much.” She inserts a straw into the top of her cup and takes the first sip. “Damn, that’s good. Thank you.” She pushes a stray hair behind her ear and I wish more than anything that it was my hands touching her right now.
My lips lift into a smile. “You don’t worry too much. You’re all those boys have. I totally get it.”
“Does your daughter not see her mom?” She takes another drink, and I’m sure I look like a perv staring at her sexy lips as they wrap around the straw. I can’t help it though.
I run my hands through my hair. Jasmine is the absolute last person I want to talk about when I’m with this woman. She has a way of ruining my good mood even when she’s not around.
“No, she left us when Kenz was three.” I see the sadness on her face as soon as I tell her. We’ve been just fine, and honestly, we’ve been better off without her. I don’t want someone in my daughter’s life who doesn’t want to be.
“I’m sorry” is all she says as she picks at the napkin in front of her.
“Don’t be. It’s her loss,” I say lightly, not wanting to make our time together depressing. Fucking Jasmine.
“What’s her name?” She shakes her head. “Your daughter, I mean.”
“Mackenzie.” I smile like only a proud dad can. “She can be a real pain in my ass at times, but she’s my world.”
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“So are your boys. I can’t imagine taking care of two by myself.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I wish I could take them back when I see the sorrow on her face. I hate to think that I put it there.
“I’m sorry.” I grab her hand. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She sighs. “No, I’m sorry.” She pauses and looks around the small café. “I’m really trying to move on, and I think I’m ready, but I miss him still… a lot.” She puts her head down in shame. I don’t ever want her to feel that way when she talks to me.
“Hey.” I reach across the table, lifting her chin up so she looks at me. “You don’t have to be embarrassed about missing Miles.” And I mean that. If I’m ever going to be with her, I’ll have to accept the fact that he’ll always be a part of her. But she has enough love in her heart for both of us.
“Why haven’t you run for the hills yet?” Her question guts me. She really has no idea how much I care for her and how much I want to give us a chance.
I grab the back of my neck and sigh. “Do you want to be with me, Sierra?” I can tell she does or I wouldn’t be pushing this so much. I’m not a complete ass.
She doesn’t answer right away but then responds almost inaudibly.
“Yes.” She pulls her hair out of its knot and then redoes it before saying anything else. I can tell she’s trying to buy herself some time, so I don’t push her. I know I’m going to have to let her set the pace. “But what if I screw this up? I haven’t dated since Miles, and I’ve only ever been with him.”
The thought of her not being with anyone since her husband does something to me. Not that I want to think about this woman being alone.
I grab for her hand. “I don’t think that’s possible. But I’m sure I’ll screw up long before you. Are you sure you want to deal with me?” She giggles, and once again, it’s a good thing the table is covering me. I don’t want to scare her away before she’s even mine.
“I have a lot of b
aggage and my boys always have to come first.” She says with trepidation.
“So do I.” I rub her hand with my thumb, and the goose bumps rise on her arms. I love that I have that effect on her. “And I would never expect anything less. Those boys need you, but if you let me be a part of your lives, I promise I’ll do anything I can for you. For all of you.”
“Okay” is her simple answer, but it holds so much power in it. I honestly didn’t expect to get her to agree to this so quickly.
“Okay, you’ll be with me?” I give her my megawatt smile, I’m sure looking like a kid who just got told he’s going to Disney World. This woman just made me the happiest man alive.
“I’ll be with you.” She smiles from ear to ear. “But I may need to go slow. I don’t even know how to be a girlfriend anymore.”
I love hearing her call herself my girlfriend, but the title doesn’t do justice for how I feel about her.
“Well, that makes two of us. I mean this is fairly odd territory for me too.”
We both finish our drinks, and I grab her hand as we stand from the table and head outside where it’s still hotter than hell. I walk her to her SUV, and once she unlocks it, I open the door for her.
“I know we both need to get to work, but do you and the boys want to come over on Saturday? I’ve got a pool, and I bet they’ll like Kenz’s cat.” I wish I could see her sooner, but I don’t want to push her to see me again too soon. I told her I’d take things slow.
Her face lights up. “We’d love that.”
I let go of her hand and gently grab her face with both mine. I’d love more than anything to kiss her plump mouth, but I settle for her cheek, and I hear a small sigh slip from her lips.
The next few days are going to drag by agonizingly slow.
“I’ll see you then, Sierra Greene. Have a good day at work.”
She smiles up at me. “Bye.”
Reawakened: The Unexpected Series Page 9