Page 18 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“To right a wrong.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll see.” He took his radio off his hip. “Denny, I’m heading down Main Street for a couple of minutes.”

“Sure thing, Nate,” a man said back to him.

“Now we have some time,” Nate said, putting his radio back and moving faster as they headed farther away from the noise and lights of the fair and onto one of the brick sidewalks, taking them closer to the various shops. Eventually he glanced over his shoulder and tugged her into one of the alleyways with him.

She hesitated now, too streetwise not to have second thoughts when a man she was still getting to know led her into the dark, whether he was law enforcement or not. “What are we doing?”

He reached in his pocket and grabbed his keys as they stopped by a door. “Fixing a mistake.” He turned the key in the knob and opened the door.

The heavenly scent of baked goods and coffee immediately filled Callie’s nose, and her eyes widened. “Your sister’s bakery?”

He wiggled his brows. “Oh, yeah.”

“No.” She pulled away and stepped back. “We can’t.”

“Of course we can.” He reached for her hand. “I have a key and you need a brownie.”

She evaded his grab. “We didn’t ask her.”

“Molly’s not going to care.” He took her hand again and pulled her inside, closing the door behind them.

“But she already gave me a free sandwich when I came in earlier today.”

He guided her through the kitchen and into the front of the store. “She did?”

“Yes. She said that me making you laugh was priceless so my food was on the house.”

He grinned. “See? She likes you.” He slid the display case open and grabbed one of the large brownies.

She glanced toward the quiet, lamplit street. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.”

“It’s a great idea.” He unwrapped the dessert and broke off a chunk, bringing it to her lips, much like he had with this morning’s pastry. “You won’t be sorry.”

She held his gaze, battling with her conscience. “Nate.”

“I promise.”

She opened her mouth, and the moist, fudgy chocolate practically melted on her tongue. “Oh, my God.”

“See what I mean?” He set the baked good on the counter and grabbed his wallet from his back pocket. Then he pulled a five from his billfold and slid it into the register.

She picked up the treat and ate more, ready and willing to devour the whole thing. “This is so good,” she said through her mouthful and broke off a bigger piece, holding it to Nate’s mouth. “But you need to have some too.”

He shook his head. “It’s yours.”

“I’ll feel less guilty if you do.”

He grinned and took the chunk she offered, his lips brushing her skin in the process. “This right here is one of my favorite things.”

They beamed at each other in the dimly lit space.

He grabbed Callie’s wrist and guided the brownie back to his mouth, helping himself to a little more. “I really love my sister.”

“It’s a damn good thing I love you too,” Molly said from somewhere in the darker part of the store.