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“Nothing.” I say a little too quickly. “My emotions are a little out of whack right now.” He holds the door open for me and I step into the cool air conditioning. “Opening the shop must be taking its toll on me.”
“It doesn’t help that a clumsy police officer just smashed the back end of your car.”
“You’ll pay for the damage, right?” I turn on him, crossing my arms over my chest.
He brushes his dark hair away from his handsome face, his jaw a near perfect square against his thick neck. “Technically, patrol cars involved in a fender benders are never at fault.”
“You’re kidding me!”
“I’m not.” Damn, he fills those dark pants out with his round ass.Shit! Eyes up, Carolyn.“But that doesn’t stop me from personally stepping up and taking responsibility.”
“Well,” I say. “I guess you’re one of the good ones.”
His eyes land on my chest, which I realize is practically billowing out from the top of my shirt. I uncross my arms, and his eyes pop back up to meet mine. “You could say that, yeah.”
A moment passes between us in which neither of us speak. Staring into his eyes, it’s like I’ve known this man all my life, yet I’ve never met him before today.
The click of his radio, followed by a staticky voice breaks the spell. “Shit,” he says, twisting toward the front door. “I’ve got to go. But I will be back.”
“I’ll be here.” I say, as he high tails it out into the street. I pinch my bottom lip and watch him hop into his squad car—an SUV with Brighton Ridge Police Department written down the side. As soon as he’s out of sight, my smile fades.
Yes, I just met the hottest man I’ve ever seen in my life. Yes, he may even have been flirting with me a little. Yes, I’d love nothing more than to believe in the power of love at first sight. But I’ve seen first hand that anything can destroy love in the blink of an eye, and that there’s no such thing as happily ever after.
2
Nick
I couldn’t concentrateon work all day yesterday. Thoughts of the gorgeous bakery owner flooded my brain. My hands grip the steering wheel as I make my way back to her shop. Today, the sign is lit up and there’s a line outside the door. Not only do I owe her money to get her car fixed, but I’m going to break every rule in my book and ask the curvy goddess out to dinner.
I lock up behind me and head to the back of the line, but Carolyn meets my eye through the window as I step closer to the glass. She waves me in, and as much as I hate using my badge as a sign of privilege, I feel it’s okay since the owner’s got my back. Mrs. Klosky lets me slip by her, making small talk about my mother’s health. She’s fine. Eighty-one and fit as a fiddle.
I nod a polite goodbye and head over to the counter. Carolyn’s smile lights up the room. Her long, reddish-brown hair is tied into a messy top knot, showing off her long swan-like neck. Damn this woman is built like a brick house, thick and sexy, soft in all the right places. I have to adjust my walk so that I don’t immediately stiffen in my work pants.
She reaches down below the counter and pulls out a glazed donut wrapped in parchment. “As promised.” I take it from her, noticing how her dark blue eyes sparkle.
“I didn’t just come for the donut.” I lower my chin, feeling heat rush over my cheeks. I can’t believe a woman is bringing out this shyness in me. I’m normally quite cavalier with the ladies, even if I don’t want any sort of commitment these days.
“Hopefully you’re referring to a big fat check for totaling my car?” She bites into her full bottom lip, cherry pink and slick with gloss. I lurch in my pants, wishing I could get one sweet little taste.
“I wouldn’t call it totaled, Miss Sweet.”
“Stop!” She waves her hands in front of her, causing her full bosom to jiggle. Goddamn, this woman is killing me. “Call me Carolyn.” She looks around at the three other women behind the counter. “There are four Miss Sweet’s here today. It could get confusing.”
“You’re all sisters?”
“Sure are.” She winks. “Can’t you see the resemblance?” Though all four women are built alike, they have completely different sensibilities. The buttoned up one, barely smiles but works faster and more efficiently than the rest. The long haired one has a girl next door smile and a sweet sensibility that would make her a perfect kindergarten teacher-type. And the one popping her gum, wearing all black—including her lipstick, looks like she’s about to head to an Emo music festival, not working in a neon pink bakery.
“A little.” I say, leaving out the observation that they don’t hold a candle to Carolyn’s beauty. The bakery is so crowded, Carolyn leans over the counter to hear me better. Again, she flashes me an eyeful of her healthy cleavage. What I wouldn’t give to take her in my arms, and drive her away from here so I can have my way with her. But first thing’s first…
“Of course I’d like to pay for the damages to your car, as promised. Just take it to Ted’s Auto down the road and have him send me the bill. I’ll shoot him a head’s up.”
“Cool,” she says. “Try it.”
“Excuse me?”
“The donut, Officer Danvers.”
“Nick.”
