While Arden chewed on that, Laurie asked the question she’d been trying to stifle since Kate and Aaron walked in. “Um…where’s Booker?”
They glanced at each other—quick, but she caught the look—before Kate said, “He’s running late. He told us to tell you he’ll be over as soon as he can get away.”
Disappointment swirled again, but she refused to let it suck her in. Being sheriff wasn’t a clock-in, clock-out kind of job. Sometimes he got held up, and—
“Lauralie, I love this place!” A woman’s voice cut through the din, and the next thing she knew, she was wrapped in a cloud of Pima cotton and custom-blended organic perfume. After a moment, Rebecca drew back and smiled at her. “Congratulations, honey.”
“Thank you.” She expanded her smile to include Richard, and added, “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course we came.”
“I wasn’t sure…you know, with the brand and all, but, I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise, for us?”
“Yep. Hold on. Don’t go anywhere.” She hurried to the other display case, grabbed two pink pastry boxes, and handed them to Booker’s parents.
Rebecca’s eyebrows shot up. “What’s this?” she asked as she opened the box and stared at the decadent chocolate treat.
“They’re grain-free, refined-sugar-free chocolate peppermint bars. I used the Best Life organic cocoa, and—”
“And they’re wonderful,” Rebecca finished the sentence around a mouthful of chocolate. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“I wanted to offer something for everyone. You should be able to treat yourself with a clean conscience. Right now I’ve only got a handful of items, but I’m hoping to expand if demand is good.”
“Demand will be great, if this is anything to go by,” Richard said after swallowing his sample, and then hugged his wife. “Darling, this is the best idea you never had.”
“Shhh. Don’t tell anyone I didn’t think of it. I have a reputation to uphold.”
The rest of their conversation faded as the energy in the bakery changed. She couldn’t explain how exactly, but the air quickened, the molecules became supercharged. She turned and looked toward the front of the shop.
Booker stood just inside the door, wearing his uniform—a sight always guaranteed to kick her pulse up a notch—and a hint of a smile. While she watched, he tipped his head toward the sidewalk. A silent message. Come with me.
Before she could formulate a response, Chelsea put a hand on her shoulder and said, “Go on. Take a break. The team and I can handle things here.”
…
Booker watched Lauralie peel off her Babycakes apron and hand it to one of the girls behind the counter before making her way to the door. She stopped to accept some hugs and congratulations along the way, but finally came to a stop in front of him. A smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “Is there a problem, Sheriff?”
Behind her, Aaron, Kate, Chelsea, and his parents sent him thumbs up. He refrained from rolling his eyes. Aaron couldn’t keep a fucking secret. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to step outside.”
Her eyebrow lifted, but she shrugged and walked through the door he held open for her. When it clicked shut behind them, he turned and simply drank in the sight of her for a second. She couldn’t know how breathtaking she looked standing in the semicircle of light cast from the bakery, radiating with pride and happiness. He hated to dim it for even a second, but hoped by the time he finished saying the things that needed to be said, the radiant flush would be back—stronger than ever. “Congratulations, Jailbait. It looks like you’ve got a success on your hands.”
Her smile softened. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Not true.” He shook his head and took her hand. “It might have taken you a little longer, but you would have done it. Sorry I’m late.”
“No problem. Kate told me you got held up. Nothing serious, I hope.”
“Just information. I got a call from one of my friends in the DA’s office in LA” He wove his fingers between hers. “Your mother plead guilty to trespassing, auto theft, and DUI in exchange for sixteen months in county.”
Her hand stiffened. “I’ll mark my calendar.”
“There’s no need. In or out, she ca
n’t hurt you. The people who care about you won’t let it happen. I won’t let it happen. You’re beyond her reach. I simply wanted you to know.”
“All right.” The words came out on a measured exhale. Then she surprised him by going up onto her tiptoes. “Thanks for telling me.” Her lips brushed the corner of his mouth. “Thanks for having my back.” She kissed the other corner. “And thanks for reminding me I’m not alone.” She planted a kiss squarely on his lips. A long, slow, surrender of a kiss he felt himself sliding into. Before the invitation became too much to resist, he reluctantly eased away.