Spark

“He’s so pretty.” I bend down to pet him. He licks my face, making me laugh. “I’ll get you some water, Bear,” I tell him. “You hold down my fort.” He gives a bark as if he understands what I’m talking about.

“What’s your name?” I ask, turning back to the man whose slacks I’ve ruined.

“Jackson, but call me Jax. Everyone does.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jax.” I reach out my hand. “I’m Bailey and everyone calls me BB.” He takes my hand but doesn’t let it go. We continue to walk to the coffee shop while he holds my hand in his. Those goosebumps come back and I can’t help but notice how his big hand engulfs mine.

When I step into Millie’s her eyes go a little round when she sees I’m holding a man’s hand.

“Black?” I ask. That’s what his coffee looked like when I smacked it out of his hand. “Can you get Jax a black coffee and a couple of my cake pops you’ve hidden away?”

“Sure.” She gives me a quizzical look before doing as I ask. She comes back a moment later with the coffee and cake pops.

“I made them,” I tell him. He bites into one of the cake pops and a small sound comes from him. A humming feeling floats over my skin at the sound.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Roberts.” Millie’s words break me from being momentarily lost in Jax.

“You know him?” I look to Millie.

“BB. He owns Brewed Awakening.”

“What!” I shout. I grab the other cake pop from his hand.

“Hey. That was mine.” He goes to take it back from me but I shove it into my mouth.

“I would take the coffee too but maybe you’ll learn what good coffee is by having it,” I say around my mouthful of cake. He laughs. Actually freaking laughs. “It’s not funny!” I point at him before turning and stomping off back toward my post.

When I step outside I see Bear has my sign in his mouth. He’s got it by the wood handle walking back and forth with it like it’s a stick.

I turn around to tell Jax his dog is on my side but I run right into him. This time I don’t go flying back. Two hands grab me, keeping me close so I don’t fall to the ground again. My knees still hurt a little from that tumble.

“Look, Jackson. Bear is even on my side,” I blurt out as I try not to focus on his hard body that’s pressed into mine.

“Jax,” he corrects.

“Nope, we’re not friends. It’s Jackson.” I give a firm nod of my chin. I should push away from him but gosh he feels good. Too good. He even smells good too. Like cinnamon and something woodsy.

“All right, my little protester. Call me whatever you like.” I narrow my eyes at him. “You can’t stop me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I step back from his hold. He doesn’t let go of me at first.

“You forgot your coffee,” Millie says, having followed us out. His hands drop away.

“Sorry about that. I’ve heard it’s the best.” He takes the cup from her and sips. I watch him drink it down. “It is good.” He gives Millie a half smile before he looks back to me. “Those cake pops though. They were something else.”

He licks his lips as he says it. The small act sends my body back into a buzz. He is going to be a problem on so many different levels. I need to keep my distance from Jackson. I take a few more steps back, dropping down into the chair he got me. He stands there watching me as Bear keeps on walking around with my sign.

“I’m not paying for the dry cleaning.” I fold my arms over my chest. It’s the only act of defiance I can think of.

Jackson smiles as if he doesn’t give a shit about his pants. I don’t want to know how much they cost.

“Oh Bear!” I hop up from my seat. “I forgot your water.” I grab the sign from his mouth, handing it to Jackson, who takes it.

“We’ll be right back,” I tell him as Bear and I make our way back into Millie’s coffee shop, leaving Jackson to hold the sign. I peek back over my shoulder to see he actually holds it but the whole time he’s watching me as I get Bear water. He’s not bothered in the least that he’s now kind of protesting in front of his own store. I almost smile but then it hits me. He probably doesn’t care because he knows this is a lost cause. There is no stopping them from moving in.

“He’s handsome,” Millie says, pulling me from my depressing thoughts.

He is but I don’t let her know I think so too. “Don’t get any ideas,” I tell her. “He’s the enemy,” I remind her. Of course the sexiest man I’ve ever seen has to turn out to be our competitor. That’s the way the cookie always seems to crumble for me.