Daniel marched me straight to a table full of police officers and their very polished looking wives.
“Captain, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Bailey Saunders. She runs the bakery up the street.”
He practically jumped out of his seat to shake my hand. “Teeny Tiny Temptations? Well, thank you, Bailey. All of the folks here have been raving about your snacks, especially the donuts.”
I grinned. “We can’t have people running around without proper fuel,” I said.
One of the women at the table commented that she bought an assortment of my cupcakes for her daughter’s birthday, and they were quite a hit. Soon I was sitting with a circle of strangers, making small talk as we got to know each other. I couldn’t believe that I was surrounded by cops. For the next hour, I couldn’t believe how genuinely nice everyone was.
But after a while, it became exhausting. I just wasn’t used to this much socializing all at once. Somehow Daniel knew, and excused us, pulling me out of the room into a back hallway.
“You looked like you needed a quiet moment,” he said gently. He leaned us against the wall with his arm around me.
“How did you know?”
“You seem like a naturally quiet person, and I know that a lot of animated talking can wear people out.”
A huge giggle bubbled out of me. “Now who’s the big reader?”
He looked sheepish. “Yeah, I read some psychology stuff sometimes.”
“Does that mean you’ll analyze me whenever I’m stressed?”
“No,” he chuckled. “I’ll just bring you pizza and wine and order you, sorry… strongly suggest to you that you don’t work so hard.”
I snuggled against his shoulder. “I’m so lucky to have nearly tumbled into your arms that day.”
Daniel turned to me. “Yeah, that’s right. I’ve been meaning to ask you. What the hell was with that roll?”
I shrugged, looking away. “Training. We had to know how to fall every possible way without being hurt. If you’re injured, you can’t run away at full speed. My parents and uncles made up all sorts of training games for my brother and I.”
He shook his head, wrapping his arms around me. “Well, I guess I’m glad that you didn’t land on your teeth that day. But what a weird way to raise a child.” His eyes suddenly locked on mine. “I don’t mean to offend you.”
My laugh echoed in the empty hall. “Weird doesn’t even come close. No problem.”
An officer poked his head around the corner, probably having heard my laugh. “Hey, Hill,” he said, striding toward us, then looking directly at me. “You must be the Bailey everyone’s talking about,” he said, extending his hand. “Stephen Clarkson.”
“Hi, nice to meet you,” I smiled warmly.
“Please excuse me, Bailey, I’m going to have to speak in secret police code for a moment,” he said, flashing me a wink. Turning to Daniel, he lowered his voice to a comical stage whisper. “That building you were keeping an extra eye on doesn’t need to be watched quite so closely anymore.”
Daniel snuck a look at me. “Are you saying that some naughty people have been locked up?”
“Yes. With buckets of irrefutable evidence that will keep them out of our way forever.”
I stared up at the chandelier. “Pretty lights,” I commented. “I certainly didn’t hear anything else.”
The men both chuckled, as Officer Clarkson took off to spread the news to someone else.
Daniel pulled me into a hug, his lips at my ear. “I don’t think I’ve ever congratulated a criminal before. And you know I can’t tell you that you did the right thing, Bailey. But you did a good thing.”
I sighed as relief flooded through me.
“Want to do another quick round of chatting, and then go get some real food?” Daniel asked. “All of your desserts are already gone, so there’s really no point to be here anymore.”
“Whatever you like, this is your shindig,” I said.
We walked back into the ballroom, hand in hand, where people were mingling and drinking at one end, and dancing at the other.