Chapter 3
Matt
There have been few times, in my life, where I have been surprised. Even less when I have been stunned silent. In the last twelve hours that has happened twice. Both times have involved the woman currently staring at me through the window.
My mind has been on Sienna ever since leaving her house hours ago. Having her nearly collapse into my arms kicked my protective instincts into high gear. I hadn’t expected that.
With her friend, Briggs, helping, we got her into the bathroom and cleaned her up as best we could, before helping her out to my cruiser. Against my better judgment, and after a lot of begging from the three women, Beckett and I decided not to call an ambulance, or local law enforcement, and drove them back to Sienna’s house in Hope Town. Being out of our jurisdiction, and needing to get back to where we were needed, we made a judgment call. Though we don’t usually work together, I was surprised how quickly we both came to the same conclusion. I know if Liam wasn’t filling in for my partner tonight, I would have been met with resistance when I suggested we handle this ourselves.
Now, seeing those emerald eyes shining bright, without the haze of alcohol blurring them, I am instantly sucked right back in. Fuck.
Opening the door, I step inside the bakery, the scent of sugar making my stomach growl the second it hits my nose. “Welcome to Sweets b—” the old woman begins, only to stop the moment she faces me. The hand, that only moments ago had been thrashing around, freezes in mid-air. “Er. Uh. Um, hello, Officer.” She swallows hard and begins shifting from one rainbow-colored sneaker to the other. “Sienna will take good care of you.” Turning on her heel, she snatches a stack of metal trays from Sienna’s hands and hauls ass into what I assume is the kitchen.
“Hi,” I say, giving her a smile.
“Hi.” Her reply comes out on an unsteady rush of air.
“Did I come at a bad time?” I ask, stepping toward the counter.
“Of course not. Tessa just finished her hourly floor show.” Straightening, Sienna clears her throat and returns my smile. “What can I get you, Officer Hudson?”
“It’s Matt,” I correct her. Instead of looking at the items in the display case, I can’t take my eyes from her. This woman is gorgeous. Her auburn hair is curly today, pulled back, and flowing freely down her back, giving me an unobstructed view of her face. My gaze moves down her body to the sundress that hugs every curve of her body. Damn dress was designed to drive men out of their minds. “What do you recommend?”
“Everything,” she replies confidently. “I can promise you, not one thing in this case will leave you feeling unsatisfied.” Tilting her head slightly, she shrugs a shoulder. “I’d suggest a sampler. That way, you’d get one of everything.”
“Uh, sure,” I reply, not thinking about food anymore. “Sounds good to me.”
Grabbing a pink and white cardboard box, she pops up the ends and places it on the counter before inserting what looks like a cardboard tic-tac-toe board, separating the box into nine different compartments. Opening the door to the case, she grabs a pair of large tongs and beings working to fill my box. Each time she reaches inside, the v-cut of her dress shifts away from her body, giving me a perfect shot of cleavage.
“I didn’t know you owned this place,” I blurt after a few moments, hoping to fill the uncomfortable silence. “Chief buys your donuts for the station, right?”
“Every morning,” she replies with a nod. “His wife blames me for having to order him new uniform pants.”
Once the box is full, Sienna closes the lid. Taking pink and silver ribbon, she wraps them around the box in a crisscross motion, before tying the ends into a bow on top. I can’t help watching her hands as she works. Thankfully, she is focused on the task and not on the creepy way I am staring at the fingers I can still feel gripping my cock, if I close my eyes.
“Okay.” Keeping her eyes on the finished product, she exhales heavily. “I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand here and pretend nothing happened. Can we please deal with the elephant in the room so, maybe, it will go away?”
“Elephants are more of an Animal Control issue,” I reply, studying her. “Plus, I’m off-duty.”
“Are you serious?” she asks, incredulously.
“Absolutely,” I assure her, my lips tugging up into a smile. “I was off the clock twenty minutes ago.”
Sienna looks to the ceiling, her lips moving slowly as she counts to ten. When her eyes drop to meet mine, they are filled with frustration. “I’m trying to apologize for making a complete ass of myself by openly groping you and you’re choosing this same exact second to work on your stand-up routine?”
“Right,” I sigh, yanking a hand through my hair. “The joke was probably a bad idea. I was hoping it would help ease the tension.”
“Matt,” she begins, and damn, I like the sound of my name coming from her lips. A lot. “Though I can appreciate you trying to make this easier on me, don’t. I honestly think this situation warrants an explanation.”
“Alright. Not that I need one, but I’ll bite.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I take a step closer to the counter, and give her my undivided attention. “Give it to me.”
Sienna swallows hard, a flush filling her cheeks. “Um. Right. Okay.”
“Know what I think?” Tessa asks, peeking her head out of the kitchen. Looking my way, she flashes me a smile.
“No,” Sienna groans. Her head snaps in Tessa’s direction, eyes narrowing in annoyance. “I can handle this one all on my own. Thanks.”
“Suit yourself,” Tessa fires back, disappearing from view.
“Your grandmother?” I ask, jerking my chin in the direction of the doorway.
“Like I’m old enough to be a grandmother,” Tessa snorts, clearly still eavesdropping on our conversation. “Good thing you’re cute, sweetheart. You’re about as smooth as five o’clock shadow.”
“No.” Pressing her hands to the counter, on either side of the box, Sienna laughs. The sound, and the way her eyes warm, is so incredibly sexy it takes all I have in me not to fucking beg her to do it again. “Tessa is my self-proclaimed fairy godmother. Which, I guess, could be true,” she admits with a thoughtful shrug. “If fairy godmothers cuss like sailors and drink like fish.”
“Bitchity boozity bite me, bitch!” Tessa calls out just as the door chimes behind me.
Two women walk into the shop, heading straight for the opposite end of the display case. “Hello, ladies,” Sienna says, greeting them. “I’ll be with you in a minute.” Turning to me, she pushes the box my way. “No charge. Have a nice afternoon, Officer Hudson. Be sure you give my best to the Chief.”
Everything about the formal way she says my name, to the fact that she has given the box of cakes and pastries to me for free to get rid of me, doesn’t sit well at all. I feel fucking shorted and I sure as shit don’t like it. “Sienna?” I ask, unable to let her get away that easy.
Her body tenses. Stopping mid-step, she blows out a breath before turning to face me. “Did you need something else?” she asks, sounding sincere, though her eyes silently plead for me to go.
Not a chance in hell.
“You still owe me that explanation,” I say, flashing her a smile. “How’s tomorrow night?”
“Actually, I can’t,” she begins. “I have to—”
“Hell no, she isn’t busy!” Tessa screams, strutting out of the kitchen, waving a dishtowel like a victory flag. Bumping Sienna in the hip as she passes her, she winks at me. “She closes up here at four. Seven good for you, hot stuff?”
Sienna’s jaw drops, shock and awe written all over her face. Picking up my box, I flash a satisfied smile to the stunned silent beauty, happy as hell to return the favor. “Tomorrow.” Winking at her, my smile only grows when I see the blush begin filling her cheeks.