My neck cranes backward as I join her, leaning up against the car. “As in, you’re with someone?”
“Oh God, no.” An edge creeps into her voice. “I mean emotionally. My sisters and I lost our parents in a horrible car accident about a year ago.” Her long lashes bat against her cheeks as she casts her gaze to the ground.
“Oh, Carolyn. I’m so sorry.” Gently, I place my hand on hers. To my delight, she doesn’t move it away.
“Thank you, Nick. It’s why we’re here in Brighton Ridge. We found the perfect location to open up a bakery. I left my life in the city, so did my other sister, Meg. Winona and Emmi are young still, so they didn’t have any solid roots.”
“You’re young, too.”
“I don’t feel like it. Thirty-three going on sixty.”
“You don’t look a day over fifty-six.” I tease, and to my delight she slaps me on the arm. “So what does that have to do with not going on a date with me?” For a long beat, Carolyn is silent. “It can be as friends, if you’d like.”
“Honestly, it does feel good to talk to someone who isn’t one of my sisters.” She takes a long inhale. “Or someone from City Hall or one of my vendors.”
“So then it’s settled?” Her lavender scent hangs in the night air. I’m drunk off of it. “You’ll go out with me?”
Carolyn turns to me. The moonlight catches her face just right, making her look like a dark angel. “Well, I don’t want a ticket.”
A smile spreads across my face. “Then that’s a yes.” I push myself off of her car and take her hand in mine. The tingles that jolt up my arm surprise me. I feel like a dorky teenager asking out the hottest girl in the school.
Carolyn nods and it takes every ounce of strength not to place a soft kiss on her full, sexy lips. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven.”
“How do you know where I—”
I open my car door and shoot her a final glance. “I’m a cop, honey. I have my ways.”
“You weren’t going to give me a ticket regardless, were you?” She hollers in my direction.
I give her a shrug. “Looks like you’ll never know.” Of course I wasn’t going to ticket Carolyn, but now we both win.
5
Carolyn
“Hold still!”Winona applies another coat of mascara to my lashes. My patience grows thinner by the moment. Of course she insisted on doing my makeup when I told her at work I said yes to the cop’s invitation.
Nick, his name is Nick.
“What are you smiling at?” Emmi calls me out.
“Nothing.” Just thinking about the gigantic policeman sends every nerve in my body into high voltage. I’ve always been attracted to a man with a sense of humor, and Nick’s continues to surprise me. That and he’s by far the hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on, almost like he walked straight out of a superhero movie. My center tingles thinking of his strong arms wrapped around me. That is, until the tire screech sounds in my brain.
I don’t want to get too interested in him. One date is fine. I’m clearly in need of some companionship, and if it leads to a little hanky panky, I can’t say that I’ll object.
“You’re grinning like a total asshole.” Emmi laughs, tugging on her dark purple bottom lip.
“And you’re acting like one, Em.” She widens her eyes and throws her hands up in mock surrender before flopping onto my bed, belly first. As much as the girl drives me nuts, I love her to death and would walk in front of traffic for her—for any of my sisters.
“Sorry, Caro. I’m just glad you're going is all.” I stick my tongue out at her as Winona screws the cap to the mascara back on. When I glance in the mirror I hardly recognize myself. I still look like me, but on my best day. Almost, like wedding makeup—whoa! Where did that come from?
I don’t have time to decipher it. The doorbell rings and Emmi struggles to get off the bed to answer. Even though she’s younger, I’m quicker. I shove her back down and head for the door, grabbing my purse along the way.
“No fair!” I hear her scream, as Winona pushes her back down as she tries to stand once more.
I don’t even have time for a breath as I smooth down my sundress and throw open the door. My pussy clenches at the sight of the beautiful man standing before me, a bouquet of Gerbera Daisies in hand. He’s wearing dark jeans and a white button down shirt, the top open just enough to show off his naturally tanned skin and impossibly broad chest.
I may or may not actuallygulpout loud.