by Joya Ryan
Laura frowned up at him.
“Cleary? Gabe Cleary?”
She was met with dark eyes and the same blond-haired, boy-next-door smile she remembered from ten years ago.
“Welcome back, Laura. I see you’re as graceful as ever.”
Laura laughed, and he hugged her. She hugged him back. They’d been good friends back in school, and she patted his back platonically. He was holding on tighter, though, giving a gentle squeeze before releasing her. Gabe hadn’t changed much. He’d been the quarterback of the football team and her prom date back then. Even though they’d never dated. And today he was an officer of the law and still looked the part of all-American guy.
“You look amazing,” he said, standing back to look her over.
“Thank you, and you . . . are the sheriff?”
“Deputy. Old Bill Sandoval is still running the town, but he’s set to retire soon.”
She nodded. “Wow, that’s great. So how are you?”
“I’m good. And you? Married? Babies?”
Laura laughed, and it was more awkward than humorous, so she had to take a drink of her half-spilled vodka.
“No, I’m divorced. No kids.”
He nodded. “Living back here for a bit?”
“More like long-term.”
“Well, then, I should take you to dinner,” he said instantly. He pulled out his phone, and before Laura could think of her no-dating rule, she gave him her number. But she had to make sure expectations were clear.
“Dinner with a friend sounds nice,” she said, emphasizing the friend part.
Gabe smiled and put his phone back in his pocket. “Yep, that line didn’t change, either. Made me chase you back then, and I see I’m still in the friend zone.”
The way he looked at her made her think Gabe had a mind to change that. But boy, she didn’t not need that right now, especially since a pair of blue eyes were staring her down from the corner of the bar.
Jake Lock.
She didn’t know when he’d come in, but he didn’t take his eyes off her from across the room.
“I was just going to sit,” Laura said, hoping to put some distance between her and Gabe and his flirty smile. Crap. Flirting was bad. He took a step in her direction as if joining her uninvited, but the radio on his uniform went off.
“Copy that,” Gabe said into the radio on his shoulder. “I’ve got to run out.”
“Serving and protecting,” Laura said in understanding.
He kissed her cheeks and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re back. It’s been a long time.” He let her hand fall, and Laura couldn’t shake the look in his eyes. Like there was a lot more Gabe wanted to say to her. But her capacity for handling men tonight was maxed out. “I’ll call you,” he said loudly as he left, and Laura’s cheeks heated.
This was not good. Especially since she wasn’t dating and she didn’t owe explanations to anyone, but she had to get away from the scrutiny of Jake’s gaze.
Laura moved to a small table near the corner. At least this way, no one was openly staring anymore and she could hide in the shadows a bit.
When she glanced around, she realized that most of the patrons were friendly and enjoying themselves.
Tipping back her glass, she drank down her mixed drink in record time.
Hannah nodded at her from across the room, and Laura nodded back, holding up her empty glass. She was going to need a few more before she not only felt the overwhelming chaos of today fade, but the chilling heat Jacob left behind earlier today disappear.
Jake had walked into the bar ten minutes ago, and the first thing he’d seen was Deputy Gabe making moves on Laura. Figured. Thank God he saw his buddy Cal sitting on the corner stool so he could do his best to stay interested in what Cal was saying instead of staring Laura down.
Gabe had kissed her cheek. Which pissed Jake off. He’d felt her skin beneath his lips. Where Jake had been so damn close to her heat he could still feel it. And good thing Gabe had left when he had—Jake was ready to go over there and be a nuisance because he was . . . well, he wasn’t jealous. Hell, he’d outgrown Gabe years ago. But this wasn’t about size or build or the fact that Gabe had been captain of the football team once upon a time. He was just curious, was all. Because hadn’t Laura just said that she wasn’t dating? Did that include not dating Gabe? Because yeah, he’d heard her give him her number.
“Took you long enough,” Cal said, sliding him a beer just as Jake sat down.
“Sorry, got held up.” By held up, he meant that he’d stared down a super-sexy, super-pissed-off Miss Baughman in nothing but a towel and he’d needed a few minutes to recover from that experience. But he’d made it. And Friday night or not, it was business as usual. Because Cal wasn’t just his friend, he was on the board of Custom Cabin Construction and the main manager on the ground who was overseeing the building of a new subdivision of log cabins.
“Still looking for a lumber supplier,” Cal said.
“I haven’t even taken a drink of my beer yet and already you’re after me again?” Jake asked.
“I just don’t get your problem, Lock. This is major money and a major project I’m throwing at you. And you keep giving me the brush-off.”
“I’m not brushing you off, I’m telling you no.”
“You have a thing against money and success?” Cal asked.
“Not at all. I just know my business. And while I’d love to be your lumber supplier, your big subdivision endeavor would tie up supplies and manpower for the next six months. I already have a customer base, and I can’t take away from them.”
“Then expand! Hire more people, order more lumber. I want you on my team.”
“It’s not that simple and you know it.” And judging by the look on his friend’s face, yeah, he did know it. Jake had a good thing going with the business. But Yachats was a small town. It wasn’t like he could hire someone to take his place tomorrow and more men to oversee all the work. “And I won’t leave Baughman.”
“Yeah, no shit. You’re never going to leave that place. This is the chance to work on something that’s yours. Has your name on it. And you’re staying at Baughman. It’s six months. And I have steady contracts. Come be the foreman for yourself.”
“It’s still your gig,” Jake said.
“Our gig. I’m the architect. You’re the hands. This is your baby if you want it.”
“I don’t,” Jake said. Sure, the idea of something for himself was appealing. But he loved Walt and Baughman, and the warehouse was his baby because he’d built it that way. He just didn’t have the last name Baughman . . .
“I’m still holding out for you,” Cal said. “I have time. I just need you to see reason.”
Jake shook his head and smiled. His buddy had been captain of the debate team back in the day and had a knack for getting his way. But Jake was set in his decision. The smart move was to keep the business he had. Stable. Successful. Reliable. He didn’t need to compromise that. And he didn’t need to outsource his job at Baughman to take six months off to work on this new endeavor. Especially since Walt was looking to retire for real. Jake needed to be there to take over.
Solid, steady wins the race. No flashy, no crazy, no risk.
He glanced at Laura.
“So you going to tell me how that’s going?” Cal said, gesturing over his shoulder toward Laura.
“Nothing to tell.”
“Uh-huh. You forget how long we’ve been friends. You practically doodled her name in your high school notebook.”
“Did not.”
“And now she’s your boss.”
“She is not my boss. She’s back in town running the flower shop,” Jake said.
“Not what she was spouting off earlier. She was telling Russ over there that she was the owner.”
What? There was no way that was true. Walt had just told them both they had a month to prove who’d be a better owner. Jake had a feeling this was Laura taking initiative in giving herself a
new title. One she hadn’t earned. That kind of brazenness was exactly what Jake stayed away from. Nothing sure and steady about that woman. So why was he still thinking about her skin?
Cal drained the last of his beer and smacked Jake on the shoulder. “Well, whatever is going on, here comes Russ, and word travels fast around here.”
“Thanks a lot,” Jake grumbled. Russ was a regular and a bigger gossip than the women in this town. But you’d never know from looking at the bearded logger.
“You’re still in charge over at Baughman, right?” Russ asked Jake, coming to sit next to him. Man, did everyone want to grill him about the shop? The old man paused only to spit into his dip cup. “’Cause Walt’s daughter is back in town, and word is, she’s taking over the business.”
“I’m aware,” Jake said, almost groaning at just how aware he really was of the mouthy blonde. After staring her down in a towel, followed by a cold shower of his own, he was still strung out on adrenaline and lust for her.
“So you’re sure about the business?” Russ asked again.
Jake didn’t want to go into details with Russ, or anyone else for that matter. But he replied, “I can assure you, I’m handling things. She’s taking over the flower shop, but I’m still head foreman.”
Russ nodded. “Think she’ll go back to where she came from?”
Jake didn’t know how to answer that. Would she stay long-term like she was talking about? Did he want that? Some things would be easier if she didn’t, but Jake also wanted her around. Maybe he was delusional and wanted that shot with her he wished he’d taken in high school. Maybe he was just delusional, period.
In the meantime she claimed to be staying. Sure, they had a month to figure out the details and let Walt decide from there what to do. So until then, Jake had to figure out how he was going to survive. But all he could think about was another chance with Laura. Minus the towel.
Russ shook his head. “I gotta tell you that I don’t feel comfortable doing business with her. I don’t know her. She’s Walt’s kin, but judging by the looks of her?” Russ shook his head.
“What do you mean, ‘judging by the looks of her’?” Jake tried to tamp down the slight flare of anger. Listening to Russ give Laura shit and threatening to pull his business based on judgment alone irritated him. But wasn’t that what he was doing to her? Judging her before giving her a shot?
No, it was different—it had to be. Jake knew enough to know there was a chance Laura would go running after realizing that a lot went into Baughman and that it wasn’t a dainty flower shop anymore. The flower shop was essentially dead, with no income, much less profit. She wasn’t built for this kind of town or this kind of work. She had ambition and was the kind of risk Jake knew better than to take. The one time he’d risked before, he’d gotten burned. Badly. And it was on a woman just like her. Always wanting bigger and better things. Not a single pair of shoes aside from running ones.
Jake glanced again at Laura. She was hidden in the shadows a bit. He could barely tell it was her until he saw those bright brown eyes and a flash of her heels peeking out from under the table.
Fire-engine red and sexy as hell.
Yep, those weren’t exactly root-settin’ shoes. But there was a God in heaven, because she was looking straight at him. Not in a way one would an enemy, but the way a woman would look at a man. A man she was interested in.
He thought quickly how her body had trembled just at his nearness earlier. How she’d clearly been neglected in the bedroom department and how Jake wanted real bad to show her exactly how she should be treated.
Never one to leave a lady in need, Jake got up, left Russ where he was, and made the long walk across the bar to the beacon that was calling him. He was still several steps away when those pretty eyes of hers finally unfastened from his hips and landed on his face. Didn’t last long, though, because she scanned his entire body before frowning and turning her attention back to her empty glass.
The prom queen just got caught checking him out. The thought made Jake swell with pride, and most of that lust from earlier he’d just gotten under control redoubled.
“Is there somewhere I can avoid you in peace?” she asked when he reached the table.
“Avoid? If memory serves, you’re the one who stomped into my town, my warehouse, and then my actual house.”
She bit her lip and twirled her delicate fingers around her glass. “Well, you’re the one who came over here, so . . .”
“That’s because you wanted me to.”
“I did no such thing.”
Jake rested his palm on the table edge and leaned down. “Yes, you did. Those pretty eyes of yours were scanning my entire body while you worked that lower lip nearly raw.” He ran his free thumb over said lip and she gasped. “What was it you were thinking so hard about, I wonder?”
“How to get rid of you,” she said, but there was an edge to her voice that made Jake’s skin prick. Okay, he could play this game. Competition was one thing, but Laura was frustrated, in more ways than one. And he may not be high on her let’s-be-buds list, but he was going to try to at least indulge her however she’d let him.
“How to get rid of my clothes, maybe,” he countered. “You’re not discreet when it comes to things you need.”
“What I need is a key to the flower shop, which you still haven’t given me.”
“That’s not all you need.”
She pursed her lips and looked up at him. “And I’m sure you’re going to tell me what it is I need now, huh?”
He gave her his best guaranteed-to-melt-panties grin and leaned a little closer until he could smell her neck. “I felt what you needed . . . right before you left my house.”
The woman was hard up, that much was obvious. Maybe he was coming on strong, but he didn’t care. Logic and reason left his mind when he was this close to her. All those bad ideas? Like the fact that she was his mentor’s daughter and a flight risk? Didn’t matter. She was also technically his competition and a pain in his ass, until Walt made a decision twenty-nine days and thirteen hours from now. But he wanted her. All that other important stuff fell second to that one fact.
Fantasies die hard, and Jake couldn’t help but wonder if she still had her old cheerleading uniform . . .
“Didn’t your mother teach you not to stare?” Laura said. And Jake realized he was doing just that.
“My mother taught me to appreciate women. Especially a fine one.”
“Oh my God, was that another line?” she asked.
“That’s just a fact.”
This was a means to an end no matter how he swung it. Either she or he would take over at the end of the month. Walt was going to retire and name a head of the company. So Jake just had to do his best to show he was right for the job. Granted, her yelling at him in nothing more than a towel had been hot. And he’d be more than happy to witness that again. They responded to each other. And despite his better judgment, he could really use a night of getting lost. He was juggling a hell of a lot and just wanted to relax, preferably next to Laura Baughman.
“I know more about you than you’d like to think,” he said. “I know that you haven’t been here. And actions speak loud. Your actions have been in California, and mine have been here.”
Her eyes shot wide and her throat worked double time to swallow what looked like a dose of concrete.
“You know nothing,” she rasped.
“I know enough.”
She leaned into him. “Then you know that I work very, very hard. I’m ruthless when it comes to what I want.”
“So am I.”
The heat passing between them was enough to tense Jake. He wanted to throttle this woman as much as he wanted to kiss her. He’d never wanted someone so much.
He leaned closer.
“Say the word and we can stop pretending. I know what you want,” he said.
“I don’t even like you,” she said. Which was a lie. She liked him a little. He glanced at her teeth sink
ing into that plump bottom lip again.
“I was talking about the shop.” He grinned. “But since you brought it up . . .”
“Get over yourself.”
“I’d be happy to, just as soon as you admit that you want to get under me.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
He shrugged. “I can read women. Especially ones that wear their emotions like you do.”
“Oh yeah? Then you can read this pretty well?” When she displayed her middle finger, he had to hold back a chuckle. She was raw fire and passion and frustration.
“I hear you own the shop,” he said, backpedaling to his earlier comment.
A look of guilt flashed across her face. “I’m just trying to establish my place here.”
“I get that,” Jake said. And he did. “But I’m in this, too. Baughman is important to me.”
“I know.”
“Then we either need to work together, or—”
“Or realize that I will inherit everything and I want what’s best for the business,” she said confidently.
“Oh, you will, huh?” Jake countered, a flare of anger hitting him. “I could always buy you out. Even if your father gave you everything. Which I doubt.”
“Never.”
“Why?”
“Because the flower shop is already mine.”
“I’m not trying to take anything away from you.”
“But you won’t work with me.”
“I won’t put the business in jeopardy, and I won’t finance your flower shop makeover with money the warehouse has earned.”
“I know that you’re this son my father never had, but I’m going to make him . . .” She trailed off, and Jake frowned. She was going to make him what? Surely she couldn’t mean proud? She had to know that Walt was already proud of her.
“Well, my offer stands,” he said and deliberately scanned her body. She noticed, and he liked how much it pissed her off. Almost as much as it did him, because he didn’t want to want her. “On all accounts.”
“Again. I don’t even like you.”
“You don’t have to like me to need me.”
