by C. M. Steele
Sweet Surrender
Sweetheart’s Treats Novella
C.M. Steele
Copyrighted © 2018
Prologue
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Copyrighted © 2018
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without written expressed permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is purely coincidental.
Cover design: C.M. Steele
Cover Image: Deposit Photos
The use of actors, artists, movies, TV shows and song titles/lyrics throughout this book are done so for storytelling purposes and should in no way be seen as advertisement. Trademark names are used in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringement of the respective owner’s trademark.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and please purchase your own copy.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior express, written consent of the author.
This book is intended for mature adults only. Contains sexual content and language that may offend some. The suggested reading audience is 18 years or older. I consider this book as Adult Erotic Romance.
This is the third book in the Sweetheart’s Treats Series. Although it can be read alone, you may want to read them in order.
Derek: Being a single dad has never been easy, but I’ve never regretted my decision to keep my daughter and raise her alone. I regret how it happened, but never her. Now that she’s grown, maybe I should start looking for the one who will make me happy. The one problem is, I’ve already found her, but she’s way too young for me. I want her to the point of madness. I want to love her and make a family with her, but instead, I’ll keep watching her from a short distance.
Tracy: Why does he do this to me? He’s a hardheaded jerk, but I can’t let my feelings for the sheriff go. He’s always around, but I guess living in a small town it’s only natural. I wish that he wouldn’t though because my heart can’t take this. Leaving town may be my best bet, but I don’t think I have it in me to leave. Something has to give.
Will they finally admit their feelings, or will they miss their greatest opportunity to be happy?
This is a face-paced fictional novella with possible triggers.
Prologue
Tracy
I tie my hair up and clean my hands before applying a coat of pink lip gloss to my plump lips. I’ve just moved here from Houston after running from a life of loneliness. At twenty-three, I’m a waitress at a tiny diner in the heart of the small town, Palace, Texas. It’s a completely different world than Houston. Everything is mostly peaceful and laidback. Recently there has been a string of small burglaries, but no one has been harmed. I love this place and could live here forever. I hear the chime of the front door opening. It’s time to begin my day.
Looking over my appearance in the bathroom mirror. I smooth down my pale green dress, then fix my nametag so that it’s straight. Tracy. That’s my name. My curves are too much for this short dress, but it wasn’t like they had much for me to choose from. The turnover rate isn’t high in a small town. Many of these people have been here their whole lives. I take the best fit, but my breasts are a little snug. In fact, it’s snug all the way through.
The first thing that comes to mind is what Sheriff Wright would think of my outfit. Where that thought comes from bothers me, but I’m not going to analyze it. I walk out of the bathroom and toss everything into my little locker. They have just enough for the six employees. Standing there, tucking his things into the locker is an older gentleman. “Hello, I’m Carl, the head cook here. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Tracy. As you can see,” I giggle out, when the older man smiles. I feel like a dork because my name is clearly written on my tag. I frankly I hate my name, but what can I do. I politely nod to my coworker, then walk around him to get the day started. It’s early in the morning and I’ve already made an ass of myself. I’m afraid of what the rest of the day will bring.
The place is swamped. I look around to see the two other waitresses are busy at the counter, so I go to the owner and ask what tables mine are. I’ve got the booths along the wall. Okay. That’s almost half the tables in the diner. “This is going to be fun,” I grumble to myself. It’s not that I haven’t worked as a waitress before, but it’s not a job for the lighthearted. Your feet are sore and swollen by the end of the night after doing a hundred trips in an hour. Heaven forbid your customer forgets to request something after you were just there. Then again, small towns are different, they had set ways.
I go about the morning until about ten when two cops walk in. The one I recognize immediately. I’ve seen him every day since I arrived, but we haven’t met, Sheriff Derek Wright. The man is fine as hell. He has thick black hair without a hint of gray in it and hazel eyes, that seemed to change with his clothes. Today he has a little scruff going on. When I saw him with a five o’clock shadow, I thought it was because he didn’t have time to trim up, but maybe he’s keeping the rugged look. I clench my thighs together. If he did keep it, I’d be a pathetic mess very soon. I have an insane crush on a man that’s lived a full life already. He’s over a decade older than me and apparently has a daughter a few years younger than me. There’s no Mrs. Wright in the picture, but it’s not like I’d ever tell him I’m interested.
I walk up to their table, feeling all the hesitation humanly possible seep into my bones. The sheriff gives me a hard look. I don’t know what he means by it, but I try to hold myself together. Then the younger one smiles at me, and I relax. I can focus on him for the rest their visit. That way I’ll make it through without bumbling my words.
******
Derek
I walk into the diner, ready for a very hearty breakfast. I don’t cook and my daughter’s already on her way to work. Thanksgiving just passed, and I can’t eat another damn piece of turkey. I want some steak and eggs. My deputy and right-hand man, Joseph Waters joins me. We take up our usual booth next to the window. I see a for sale sign on the building across the street. I hope someone buys it, that way the town remains strong. If Amelia’s interested maybe she could start a business. I’ll have to mention it to her. She’s smart and in her first year of college. I’ve got a great 401K nest egg that would help her if she really wanted to do something like that. It’s a random idea, but it might be interesting to look into.
“Thinking about switching your line of work, chief?” Waters questions.
I look at his smirking face and reply, “No, but I
don’t want the town to start having that abandoned feel to it. You know there’s been a handful of burglaries in the past year and I take pride in keeping this place wholesome.”
“I understand that. I’ve got high hopes for a great future here. I like this town. I’ve heard that they’re advertising for buyers in Houston in all the vacant properties. You know, where the big money is.”
“That would be good.” I look around and the place is a little crowded this morning. Then I catch my breath because the most beautiful woman in the world works here. I had no idea when she started, but I’m pissed that I’ve missed a chance to see her.
"Hello, officers. What can I get for you?" I swallow hard, but the only thing I want from her isn’t on the menu. I've seen her three times in the past three days. She doesn’t know that though. I’ve been doing all I can to avoid an actual meeting. I know that I’ll end up doing or saying something fucked up to piss her off. My heart's doing shit it's never done before. I have to leave her alone. She’s too young for me, and that means completely hands off.
“Good morning, Tracy. It’s a pleasure to get my day started with such a beautiful sight.” I turn my glare onto my deputy. He’s about to get suspended for hitting on someone while in uniform. At least, that’s the fucking excuse I got. Either that or I’m going to beat his ass.
“Thank you,” she replies, smiling at him. And I lost my appetite. He smiles back at her and there’s not much I can do to fight back the urge to deck him. Taking him out back and dropping him is quickly becoming more appealing by the second.
“Excuse me, but we need to order. I’ll have the two-egg and steak platter with a cup of coffee.” I know my tone is rude, but what did she expect. She’s fucking sexy as hell and I’m about to lose it because she’s intentionally ignoring me. Tracy’s giving him the attention she should be giving me.
"Okay, I'll put that order in." She walks away with a little more attitude, but I brush it off. Instead, I’m focusing on her ass that fits so damn perfect in her green waitress uniform.
“I’ll have the same thing but medium rare,” Waters hollers out since she stormed away without taking his order. Tracy freezes, turns around with a blush-stained face.
“Sorry, I’ll get right on that, Officer Waters,” she murmurs sultry like. This time she walks away with less attitude but adds a sway to her hip. I’m internally growling because I know that she’s going to have men ogling her as she does her job. I finally turn my head to Waters who's eyeballing me.
"Derek, what gives?" he asks, cocking his brow.
"She's not a piece of meat,” I snarl. I can see his mind working it out, but I can’t let him know. This town is too small. Everyone would know before I got out of work today. She’s too young for me and I should stay away from her, but everything in me demands otherwise.
"Wow, you've never stopped me from complimenting the old waitress here. It's nice to bring a smile to a woman's face. Despite what you think, they like knowing that they're pretty. Maybe you should just ask her out already."
"I am not going to ask out a little girl. She's not pretty by the way," I add as a side note. I could kick myself when she came from behind me with the coffee pot. Shit. She flips our cups without a word and pours. I want to apologize, but it wouldn’t do any good because she wouldn't believe me. Besides, it wasn't as if we could be together anyway.
"Wow, you're racking up the points, boss. You better quit while you're ahead or you'll end up with coffee dumped on you," he teases, pouring creamer into his cup.
I'm ready to lose it, but what can I do. In all honesty, I want to fuck her on every surface in this place. The thought of splaying her out on the table as my personal meal sounds wonderful. Then hearing her cry out my name as I plow my thick, long cock into her tiny pussy until she comes for me. I’m lost in thought when she stops back at our tables with the hot pot of coffee. She silently fills our cups, refusing to make eye contact with me.
We start talking business until our food comes out a few minutes later. The owner brings out our plates. He usually does and normally I wouldn't be bothered but that takes away from seeing her again. "Hey there, fellas. "How's it going?"
"It's going great. The sheriff here is being a real sunshine this morning." They both chuckle because they know I'm not a morning person. "Wow, these look perfect," Waters says, eyeing his steak and eggs.
"It's on the house fellas,” Mitch says, tapping the back of my seat.
"No, you know we can't do that," I argue.
"Did you not hear what I just said? It's on the house if you want to blow your money give the tips to the waitresses. Enjoy your meals, fellas," he responds, clapping his hand on Waters' back. He walks away with a big grin on his face. She can have all my money. If she wanted, I would give her all I had and ask for nothing in return.
I’m that fucked already. And yet, I have to fight it. She’s too young. I should try to date someone my own age. At thirty-six, she probably finds me decrepit. That’s why she’s flirty with young Waters over here. He’s a decade younger than me and without any attachments.
I don't see her again as we eat. Maybe it's her break time or she's avoiding me and my dick head comments. We're almost done when she comes out serving the other waiting customers. When she makes it back to our table she has that beautiful smile directed at Waters. I grumble to myself irritated and jealous beyond belief.
"This meal was the best I've ever had. Did you make this?" he asks, smiling like a fool.
"No, but I'll tell Carl you enjoyed it." She freshened up her makeup I see.
We leave. Both of us dropping a twenty on the table. I want to kiss her goodbye like a love fucking sick puppy, but I get ahold of myself before I do something stupid.
I make it through the day easily enough. I keep Waters busy and out of my sight, so I don’t accidentally choke him. Mentally, I’ve done it at least once today.
By the time I get home Amelia's back from school and cooking dinner. "Hey, pumpkin, how was your day?" I ask, walking into the kitchen.
"It was good.” She’s a good girl and I’m forever grateful that her mother left her with me. She’s in college, but I know it’s not easy to work and go to school. She doesn’t have to do both. I’ve saved enough, but she wants to build character and other than school there’s nothing really to do in this town but work. Most of her friends rushed out of town and never looked back after graduation, not Amelia. She feels like she owes me for raising her. It doesn’t make sense because it’s not as if she knows the truth. There’s so much that I need to tell her. I’m not sure if I should even bother to tell her. Enough time has passed where it may be too late.
“Dinner’s ready,” she says with the sweetest look on her young face. I can’t do it. I pass on the opportunity to potentially break her heart.
Chapter 2
Derek
Three long months later…
I’ve been on duty all night after pulling a double. It’s time for me to go home, but I can’t stop myself from seeing the object of my fascination. I’ve been in love with her since she first strolled into town. My interest has gotten out of hand. I’ve essentially become a stalker. As a man of the law, it’s not something I should ever admit to and I most definitely should give up this obsession, but I can’t.
I’m standing outside the bakery when I get the fucking shock of my life. A woman I missed and yet hoped to never see again is standing there, staring at me with contempt. Of all people, she shouldn’t be looking at me like that. Her life is of her own making and my life is the way it is because of her. She stole my hopes and dreams and made me a man before I was ready.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Emily. I haven’t seen her in sixteen years. Amelia’s mother gave me custody all those years ago when she abandoned her daughter. I can’t fight the anger growing in me. If Amelia sees her, the cat will be out of the bag. And that’s not something I’m prepared for. Amelia’s coming back to work today and is my excuse for coming h
ere.
She smirks at me and I hate that I hate her. “I found out my daughter is married to a rich man,” she explains as if that justifies her barging into her life. I have to get rid of her before she gets her hands on sweet Amelia. She wants to use Amelia and that’s it.
“Go away, Emily. She’s not your daughter. You gave up that right a long time ago,” I remind her. She narrows her eyes at me, but I’m not backing down. “Leave before I arrest you.”
“Arrest me for what?” she scoffs, brushing her stringy brunette hair back from her face.
“Being a public nuisance,” I warn her. She’s not in direct violation, but I know she’s capable of making a damn scene.
“Oh, because you’re the sheriff, you think that you can charge people with fake crimes,” she argues, inching closer to me like she’s going to cause some drama.
“It’s not a fake crime, I know you’re here to start some shit, and by the look of you, you’re on some shit.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I see my daughter,” she howls. And I blanch because one of the few people I don’t want to be here is standing behind her.
She catches my gaze, gives me a look, then spins around and locks onto Tracy’s face. “Sheriff,” Tracy says, walking to the bakery door.
“Good morning, Ms. Hope.” Tracy’s looking pissed and a bit curious.
Emily leers at Tracy then back at me. “Oh…I see what’s going on. She’s your dirty little secret. She’s the same age as my daughter.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have no interest in her.”
Tracy’s lips twist and she just rolls her eyes. “I’m not interested in an old man. You can have your ex-husband back.”
“Ex-husband? We were never married.” A look came over her perceptive face. This broad is doped up and yet she’s brilliant. Why didn’t she do the right thing and just say fucking no? I can’t believe that I still want to help her. “Oh, what the hell? They think Amelia’s really your daughter. Maybe you should have told the truth, Derek,” she finishes with menace in her voice. I know she’s about to say something damning.
