Mugs of Love

by Norma Jeanne Karlsson

  Then his lips are on mine and I forget we’re in public. It’s a closed mouth kiss, but it still steals my breath and makes my heart thunder in my chest.

  “Hi,” he mumbles against my mouth when he stops the kiss.

  “Hey.”

  “Garrett Sharp, you cannot be doin’ shit like that in public. You’ll cause a riot,” Jenna chides.

  I snicker as Garrett pulls my head against his chiseled chest. My face hurts I’m smiling so big. I open my eyes and find hate-filled brown daggers staring back at me. Sarah looks like she may burst into flames. Jenna steps in front of me, cutting off the evil gaze.

  I reach my hand out and squeeze her bicep to let her know it’s okay.

  “We’re gonna throw down,” Jenna growls as Jordan moves next to her.

  I look up at Garrett to find him glaring in Sarah’s direction. I reach my hand up and touch his cheek gently. His brown angry eyes fade to blue almost instantly when he looks down at me.

  “She’s not gonna be a problem,” Jordan announces, pulling Jenna under his arm.

  He leads her over to the stall and they start helping some kids with cupcakes while Garrett continues to hold me, turning us a little so his back is to Sarah.

  “She fucks with you, I wanna know,” he growls.

  “It’s fine,” I say reassuringly.

  “Emily.”

  There’s the warning and a full-blown sentence conveying everything he wants me to know with just my name.

  I nod.

  I peel out of his arms just as a timid voice says, “Mister Sharp?”

  Garrett and I pivot to see the kid who bagged my groceries the other day shifting nervously from foot to foot.

  “Yeah?” Garrett grunts, but not as roughly as he usually does.

  “Could I…uh…talk to…could I talk to you for a minute?” he asks quietly.

  He looks nervous, scared almost. Not of Garrett, but something else. I nudge Garrett with my shoulder, indicating he should say something.

  “Come on,” he finally responds.

  He kisses my hair and pats my butt before striding away with the boy following in his wake.

  “What was that about?” Jenna whispers in my ear as I pass her a wet wipe for the messy kids in front of us.

  I shrug but wonder the same thing as Garrett and the boy disappear into his store.

  As the day rolls on, Crest Street fills to capacity and I spend most of my time running between the shop and the stall. The weather is crisp with a cool breeze as the sun shines brightly.

  I do a cake decorating demonstration around one that’s a huge hit and gains me five orders for birthday cakes and two consultations for wedding cakes.

  Jordan does a latte art demonstration after I’m done to the enjoyment of swooning women, young and old. Even with his face battered, he dazzles anyone that looks his way.

  Jenna helps with everything throughout the day. She’s cleaning up kids, grabbing more supplies from the shop and using her charm to get more raffle tickets sold. She’s one of us now.

  Garrett never came back out of his shop. The teenager came out about twenty minutes after they went in. He didn’t look any better or any worse as he disappeared into the crowd. If we weren’t so busy, I’d go over to see Garrett. Just to have a moment with him. But there’s no way with this mass of people.

  Clyde started doing pumpkin carving about an hour ago and the group watching him is astonished. I’ve watched him do this for five years and every year I’m blown away. He doesn’t cut away big chunks and leave a jack-o’-lantern toothy grin. Clyde carves the flesh away, creating images of art that glow when candles are lit. They’re stunning.

  “I have a crush on Clyde,” Jenna says as we send some teenage girls away with butterfly-decorated cupcakes.

  “Me too,” I say through a smile.

  “Me too,” Jordan adds in with a feminine voice, flipping his hair dramatically.

  We all chuckle together just as Garrett comes into view. I have to roll up to my tiptoes to catch the faintest glimpse of him. He slides in next to Clyde and I jump to get a look at what he’s doing.

  “Up you go,” Jordan says, heaving me onto his shoulders.

  I squeal as I fly over his head, gripping his hair and squeezing my thighs to keep my balance. When I get settled and stop laughing, I gaze across the street to see Garrett staring at me, concerned. I don’t think he heard me, but the look on his face says my squealing carried over the hum of the crowd.

  I smile and wave at him. The corner of his mouth twitches, but he doesn’t allow the smirk to grace his stunning face. I’m becoming more aware that he only gifts me with that. It makes me feel gooey and sad at the same time. I wonder why he’s so bottled up unless he’s with me. Why I bring it out? Why he closes himself off to everyone else?

  I want to know the answers to those questions and so many more. I want to know Garrett Sharp. I could drool over him all day long, but I feel a burn deep in my chest when we’re together. A fire that if stoked properly, could consume me completely in the best way possible.

  Garrett has his head down as he works on a pumpkin next to Clyde. While Clyde works, he explains what he’s doing and stops to show the crowd how he’s going about it. Garrett’s silent as his hands flick and flip, carving and sculpting.

  His jaw is set in a hard line of concentration, focused. The strong brow that communicates so much for him is smooth and calm as he works. I don’t see joy or happiness in his eyes, but he looks serene. I’m enraptured.

  Jenna sells a few raffle tickets while Jordan holds my ankles. His height allows him a view and he seems as intent on watching Garrett as I am.

  “Am I killing your back?” I ask after a long while.

  “Shut up, Em.”

  Garrett stops and studies his work for a moment before releasing a breath. He sets his tools down and nudges Clyde who looks over at his work. The smile that breaks across Clyde’s face makes one even bigger sweep across mine. He looks proud of Garrett.

  Then Garrett grabs the pumpkin, holds it above his head and spins it slowly. There are collective oohs and ahs from the crowd as they get a glimpse of his creation. When it’s finally facing me, I feel a lump in my throat.

  It’s me.

  It’s the profile, but I know that’s my face carved into the pumpkin. My eyes are closed with the ghost of a smile on my lips, creasing my dimple. I’ve never looked more beautiful. That’s not me being full of myself. It’s how Garrett sees me and it’s breathtaking.

  I scramble off Jordan’s shoulders as he mumbles, “BAMF.”

  I notice Jenna’s jaw hanging open before I make my way through the mass of people. I’m trying to be polite, but the need to get to him is causing me to push a little harder than I normally would.

  Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I break through the crowd right in front of Garrett’s stall. His eyes are darting around to the faces until his gaze lands on me. He sets the pumpkin down and I move. I don’t round the stall; I launch myself over the counter and heave myself into his waiting arms. I wrap around him like I did last night, only this time I nuzzle my face into his neck as his arms encapsulate my lower back.

  “Kiss her!” someone screams in the crowd.

  Garrett easily supports my weight with one arm as his other hand grasps my chin. I let him lead my face up so I’m looking in his eyes. Kaleidoscopes. I run my fingers into his hair and lightly press my lips to his, waiting for him to take over. And he does.

  He deepens the kiss. Even with no tongue he works his mouth over mine, drinking from me. Hoots and hollers break out, as do claps and whistles. I smile against his lips and whisper, “Thank you.”

  “Beautiful,” he whispers back.

  He kisses me chastely one more time before lowering me to the ground. My legs feel wobbly until Garrett pulls me under his arm to support my weight. I thread an arm around his waist and talk to some people who are raving about my pumpkin. Garrett doesn’t say much other than thank
you to a few people.

  “I better get back,” I say once the crowd starts moving again.

  “Just sold the armoire. Need some help loadin’ it up,” Clyde tells Garrett.

  Garrett looks across the street—at what I’m not sure, but he’s communicating with someone without words. He pats my butt and I’m beginning to realize that’s a signal from him for me to get moving. He kisses my hair and then pats my butt again. I move into the crowd feeling like a glowing ember within a fire.

  “Two years,” Adam’s voice hits me in the gut. I spin around to find him glowering at me. His face more battered than Jordan’s.

  “Adam, don’t,” I plead with him.

  He snorts and closes the few feet of distance between us. His hand wraps around my bicep firmly. He’s not hurting me, but he’s letting me know he’s in charge. I don’t like it and try to wiggle from his grasp, preparing myself to scream.

  “I love you, Em. I know what I did and I know I had to pay for that, but I think I’ve served my penance. He’s a murderer. Am I really worse to you than a fucking murderer?” he seethes.

  “Who are you talking about?”

  The look in his eyes changes from fury to confusion and then settles somewhere I can’t quite decipher.

  “Garrett Sharp.”

  “Garrett Sharp?”

  He nods, releasing his grasp on my arm as I stumble back a few steps.

  “I have to go,” I mutter and sprint through the crowd.

  Adam doesn’t follow me. He doesn’t even call out to try to stop my fleeing. I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t have a car here, but I need to leave.

  I push past people without apology. I stumble a few times over the brick street, but I keep moving. When I clear the barricades on Crest Street, I keep going. My legs keep motoring my body forward because my brain is shutting down.

  Once I stop running, I find I’m on the sidewalk alone. My breathing is labored as my stomach rolls. I have to get out of here. My feet won’t move another inch though. I’m clutching my knees, panting, desperate to make everything stop for just a second.

  “Miss Garner?” I hear a timid voice from a few feet away.

  I look up to find the grocery bagger watching me with worry etched in his young face.

  “I have to get outta here,” I gasp out.

  “I’ll take you,” he says kindly, approaching me with caution.

  “I have to get outta here.”

  “It’s okay,” he soothes with a tentative hand on my back.

  I stand up shakily as he leads me a few houses down, stopping at a small car. He unlocks the door with his keys and holds out a hand to me. I take it and slide in. Quickly, he rounds the hood and has us pulling away from the curb.

  “I’m Cody Matthews,” he says a while later.

  “Thanks for the help, Cody,” I reply hoarsely.

  “Where are we headed?”

  “I don’t know.”

  His deep green eyes leave the road for a moment, studying my face before he says, “I know a place.”

  I nod and settle into the seat, staring out the window, seeing nothing that passes by. I don’t know what I’m doing. He’s a murderer. That’s all I can hear. It’s all I can think about. Maybe the panic that’s surging through my chest, the thing that I’m running from is…I don’t care.

  Loading the armoire with Clyde was a pain in the ass. The couple that bought it wanted to take it today instead of letting us deliver it next week. The massive piece of furniture barely fit in their truck. The five-thousand-dollar-payday lessened my irritation though.

  “Is she here?” Jordan questions breathlessly.

  “Who?” I grunt, knowing instantly who.

  “Em!”

  It’s been almost thirty minutes since I sent her back to her stall. My stomach flips and rage clouds my vision as I try to think.

  “She never came back. We got busy and I figured I missed her goin’ to the shop. I checked. She never went in. Her purse and her fuckin’ phone are in there, but no Em,” Jordan growls, shaking with adrenaline.

  Adam has her. It’s the only plausible reason for her to be missing. She’d never take off and leave her shop without telling someone. I race around my counter and rip my keys out of the drawer. I’ll go to that motherfucker’s house. I’ll break the door down. And if he has her, I’ll slit his throat.

  Cackling laughter breaks through my haze for just a moment. I look out the window to see Sarah sliding her arms around a man’s neck, her head tipped back with a giant smile on her face. She’s not who I’m looking at though. The man she’s hanging off of like a cheap suit is Adam.

  Fuck!

  Jordan notices the two and his face goes pale at the same realization I’m having. Adam doesn’t have her. There’s no way he took her, stashed her and made it back here. She could be in the trunk of his car, but I think someone would’ve noticed that.

  “I’m goin’ to her house,” Jordan announces.

  “I’ll look around here. See if she’s in the crowd somewhere. She may have gotten roped into somethin’,” I say, already knowing that’s not what happened.

  He and I quickly exchange numbers and go our separate ways. Jenna’s working the stall with Arlene when I walk by. They both look sick with worry. This isn’t right. I scan every face that I pass. I listen to every voice. I look in every alley. She’s not here.

  My phone rings and I grunt a hello.

  “She’s not here. Hasn’t been here,” Jordan growls. “Where the fuck is she?”

  He’s not asking me. He’s freaking out and I’m right there with him.

  “Where does she go if something’s wrong?” I ask, reaching for anything.

  “To me,” he snarls. “Em doesn’t take off, Sharp. If something’s fucked up, she comes to me.”

  My call waiting beeps and I see Devlin’s number.

  “I’ll call you back in two minutes,” I growl and switch over before he responds. “Devlin?”

  “Your woman missin’?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Fuck!”

  “Yeah.”

  “The ex?” he asks in a menacing tone.

  “No.”

  As I talk, I make my way back to my shop.

  “Fuck me. I’m ten minutes out. You got any idea where we’re lookin’?”

  “No.”

  “Shit.” He pauses for a few breaths before assuring me, “We’ll find her.”

  “Yeah,” I say, thinking there’s no other option.

  I hang up just as I’m entering my store. Clyde’s head is down, writing furiously with the store phone to his ear. I walk past him only to be stopped when his meaty paw snags my shirt.

  “You did good,” Clyde says to the caller. “He’ll be there real quick. Bye.”

  Clyde hangs up and announces, “Found her.”

  My shoulders sag in relief. Then I’m pissed again because she’s gone.

  “Cody Matthews found her ten blocks from here, standin’ on the sidewalk in a panic. He took her out to his family’s hunting cabin in the bluffs. Here’s the address.”

  I take the paper and try to keep calm. She was on the sidewalk in a panic? Emily didn’t go to Jordan. Fuck, I have to call him.

  “Found her,” I grunt when he answers.

  “Where?”

  “Hunting cabin in the bluffs with Cody Matthews.”

  “What?” he seethes.

  “I’m headed there now. You wanna meet me?” I have no explanation so there’s no point answering his question.

  “Yes,” he snarls, clearly furious that she took off.

  We hang up after I give him the address.

  “I’ll fill in Arlene and the crew. Go get your girl,” Clyde orders before placing a hand on my forearm. “Go easy, boy.”

  I nod and move out the back to my ride. I call Devlin as I’m flying out of town.

  “Found her.”

  “Where?”

  “She’s out in the bluffs.”


  “What the fuck?”

  “Don’t know. Can you go to your woman and see to shit for me? Jordan’s meetin’ me out here. Girls are alone.”

  “I’m on it. You need help out there, just call.”

  “Later.”

  “Later.”

  I’ll beat Jordan by a good twenty minutes. He’s on the wrong side of town and will have to deal with festival traffic. He’ll be pissed he doesn’t have his bike today.

  I note briefly that the scenery out here is pretty fucking amazing, but my thoughts are focused on Emily. Why is she with Cody? Why was she ten blocks away in a panic when he found her?

  I try to calm my anger as I speed along the sweeping two-lane highway until I turn onto a gravel road. Dust flies around my car as I keep a fevered pace. I can fix any body damage my ride gets from the rocks pelting it. It doesn’t matter.

  Finally, a small wooden cabin comes into view. There’s a tiny beat up Honda Civic parked next to it. A teenager’s car. I pull up and knife out of my seat, again taking a calming breath.

  Cody jumps off the porch when I slam the door.

  “I didn’t know where else to take her,” he explains quickly, rubbing his buzzed light blond head nervously. “She didn’t seem okay. And she hasn’t said anything to me. I just figured she’d be safe here and then I could get a hold of you.”

  “Did good, kid,” I assure him. “Where is she?”

  He nods out toward the bluff.

  I scan the area covered in tall grass and trees, spotting Emily standing near the edge of the bluff. Her back is to me and the wind is whipping roughly around her as she hugs herself.

  I clap Cody on the shoulder before moving toward her. I listen keenly as I get closer for signs of tears or anger. I have no idea what I’m walking into right now, and I’m not a fan of that.

  I stop a few feet behind her before calling out, “Emily.”

  She shrieks and jumps as I startle her. I catch her around the waist and tug her against my body. I don’t speak and neither does she. After a short while, Emily leans her head back against my shoulder.