Page 2 of Small Town Sizzle

For the first time, I look up and into the sparkling emerald eyes, currently narrowed in disgust at me, of a stunning woman. She has fiery red hair with a cascade of deep copper and amber tones, which peeks out from beneath a slightly tilted baseball cap and is tied back into a messy bun. Strands escape here and there, catching the light like threads of flame. Her lithe frame moves with easy grace, but she’s undeniably curvy—her hourglass figure fills out her snug workout clothes in a way that has my body taking notice.

She’s wearing a fitted tank top that hugs her form and high-waisted leggings that accentuate her shapely hips and strong legs. Freckles are scattered across her nose and cheeks. She’s beautiful in a way that I’ve never seen before, even though she currently looks like she wants to rip my head off.

Damn, she’s breathtaking.

My pulse quickens, and a heat rises in my chest as our eyes lock briefly. It’s been a long time since I noticed and felt any sort of attraction toward a woman.

A redheaded younger girl stands beside a very angry teenage boy with dark hair, and they’re also staring at me in disgust. The girl has tears streaming down her face. I instantly feel a pang of guilt.

“Listen, I’m sorry about this. I’m sure it was a bit scary to have a monster of a dog pin you against your car door. He’s harmless. He chewed through his harness, and my daughter didn’t know that when she let him out of the car to stretch his legs. There’s no need to be—”

“A dick,” the boy says again as he loops a leash around the dog’s neck and starts toward the fenced in area.

“I’m sorry,” the little girl says before she rushes off behind the teenage boy.

My stomach drops as I take in those tiny green eyes and that little face of hers, staring up at me like I’m some big, scary man.Shit. Now I feel like a giant dick.

The woman glares at me one last time before she turns on her heel and walks away.

“Ma’am!” I call after her, but she keeps walking toward the building.

Why do I feel the urge to talk to her more and apologize? Her dog jumped on me while I was minding my own business.

I let out a small groan and shake my head as I swipe my credit card and start fueling up the rental car.

Man, my heart dropped immediately when that little girl’s green eyes looked back at me so sadly. That teenage boy looked mad at the world. I remember those days.

Once the car is full of fuel, I make my way inside the building. I use the restroom, and as I’m walking out, someone barrels past me, nearly knocking me over.

“Whoa!” I say, stumbling back a step.

The woman barely glances up from her phone. The little boy is clutching her hand.

“Sorry,” she mutters.

It’s like I’m nonexistent as she’s talking to someone on her phone. She’s not helping my mood at all.

“Sadie, I need you to take deep breaths for me, okay?”

“Excuse you,” I mutter under my breath.

I shake my head and walk to the refrigerators in the back.

I need coffee if I’m going to get through this day. I’m already irritable, and I haven’t even gotten to my former hometown of Hicks Creek yet.

“Sadie, deep breaths, please. It’s going to be okay. I will be there as soon as I can. Are the police there? Okay, can you let me speak with the officer? Hey, Chuck, I’m about thirty out, but I’ll call Leti and see if she’s closer. I’ve got the kids with me. Okay, thank you.”

I open the cooler door, and the redhead immediately steps in front of me and grabs the last Black Rifle Coffee just as I reach for it. Our hands brush gently, and I feel a jolt of electricity rush through me.

I freeze, staring at her, trying to decide whether I actually just felt that happen. She’s still glued to her phone.

She is such a beautiful woman, but it’s too bad she seems like an entitled one.

“Uh, excuse me,” I snap. “I was going for that.”

She ducks immediately for some reason, as if she thought I was swinging at her. Her eyes are wide as she grabs the freezer door and puts it between us. She looks up now, her emerald eyes locking onto mine.

For a second, I forget what I was going to say. There’s something about her eyes that seems familiar. Not just that, my stomach drops, and I can feel a warmth rush through me as I look back at her.