Page 24 of The Night Ride (SEALs on Wheels #3)
Oh. Okay. I’ll contact the police. Thanks for watching for me.
I’ll come in.
Because she sounded desolate even through the text. Betrayal was never easy. I should know. My ex-wife’s betrayal had colored my world for the past fifteen years of my life.
It went down like acid over razorblade cuts.
You don’t have to. I can take care of it.
I’m coming. No arguments.
Woman would argue with me until she ran out of oxygen.
I shoved my feet into my boots. Grabbed my jacket, helmet and keys, shoving my wallet into the interior zippered pocket of my jacket.
I locked Beth’s house before I left. Her nosy neighbor was outside watering her plants in the front yard. She gave me an unamused stare. I simply smiled with a wave and climbed onto my Harley. Her frown only deepened. I would laugh except I didn’t want the old biddy to give Beth a hard time.
The drive to the bakery didn’t take long.
It wasn’t quite rush hour so traffic wasn’t horrible.
I pulled the Harley into a space in front of the bakery and headed inside.
Hooking my sunglasses on my shirt as I entered, carrying my helmet in my left hand, the blonde in question, smiled at me as I approached the counter.
“Welcome to Sweet Dreams Bakery, what can I get for you today?”
“I’m a friend of Beth’s. Would you mind letting her know I’m here?”
Her brows rose as she studied me from head to toe. I knew feminine appreciation when I saw it. I kept my smile in place even though I wanted to throttle the thief. But I didn’t hit women, ever. I’d let the police handle this one. “Oh, can I tell her who’s here to see her?”
“Aiden. She’s expecting me.”
I watched the cunning wheels turn in her head. How had Beth not seen the calculating witch beneath the veneer? Likely because Beth saw the good in everyone. Whereas I had been subjected to the dredges of our society these past eighteen years. Every room I entered I assessed the potential threats.
In the bakery there wasn’t anyone suspicious.
A frazzled mom with a few school aged children eating some treats.
There was a businesswoman sipping on coffee with a croissant sandwich.
And a guy who looked like he might be in college, with coffee and cookies by his elbow as he furiously typed, wearing noise canceling headphones.
He didn’t even glance up as I entered. Which meant in the event of the apocalypse, the young guy would be toast. He had zero situational awareness.
“I’ll go see if she’s available.”
“Appreciate it.”
She headed to the door between the front and the kitchen, the swinging door swayed after her.
And because I was feeling rather petty toward the blonde eying me like she wanted to get my number, even with the wedding ring on her finger, when Beth came out, wiping her hands on her apron and barely looking at the blonde, I did something I never do.
I sauntered over to where Beth opened the counter for me and said, “Hey, why don’t you come on back.”
“Hey, babe.” I tugged her into my arms and kissed her, thinking take that to the blonde.
But then I forgot everything, even petty revenge, but the woman in my arms as she sighed and went pliant.
Beth’s surrender was sweeter than any sugary confection she concocted.
Because this was a fierce warrior woman who had survived on her own for far too long.
I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to come home to her after every deployment. To see her in the crowd waiting for me. And I yearned for it, for her, but I was in no place to commit and drag her into the life her brother didn’t want her to be part of.
I broke the kiss. Not because I wanted to, but if I continued, I’d be leading her back to her office and locking the door.
Beth blinked. Her inky lashes like delicate butterfly wings. Those soulful hazel eyes blurry with need. And I almost reneged, said to hell with it, and dragged her into her office. Because she looked at me with stars in her eyes, like I was a man worthy of her affections.
I didn’t know that I was after everything I’d seen and done. But she made me want to be a better man.
I lifted a silky strand that had escaped her bun and tucked it behind her right ear. “Hi,” I smiled, putting on a show for our audience.
“Hi. Hungry? I made your favorite.”
“The peanut butter cookies, with the candy peanut butter pieces?”
“Yep. Those are the ones.”
“Killing me here, woman. But I can’t resist, not even if I tried.” I dropped my gaze to her lips, lowering them down her elegant neck to her gorgeous rack hidden by the apron.
The innuendo had its desired effect. Pink entered her cheeks, but her eyes sparkled with desire. Exactly the goal I aimed to achieve.
Beth swallowed, her pulse hammering in her neck. “Well, why don’t you have a seat out here. I’ll bring you the fresh batch. And you can eat while I finish up in the kitchen.”
“Sounds great.” This way I could keep an eye on the thief. I released her and wished I could pull her back in. Her friend eyed us with far too much interest for my liking.
Beth headed into the kitchen, returning with a full plate of peanut butter cookies and a glass of milk. I couldn’t remember the last time I had milk and cookies.
“Why don’t you have a seat at one of the empty tables and I’ll come grab you when I’m done.”
“Sure thing, babe.” I leaned down and kissed her cheek. Then took the offering from her hands.
I sat at one of the empty tables and took my time eating the peanut butter cookies. Man could Beth cook. The cookies were just the right mix of peanut butter and sugar so that it was sweet, a little gooey, and the candy crunch combined to make it epic.
Through it all I caught her friend staring like she was calculating how quickly I might change my allegiance to her.
It would never happen. Because the woman was a viper in sheep’s clothing.
She’d been fooling Beth, but it’s because of her tender heart.
I’d been around too many women like her in my day.
Women who showed up at bars near the base, trying to score a military guy to spend their hard-earned paychecks while they were away.
I wouldn’t let this woman spoil anything for Beth. Because Beth deserved every happiness, while her employee should be behind bars.