BOOKS ANDBREW WAS MUCHbusier than a typical Sunday morning. Most of the residents attended one of the four churches in our small town and usually only the “sinners” stopped by for a hot beverage and a pastry before noon. Not that morning though.
“I’m worried we might run out of doughnuts,” Milo whispered in my ear.
“Then we’ll have to put the cookies and cupcakes out early,” I told him, sounding much calmer than I felt. My life had suddenly turned from an orderly existence to one of constant upheaval with me starring in a role I did not audition for. I was beyond ready for the curtain call so I could exit the stage.
Some good things have come from the chaos,the little voice inside my head whispered.Elijah. I had no idea how long he would be a part of my life and refused to give it much thought. Why borrow heartache? It would only ruin the moments that I shared with him. Take that morning for instance. I could’ve bemoaned that waking up in his arms was temporary,orI could’ve moaned for delicious reasons when we greeted the dawn tangled up with each other, feeling him in the deepest parts of me. When viewed in that light, there really wasn’t much need to debate the merits of guarding my heart versus embracing the way Elijah made it race.
“Earth to Maegan!” I snapped back to reality when Milo snapped his fingers. “Where’d you go?” Then he shook his head and smiled ruefully. “Never mind. Your brat pack has turned out in full force to support you.”
I looked over to where he pointed and saw that my best friends had indeed showed up that morning. Vanessa, April, Candace, and Violet were the best friends any girl could ask for, and I had loved them since I was a little girl. I walked from behind the counter and accepted the group hug I needed and deserved. I knew they were worried about me if they were dressed and in my shop before nine in the morning. My best friends fell into the “sinners” category and didn’t do early Sunday mornings. I pulled back from the hug and braced myself for the backlash.
“Why haven’t you returned our calls,” Candace asked me.
“I’m sorry, Candy Apple,” I told her, using the nickname my brother tagged her with when we were little. He said her bright red hair resembled the candy coating he was so fond of when we were kids.
“Seriously!” Vanessa said. “I calledandtexted you last night and the one before, but you didn’t answer or reply. I was worried sick. I even drove to your house. Your car was home, but you weren’t.”
“I called your mom and she said that you were safe and sound with Elijah,” Violet said. “Um, who’s Elijah, Maegan?”
“You better have a really good excuse, young lady,” April said hotly.
“Excuse me, ladies,” a delicious, deep voice said, interrupting my interrogation. “It’s all my fault.”
I saw four sets of eyes widen in surprise before they checked Elijah out from the toes of his badass boots to the top of his shiny dark head.
“I understand now,” Candace said while the others were still trying to form words. She looked at our friends and said, “Close your mouths, ladies. If we want to be rude we can do it by asking a ton of questions.” She clapped her hands happily. “I’ll go first. Um, who the hell are you, Big Sexy?”
Elijah smirked and extended his hand to Candace. “That’s Detective Big Sexy to you,” he teased. “Elijah Markham at your service.”
April giggled and blushed when she shook his hand. “I’m sorry, Maegan. You’re forgiven.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Elijah, Detective Big Sexy, sir,” Violet rambled. “Maegan, I didn’t know that Blissville’s Finest started offering police protection these days.”
“They’re not,” Elijah clarified. “I’m offering personal protection.”
“For hire?” Candace inquired, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
“No,” Elijah and I answered at the same time.
My face flushed pink with embarrassment. Hadn’t I told the man that I wasn’t laying claim to him, but there I was ready to claw Candace’s stunning, whiskey-hued eyes out of her head. “Stop making him sound like a male prostitute,” I added to try to cover my faux pas.
“I provide protective duties to Maegan only,” Elijah clarified. He put his arm around me and pulled me into his side.What’s this? What’s happening here? A declaration?
“How interesting,” Vanessa observed shrewdly. “If I didn’t know Maegan, I would think she orchestrated the entire thing to snag the hunky new detective in town.” Her lips quivered telling me how hard she struggled to keep a suspicious, sour look on her pretty face.
“We had already met,” I told Van, rolling my eyes.
“We’re neighbors,” Elijah said.
“Oh! He’s the one that drives that obnoxious hunk of metal?” Violet exclaimed. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me when she repeated the words I’d used to describe the truck that rumbled into the driveway and woke me each morning before my alarm clock went off.
“Hey!” Elijah said in a wounded voice. “That hunk of metal used to belong to my grandfather. It has rich history and character, things I’m sure Maegan appreciates.”
Don’t throw me under the bus, girls. Don’t throw me under the bus, girls. Don’t…
“Maegan?” Elijah asked suspiciously.
“Um, it might have annoyed me when you first moved in because I wasn’t used to it. Now, I find it charming with loads of character.”
