Mr. Anderson straightened. “I’ve just had some trouble with this woman listening in on private conversations.”
Sadie rolled her eyes. “First of all, this is a shared alley. If I’m out here, it’snotbecause I’m trying to listen in on anything. It’s because I actually need to use the dumpster. Secondly, when I came into your store the other day, you wereopen. If you were talking about things you didn’t want anyone to hear, that’s not my fault.”
Mr. Anderson’s hands fisted, and instinctively Eastern moved to Sadie’s side. Everyone knew the man had a short fuse. Eastern didn’t think he’d do anything, just based on the fact he’d never harmed anyone before, but he didn’t want to take any chances.
The older man huffed. “Fine. I’m going back inside.”
Eastern’s hand itched to reach out and grab him. Pull him back and warn him against getting in a woman’s face again. But technically, he hadn’t done anything wrong.
Instead, he turned to look at Sadie. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just annoyed because he’s an ass. I don’t remember him being like this before I left.”
“Actually, he’s always been grumpy.”
“Well, he can take that grumpy somewhere else.” She gave one more glare toward the back door of the liquor store before turning to him, features softening. “Thanks for coming out here. You saved him from a bruised toe.”
Eastern lifted a brow. “A bruised toe?”
“Only if he didn’t move back after the shove I intended to send his way.” Then she gave him her sweetest smile before stepping around him and moving back into the bakery.
He followed, biting back the grin at how open she was about what she’d intended to do.
She strode around the kitchen, turning the lights off. “I shouldn’t be telling you about my violent thoughts for a second time, should I?”
“I would say he probably deserved it.”
She tossed a smile over her shoulder as she entered the front of the store, and it damn near stopped him in his tracks. “A sheriff who bends the rules. I like it. Are you picking up Avery now?”
“I am. But I wanted to stop by and apologize.”
She turned just as she reached the display counter, a crease in her brow. “Apologize for what?”
“Touching you last night.” Cradling her cheek, grazing her skin…and wanting to do more. Not that she knew the last part.
Her frown deepened.
He ran a hand through his hair. “It was inappropriate. I asked you to watch my daughter, so technically I’m your employer. I shouldn’t have…”
“Touched me?”
Shit, was he doing this wrong? “Yeah.”
There was a flash of emotion over her face that almost looked like disappointment, but it came and went so quickly he couldn’t be sure. “It’s fine, Eastern. It’s not like we kissed.”
Why didn’t shesoundfine then?
She turned. “I’ve got to lock up.”
“Sadie—”
“And you’ve got to pick up Avery.”
She’d just reached the front door when he wrapped his fingers around her arm and turned her. There it was again, that hint of disappointment in her eyes…and maybe a bit of hurt.
Dammit. He inched closer. “I’m sorry.”
“You said that already.” Her gaze lowered to his hand on her arm. “And you’re touching me again.”
