“Even if that was the case, forcing your way into his home and grabbing him isnotthe way to do it. You ever pull a stunt like that again, you won’t just be suspended. Do you understand?”
Anger reddened Jarrad’s cheeks, but he remained silent.
“Do you understand?” Eastern demanded, voice so loud it was almost a shout.
“I understand.”
The words were clipped and said through gritted teeth, but Eastern knew it was the best he was going to get. “Good. Now get in the damn car.”
CHAPTER 14
Sadie ran her paintbrush carefully over the edge of the wall, near the baseboard behind the counter. The wallpaper had been damaged during the break-in, and with not enough time to order new wallpaper, painting would have to do.
A few staff members had been in throughout the day to help with getting the bakery cleaned up and back in order, but now it was just her again. Not that she minded being alone. She had her music, snacks, and a whole lot of intrusive thoughts about her and Eastern to keep her company.
Okay, maybe she could do without the intrusive thoughts. If sex with the man hadn’t been so damn good, she might not be so on edge. It was annoying as hell that the guy was sexy, a good fatherandgreat in bed. That had to be criminal, right?
Argh.
She rose to her feet and turned, about to walk into the back room, when the door opened. She’d left it unlocked for deliveries. She frowned and stepped around the counter.
“Mr. Anderson…is there something I can do for you?” She was tempted to remind her not-so-friendly neighbor thathewas the one who’d toldherto leave him alone.
He scanned the inside of the shop in a slow sweep, his expression so clear of emotion she had no idea what he was thinking. “I heard there was a break-in. Thought I’d stop in and check if you need anything from me.”
If she needed anything from him? Like what, a wall to erect in the alley between her store and his? “Thanks, but we’ve got everything under control. Just waiting on a few items to be delivered so we can get back up and running.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded before casting his gaze back to her. There was something unsettling about the way he looked at her, to the point she wanted to squirm. Either that or push the guy right out of the shop.
“Glad to hear you’ve got everything sorted out.” He paused. “I wonder why they did it. Or what message they were trying to send.”
She raised a brow, but before she could say anything, he dipped his head.
“You have a good day, Ms. Sandler.”
The door closed behind him, and she didn’t move for a full five seconds, because the tone of his voice in combination with the way he’d looked at her…God, it made her skin crawl.
But Eastern had looked into her neighbor, and he’d had an alibi for the morning of the break-in. And more than that, he didn’t have a motive…did he?
Trying to settle the suspicion in her belly, she grabbed her phone, turned up the music, and continued with her painting. She was just finishing when the ding of the door opening sounded again. This time, it wasn’t Mr. Anderson. Not that the next visitor was much better.
She stepped around the counter. “What are you doing here, Mrs. Chase?”
The older woman had her hands in her pockets, an uncertain expression on her face. “I heard the shop was broken into, andafter everything that’s happened with Scott, I just thought I’d check on you.”
Check on her? After she was going to knowingly let Sadie marry a cheater? “I’m fine. You didn’t need to come.”
She started to turn, but Mrs. Chase stepped forward. “Sadie, wait! Can’t we talk? My son misses you.”
Was she kidding? “Really? Or is he just missing stringing along multiple women?”
Hell, maybe he was still doing that.
Mrs. Chase’s lips thinned. “He’s not a bad guy.”
Sadie crossed her arms. “Tell me, do you know what his plan was exactly? Because he still planned to marry me after making out with his admin assistant minutes before the wedding. After all, he waited for me at the end of that aisle. So was it a goodbye kiss? Or was it an, ‘until our next work trip,’ kiss?”
“It was a mistake.”
