“What time did you get here this morning?” Sarah asks, reaching for a square from my tray.
I shrug in response, not wanting her to know that I didn’t get any sleep at all. Every time I’d get to a place between sleep and consciousness, I’d jolt awake. Giving up around two in the morning, I started baking at home before making my way into the bakery at four.
“Jade,” she tuts with an edge of concern in her voice. “ Are the nightmares back?”
For as long as I’ve known Sarah, I’ve had awful nightmares that are flashbacks of my past.
They are always sporadic, so I never know when they will happen. During the years we lived together, Sarah was always there for me. When the nights were really bad, she’d let me crawl in with her and comfort me back to sleep. But I’ve never sharedwhat my nightmares are about, and she’s never pushed me to tell her.
“I’m fine. I promise. I just couldn’t sleep is all.” I paste on a soft smile and hope she can’t see the dark spots under my eyes, or that I seem a little extra on edge today.
May 5 is always a hard day for me. This year being extra hard. It’s officially been ten years since the day my life changed forever.
Sarah knows I lost my parents, and I’ve given her little pieces of me throughout the years, but I’ve never given her the real story. It’s not that I don’t trust her, or that I don’t want to tell her. It’s that I can’t.
After waking up in the hospital following my attack, I learnt that the person responsible had gotten away. The officer waiting for me to wake up helped me fake my death and change my name, giving me a new start. To tell Sarah my truth could put me, and even her, in danger. I know the chances of Adam ever finding me are slim, but I never want to take that risk. I place the last tray of squares onto the plate on the counter and walk to flip the sign on the door from closed to open. Changing the subject off my lack of sleep, I ask Sarah how her date with Davis Jennings went the other night.
“He was perfect, Jade! I don’t think I can see him again.” Her hands fall in exasperation, making me giggle.
“Sarah, that doesn’t even make sense.” I shake my head, confused.
Ever since I’ve known her, Sarah has liked to date. Not many men make it past the first date.
She has a tendency to bring them home and then ghost them. She claims that when you know, you’ll know, but personally, I think she has just never recovered from a broken heart and is afraid to get hurt again.
“You don’t get it, Jade. I don’t want some gentleman that’s just going to treat me like I’m delicate. Sure, he can open my car door for me every now and then, but I want a real man.
Ruggedly handsome, sweet but not afraid to crack some jokes and get a little rough in the hay. I want someone that will spar with me and match my tongue. I’m bossy, and I know I am. I want someone to challenge that and not just give me what I want.” She shoves the remainder of the bar in her mouth and reaches her for her apron.
The bell above the door chimes for a second time as the first customer of the day makes his way inside.
Sheriff Donovan is a regular at Lemon and Lavender. He’s come in every morning since we opened. He’s also one hell of a good-looking man. Just looking at him has my blood pumping and my face heating. Cropped dark-brown hair, strong jawbone with a little stubble, tall and broad, his police uniform hugging him in all the right places. Weston Donovan is a sight to behold.
He’s been flirting with me for the past two years, but I’ve never really been brave enough to flirt back. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about him that makes me feel like he can see through the facade I put on.
“Good morning, Sheriff, what can I get for you today?” I smile.
With a tip of his hat, Sheriff Donovan begins to eye up the display case. “Mornin’ ladies. I’ll take two of those lemon scones and a coffee please.”
“Coming right up.” I open the display case and grab the scones with my gold tongs, placing them in a bag before handing it over. When Weston reaches for the bag, his fingers gently brush against mine, sending a zap up my wrist. I pull back as my heart begins to flutter, wondering if he felt it too.
“How’s your morning going, West? Any high speed chases or bad guys? Oh, I know! Please tell me that brother of yours is sitting in lock-up right now.”
Sheriff Donovan gives a deep, throaty chuckle. “That would just make your day now, wouldn’t it?”
“Sure would, I even volunteer to be the one to slap those cuffs on him if you ever need the help.” She winks, and West laughs.
“If I ever have to arrest him, you’ll be the first person I call.” With a grin on his face, he turns his focus back to me. “Jade. I like what you did with your hair today.”
I reach up and play with the end of my braid, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth. This morning while waiting for the clock to tick, I decided to try a fishtail braid. It’s not the best, but I thought it was cute enough. “Oh. Thank you, Sheriff.”
“You ever going to call me West?” he asks, lips curved into a smirk.
“Maybe someday,” I reply, biting my lip in a nervous habit.
“What if I ask you out on a date? Would you call me West then?” His eyes gleam with the question, and I’m not sure if he’s being serious or just playing around.
“I guess you’ll just have to ask me and find out.”
