Chapter 12
VIOLET
Waking up on my side, I instantly feel a delightful heaviness between my legs. The feeling of skin-on-skin contact, so warm and firm. I murmur as I stretch my body out, which only gives a certain man’s hand better access to my clit where Declan is currently working with his finger.
“Is this your way of waking me up?” I wonder and yawn.
Where Declan’s lips are dragging along my back feels extra sensitive this morning or maybe it’s the fact he hasn’t shaved yet and is sporting some stubble.
I’m in a daze, trapped between the heavenly sleep I had in this man’s arms and his method of waking up which feels like a dream, because it’s so damn good.
“I warned you that I needed you accessible.” His gravelly morning voice is pure sin, and I feel my inner walls clench, even tighter when I feel his cock against my ass.
“You’re a man of action.” I look over my shoulder, and I wish the damn sun would come out to peek through the curtains and give me a better view of his face, but instead, it’s raining out, and Declan looks serious, on a mission.
I chuckle to myself because that’s not bad either. A blissful breath escapes me, that is until I notice the clock. “Shit, I need to get moving like now.”
“We can do that.” Declan teases my opening with the tip of his cock.
I groan with the struggle between giving in right now and responsibility.
“As in, I need to run home, shower and change, and grab my coffee before I open the store,” I clarify, yet I don’t make any effort to move.
“Shh, baby.” He grinds his body into my hips.
Oh no, he said baby. The female population’s weakness.
Five minutes later, after an orgasm to start my day, I’m getting dressed, and Declan emerges from the bathroom where he started the shower. He seems to be searching for some fresh clothes.
“Are you sure I can’t order some breakfast for you?” he double-checks.
“No, I really need to head out, plus Jolly Joe’s is calling.
It’s kind of an essential part of the day, otherwise people send out search parties if they notice you don’t check in.
” I tie up my hair. “You haven’t been yet since you’ve been in town?
Yikes, you may want to fix that, otherwise people will talk. ”
“Maybe I’ll stop by then. I would hate for people to think I’m some billionaire asshole,” he jokes, but I hear the hidden truth, I think, because he does care, since he is the opposite of what many people think.
I shrug a shoulder. “You should.” Looking around, I note that I have nothing left to throw on, and this is my moment to leave. “Well, I’ve gotta run.”
We stare at one another, a giddy smile preventing us from saying any words, and the warm air wraps around us, pulling us closer in a magnetic force because we both take a step closer to each other.
Declan makes a sound, reaches out to snake his arm around my middle, and pulls me close. “Have a good day.”
“You too.”
He doesn’t let me go, and I take the opportunity to run my fingers along his bare chest, staring at my actions before my eyes strike up to meet his.
“Morning-you is… different.” Tender.
He rumbles a laugh. “Nah, I’m just admiring the view.”
“I’ll see you around.” I feel butterflies, and it’s preventing me from saying anything clever.
Our eyes linger, and we’re making no effort to part.
“Get out of here before I throw you in the shower.” At least Declan has the courage to move us along.
I’m lucky that on Thursdays, Tilly is at the store from open to close. It meant I had a little time to spare, which I’m thankful for, as I needed a long shower to recall all the ways my body was touched last night. Also, dry shampoo only gets you so far.
Stepping into Jolly Joe’s, I’m in awe how half the town seems to cram in here in the mornings for breakfast, and again later in the day for ice cream. A retired judge created this place that resembles an old soda shop.
Walking straight to the counter, I order my flat white and an orange roll.
“What would you recommend?” Declan’s voice surprises me as he arrives to stand by my side and pretends to look at the menu on the wall.
Instantly, my body eases, and my closed-mouth grin spreads. “What brings you here?”
“Someone mentioned this is a must, and I kind of worked up an appetite.” He doesn’t look at me and continues his ruse of studying the menu.
I straighten my posture and follow along, even though the edges of our arms just grazed and a breath that I didn’t know I was holding releases. “I’m a fan of the orange rolls. Cinnamon roll base with an orange kick, it’s a twist on a classic.”
“I’ll give it a go.” He steps forward to order.
Looking around the place, it’s noisy and a mix of people chatting and others in a rush. Nobody will notice us, or rather, it’s easy to explain a coincidence that we are both at the best spot for coffee in town at the same time.
“Hey, Violet.” A deep voice startles me, and I nearly jump in my spot. My attention transfers away from Declan, ahead of me ordering, and lands on Carter, the sheriff in town. “Usual order?” The man smiles at me.
He’s Ford’s age, and he does get points on the handsome front, if you go for the hundred-pushups-a-day kind of thing.
“Good morning, Sheriff.” He’s told me many times to call him by his first name, but I feel like I might get in trouble if I don’t address him by his title in public. The rumors would spread like wildfire if someone heard me call him Carter.
“Flat white and an orange roll?”
My eyes narrow. “Yeah, you know my order?” I’m surprised.
“It’s the little things that you should notice,” he mentions.
A tap on my shoulder causes my eyes to dip to the side, and I notice a hand with a coffee in a to-go cup.
“Your order was ready,” Declan mentions, with his eyes set on Carter.
“Thanks.” I notice both men sizing one another up. “Uhm, this is Declan Dash. He played hockey with Ford, and he’s here this week to help with the kids’ summer camp.”
“Sheriff Carter Mills.” Carter offers his hand for a shake to Declan. “I’ve seen you in Lake Spark before. It’s great that you’re volunteering.”
“Of course. I was stopping by for a coffee and ran into Violet. We go way back, thanks to her brother. I would trust this lady here with my life and coffee choices.” A protective arm lands around my shoulders, I swear an act of possession.
Something Carter notices, as his eyes dance between us for a good beat. “Only in town for a few days?”
“Yeah, but I’ll be here more in the future.”
The testosterone of these guys is nearly overbearing.
I laugh nervously. “Well, it was great chatting with everyone, but I really need to head to The Flower Jar,” I announce.
“Sure, I can walk you there if you like,” Carter offers.
“Oh, that’s not needed. A quick power walk and I’m there, considering it’s only two blocks away.” My eyes dart between the men in front of me.
Carter smiles politely at me. “You have a great day then.”
“You too.” I nod.
“See you around, Dec.” I avoid looking at him and walk out.
But the quick stroll to The Flower Jar turns into a near sprint.
As soon as I arrive, Tilly heads out on an errand, and I’m glad for the moment to breathe.
I sigh, because I realize that I forgot my orange roll.
I walk to Nugget’s cage and see that Tilly handled replenishing his water and food this morning.
“Handsome,” the bird chirps.
“Who is?” I ask, as if the bird understands me.
The bell rings, and the door to my store opens. “You forgot your breakfast,” Declan announces.
I look warily at the parrot. Maybe he does understand more than I realize. He must have seen Declan through the window. It’s a little too coincidental.
Ignoring the bird, I walk to Declan and take the bag. “Thanks.”
“Your sheriff wanted to deliver it, but unfortunately for him, I was already holding the bag.” He seems proud of himself. “Plus, I told him that I’m responsible for replenishing your nourishment since you had a long night last night.”
I stop mid-bite, slightly concerned, because Declan probably would say that, but when he grins, I know he’s messing with me, so I resume my path to calorie heaven.
“He’s a good guy,” I say with my mouth full, and I’m not sure why I said that.
Declan looks down at the cup of coffee in his hands. He doesn’t want to respond to my statement, probably because we both know that I’m testing us to see if any jealousy arises. We’re human, that’s what we feel sometimes.
“This is good coffee.”
I lick the corner of my mouth. “What color jellybean did you get?”
He shrugs. “I’m not at the bottom of my coffee yet. Is there a meaning if it’s a particular color?”
“No, but rumor is that the purple ones are rare.”
“Purple is violet, right?” He pulls up his phone from his pocket when it dings.
“It is. Shouldn’t you be at the rink? I love having you here, but this is slightly jarring. I’m not used to guys delivering me carbs in my store, especially considering their tongue was inside me not even two hours ago.”
Declan appears satisfied before he looks up from his screen. “Just enjoying an easy morning in this small town, perusing along Main Street with my coffee, and doing a good deed for a local citizen.”
“Sure you are.” I bring my hand to my hip, my smirk permanent.
“I don’t need to be at the rink until ten. The real estate agent sent me an email that I can view a house later.” He begins to type on his screen.
My breath catches. “Oh yeah, you might be moving here?” Fuckity ducks, that might be a little bit of a twister to our dynamic.
Declan’s eyes lock on me when he realizes my brain is connecting dots. “More like a weekend house, when I need to be here for the team.” His attempt to justify how this might not be awkward in the future is just that, an attempt, which means it doesn’t always work.
I hum a sound. “Right.” My T is sharp. “What house are you looking at?”
“It’s on the other side of the lake, you can kind of see your brother’s house from it. It’s on…” He scrolls his email for the street name.