“Hallie! It’s so good to see you,” Aspen said, her green eyes shining with warmth.
“Hi. I didn’t know you worked here.”
“For over five years now. I know all the best items on the menu.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m already pretty partial to the double chocolate muffins.”
Aspen echoed my grin. “A girl after my Cady’s heart. Would you like one of those?”
“Actually, can I get four to go? And a hazelnut latte?”
“Treat for the kiddos later?” she asked, already moving to the bakery case.
“Them and me,” I admitted.
“Now that’s a girl aftermyheart.”
I chuckled. “I do have a sweet tooth.”
Aspen rang me up, and I stepped to the side to wait while she made my drink.
The hair on the back of my neck prickled, a telltale sign someone had eyes on me. My muscles stiffened as I fought the urge to pull my pepper spray from my purse. I was safe. We were in broad daylight in a public place. Aspen was just feet away.
“We meet again,” the deep voice said. Close. Too close.
I turned to see the police officer from the other day standing next to me.
“Hi,” I croaked. The urge to bolt was so strong, but that would only give Aspen another reason to find me odd, and I liked her so much. I wanted to find friendship with her.
“Reed. Reed Hall,” he reminded me.
I just nodded like a bobblehead again.
“So, you’re either new in town or on an extended vacation,” he said with a grin, moving a step closer.
I tried to back up, but the bakery case prevented me from getting any real distance. My heart hammered in my chest, and my breaths came quicker. Tiny black spots danced in front of my vision.
“Reed,” a voice cut in.
Some part of my brain recognized the voice as Aspen’s. Safe.
Reed took a step back, sending Aspen a grin. “Hey there. How’s married life?”
She smiled at him, but I saw the strain around her mouth. “Everything’s good. You’ve met Hallie? Law’s new nanny?”
The second man from the other day appeared behind him. “The chief got a nanny?”
“He did. She’s just here picking up a few things for him and the kids.”
Something passed over Reed’s expression. Annoyance, maybe? Whatever it was, he quickly covered it. “Well, nice to meet you, Hallie.”
The second man gave me a warm smile, the expression lighting his dark eyes. He was probably a couple of years older than Reed and a bit taller, as well. “Welcome to Cedar Ridge. I’m Bryan, but everyone calls me Daniels.”
I managed a nod, but that was all I could do.
Confusion clouded Daniels’ gaze as if he didn’t understand my reaction, and I knew heat suffused my cheeks. I could feel Reed’s eyes, too, boring into me. It was all too much. My breaths came quicker, and my hands started to shake.
“You boys had better get going. Don’t want to be late now, do you?” Aspen said lightly.
