CHAPTER TWELVE

As I greeted the ladies, I noticed Zoe’s back stiffen. I couldn’t quite grasp why I only knew I didn’t like her reaction to me one bit. Hell, I couldn’t even tell you what reaction I’d hoped to get. But that was the thing with this woman; my wires always seemed crossed whenever she was close by.

“Good morning, you two.” To add to my confusion, Kenzie was being overly friendly as well.

“Hi, Miss Kenzie.” Molly brought her hand up, waving enthusiastically. “Hi, Miss Zoe.” Instead of waving, my daughter slipped onto the stool beside Zoe. I followed her lead and took the seat next to her.

Over Molly’s head, I had a clear view of the woman who had robbed me of my sanity. Zoe turned to the side; her smile might’ve been aimed at my daughter, but it made my insides do funny things.

“Well, hello there, little Miss Molly. How are you today?”

It was hard not to grin at the sound of Molly’s excited giggle. “You forgot your butterfly. But don’t worry, I colored it for you.”

Zoe covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with surprise. “You did?” When my daughter nodded furiously, Zoe added, “You’ll have to show me.”

Molly went on to describe, in great detail, all the colors she used on the drawing while Zoe listened with, what seemed like, genuine interest. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. My daughter barely knew this woman, and yet, she was conversing with her as if she’d been a part of our lives for years.

I found myself wondering what it would be like to sit and have a conversation with a woman. As much as I tried, I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d simply sat and talked with someone. Sure, I was a red-blooded man with needs, but I never needed a woman to take care of matters. Nothing wrong with self-love.

Besides, I had Molly to think of. I couldn’t bring women in and out of her life as the mood struck me; she needed stability. And sleeping with someone just because we needed to get our kicks off, didn’t sit well with me either.

I couldn’t be bothered with finding love because I knew there was no space in my heart for it. Melissa had taken all I had to give, there was no more.

Or so I thought.

Looking at Zoe and Molly had me wondering if it was possible that I’d given up too soon. What if I could still have what Pops and Mama have? What if I could still give my baby girl a whole family? What if I hadn’t walked away that day at the creek?

My brows furrowed at the last question…Was that why Zoe was still so firmly stuck in my head? A feeling of being watched crawled over my skin. I cocked my head and caught sight of Kenzie staring at me over Zoe’s shoulder, a knowing look on her face.

Embarrassment was a feeling I was very unfamiliar with, yet at that moment I wanted the ground to open up and suck me in. She’d watched me while I’d been staring at her friend for who knew how long.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket in hopes that it would distract me from the odd direction my thoughts had taken. No matter how hard I tried, though, I couldn’t shake it. I knew it was silly to be this fixated on a person after only one simple kiss.

But it wasn’t just a simple kiss.

Her lips were like a defibrillator to my heart, jolting it back to life. A feeling so intense, so consuming, it verged on the edge of being painful. As I stared down at the illuminated screen, my mind drifted to the dream I’d had.

Inconspicuously, I glanced sideways at the woman who was patiently listening to my Molly’s ramblings. Could it be that she really needed my help? I studied her; even though her hazel eyes were smiling, I could still detect a hint of something in them. I couldn’t tell if it was sadness, pain or what. I only knew it wasn’t there when I’d first met her.

She’d been completely carefree then. I’d envied her a little for it, too.

“Sorry it took me so long to get to you guys.” The sound of Lizzy’s voice forced my mind back to the present. “It’s a madhouse in here today. The usual?”

I looked over at Molly, who was still talking a mile a minute before I told Lizzy, “Yes, please.” Reaching forward, I touched my daughter’s arm. “Baby, you gotta take a moment and breathe. You’re chatting Zoe’s ear off.”

Her cheeks instantly turned rosy as her head dropped. “I’m sorry.”

Zoe put her hand on Molly’s back and leaned forward. “It’s all good, I like talking with you.”

My daughter tilted her dark head to the side. “You do?”

That smile that did those funny things to me graced Zoe’s lips again, I had to resist the sudden urge to smile with her. When she simply said, “Yeah,” I swallowed down a lump of something in my throat.

What the hell was happening to me?

While I was trying to make sense of the madness inside me, my baby girl turned my way and glared. It was one of those looks that had me scared shitless for her teenage years. Luckily, Lizzy came to my rescue when she slid a stack of pancakes onto the counter. Molly’s annoyance with me melted away as she eagerly tucked into her favorite breakfast.

“Zoe needs another coffee, please.” Kenzie aimed her question at Lizzy but kept her gaze on me. I felt a little like a schoolboy who was being stared down by the headmistress which was strange, to say the least, I was usually the one doing the staring.

“I do?” Zoe sounded both mortified and confused.

“Well, yeah. It’s going to be a long day at the shop. You’ll need all your energy.”

Zoe leaned toward Kenzie. “What the hell are you doing?” She whisper-shouted, but I didn’t miss the irritation in her voice. My lips twitched again.

“Here ya go,” Lizzy leaned over the counter to refill Zoe’s mug.

I lifted my own to my mouth and paused. Cocking my head, I said, “Just make sure it stays in your cup this time.”

Zoe’s head whipped around, the look in her eyes murderous. For the first time since she’d come into town, I allowed myself to really look at her. How easy it would be to drown in those big eyes, the tip of her little button-nose just begged to be pecked, and those lips…they were what fantasies were made of.

She was absolutely gorgeous, even — especially — with that angry scowl on her face. Her mouth twitched like she wanted to say something, but then she pursed her lips together as if she thought better of it.

I finally gave in and allowed my mouth to stretch into a grin. Her gaze dropped to my lips before meeting mine again. With narrowed eyes, she regarded me momentarily then shook her head slightly and tucked a few wayward strands behind her ear. Zoe turned back to the coffee in front of her. Reaching forward, she wrapped both hands around the mug and dragged it closer. For the first time, I got a clear view of the tattoo on her wrist. A feather angled between the words Carpe Diem.

My eyes traveled upward along her arm to settle on her beautiful face in time to see her tongue darting out to glide over her bottom lip. She blinked slowly while she stole a sideways glance at me, those hazel irises shining bright. Man, I’d have given anything to know what was going on in her mind at that very moment.

As if she’d heard my thoughts, her teeth dug into her lip right before she almost knocked me off my chair, “I’ll be good, Sheriff. If I’m not, you have my permission to use your shiny cuffs.”