Matt’s back and feet hurt and… come to think of it, so did his hands and ass. He worked out four times a week, hiked on the weekends, and spent many early mornings rowing across the lake behind his log cabin, yet spending four hours bent over a counter making cupcakes, was seriously taking a toll on his body. It was downright pathetic, so he blamed it on lack of sleep.
He skipped his morning row and headed to Main Street before his shift started. He needed to stop by his sister’s studio and, since he’d be a few doors down, he’d also stop in to check on Shay. He was the Sheriff, and it was the right thing to do after all.
Matt parked his cruiser in one of the few spots alongside his sister’s building, Serenity Glass Blowing Studios. Kate had been up and running for three years now, and as an older brother, he couldn’t be prouder. She had a dream she wanted to make happen by her thirtieth birthday and she didn’t just follow it; she grabbed it by the balls and made the dream a reality.
At thirty-three, she was the second oldest in the Hayes clan. Growing up they shared a lot of the same friends and were extremely close. It was a different bond than he had with his other siblings. Kate was his go-to whenever he needed advice. He trusted her opinion and respected her as a business woman and a person in general.
He arched his back, giving it a good stretch before making his way toward the front. Multi-colored glass balls strung up by clear fishing line decorated the big front windows of the studio, and come midmorning when the sun sat just right in the sky, it would illuminate them and cast a rainbow of colors across the small space.
The sign on the door was flipped to CLOSED, but Matt ignored it. Signs like that didn’t pertain to family. Even if it did, that wouldn’t have stopped him. Just like when they were kids and the girls would put “no boys allowed!!!!” signs on their doors as if that would keep him from entering. His sisters quickly learned it would take more than some angry written sign with too many exclamation points to keep him away.
Being the oldest, he looked out for his younger sisters and brothers, even if that meant poking his nose where it didn’t belong. He couldn’t help himself. He was born to protect them, care for them, and he would do it whether they wanted him to or not.
He looked around the front portion of the studio that was set up like a small shop. The shelves along the walls were lined with vases, glasses, and various shaped animal figurines. While handcrafted pedestals made out of refurbished wood—courtesy of Earl, the owner of Red Maple Falls Wood Studios—were placed meticulously throughout and showcased Kate’s larger pieces.
“Anyone here?” he called out as he pulled the door behind him. The shop area was small, but what most people didn’t realize was there was also a back section of the studio where Kate did all of her work as well as teach classes.
He found her there rolling a metal rod with flaming bright glass across a flat surface.
“Hey sis,” he said as he approached so he wouldn’t startle her. He made the mistake of doing that once, causing her to roll the rod a little too hard and sending it sailing out of her hold and across the concrete floor. The vase she’d been working on shattered into a million pieces, and he’d never felt so guilty in his life. He apologized a million times and brought her coffee for a week.
Kate lifted her head, reddish blonde wisps falling free of her ponytail. “Matt! What are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you.”
Matt leaned against a table after making sure there was nothing breakable in sight. “A brother can’t stop by to say hi?”
“Oh, he can, but you usually have a reason.”
One thing about being so close—Kate could call him out from a mile away no matter how good his poker face was. There was no use dragging this out. He needed answers and Kate would be the only person who might have them. “Have you talked to Shay today?”
Kate stopped and looked up, her brows pinching. “No, I haven’t. Should I have?”
“Got a call last night that her alarm was going off. It looks like someone broke in.”
“Oh my god! I had no idea. I’ve been here since the ass crack of dawn. I must’ve missed the gossip mill. If I’d known I would have stopped by this morning on my way in to check on her.” Kate’s head tilted. “Unless you were hoping I didn’t have any information so you could go check on her yourself.”
Kate and Shay had been close friends ever since that first summer Shay arrived, and it was a friendship that had only gotten stronger over the years.
If anybody in Red Maple Falls knew anything about Shay’s past it would be Kate. Matt hated to go behind Shay’s back in order to find out information, but Shay wasn’t talking, and he didn’t like how defensive she’d gotten when he had asked about her past. She was hiding something, and he was going to get to the bottom of it with or without her help.
“I was planning on stopping by there anyway. Thank you,” he said with extra sarcasm.
“Then why don’t you tell me why you’re really here.” Kate put down her tools and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not used to you beating around the bush, so get to it already.”
Matt didn’t believe in bullshit or sugarcoating things. It was a quality he’d gotten from his grandfather. But for some reason this wasn’t easy to blurt out. There was something in the back of his head telling him to talk to Shay one more time. If she was in danger, he needed to know. How else would he be able to protect her? He didn’t have time to play games. Not if there were answers that could help him help her.
“Has Shay ever mentioned anything about New York?”
“She’s mentioned a lot actually. Anything in particular?”
“An enemy?”
“Besides her mother?”
“I’m serious. Is there someone she might have bad blood with?”
The soft playful air that surrounded Kate vanished as the smile on her lips flattened into a straight line. “You think the break-in was personal?”
“Her place was wrecked, but they didn’t take anything. So, to me, that says it was someone trying to send a message.”
Kate’s bluish green eyes widened. “Do you think she’s in danger?”
“It’s all speculation right now. I wanted to see if there were fingerprints left behind, but she started cleaning and tampering with things before I could. She told me not to worry about it.”
“But you can’t help yourself.”
He shrugged. “I don’t want to not look into it and then she winds up hurt. I’d never forgive myself.”
Kate gave him a knowing look. She didn’t need to say anything. That look said it all. Because you still love her.
It had been so long since they’d been together, but the love he once had for her still burned like a fresh lit fire. No matter how hard he tried to snuff it out, it just kept coming back. They weren’t teenagers anymore, and so much time had passed, so much had happened, but every time he looked at her, it was like he was eighteen all over again—hopelessly and forever in love with her.
Most of the time, he despised her for it. She’d ruined his chances of ever having a family because every time he started something with a girl, thinking that was his chance, he’d remember Shay. Try as he might, he couldn’t create the natural spark that Shay so easily ignited inside of him. When she left, she’d taken the spark with her. How the hell was he ever supposed to be with someone else when a part of him was missing? The part that made everything worthwhile, caused excitement and passion. Drove him crazy with desire and want.
Sex for him had become a means to an end. A need for release and little else. He’d tried to forget about Shay, let go of what they had because clearly it was something made of fairy tales and only set him up for failure, but he couldn’t. She had infected his heart, staking her claim, and ruining his chances at happiness.
Who knew a girl from New York had that much power?
“She doesn’t talk about New York,” Kate said. “Not anymore at least. I always assumed something happened. Why else would she come back here after all this time? Especially right after her grandparents left for Florida.”
“Did she have a boyfriend?” Matt growled despite his attempts to keep his feelings out of his tone. The thought of Shay with another man made his jaw tick, his teeth grind, and every muscle from his neck to his shoulder blades to tense.
“Of course. It’s not like she was celibate for the past seventeen years. She dated. A few were serious.”
“Did she ever give you the impression that they…” He couldn’t get the words out. If he had even an inkling of suspicion that a man would hurt Shay in any way, he’d drive all the way to New York and make them pay for every tear, every ounce of pain she ever felt because of them.
“That they were what? Abusive?” Kate’s voice held the disbelief he secretly hoped for. “God no. At least I don’t think so. Some were jerks, some more than others, but just stupid stuff. Nothing like that.”
Relief settled through him, easing the tension that had been pulling painfully tight.
“Don’t you think if she suspected someone she’d tell you?”
He’d like to think so, but he wasn’t so sure. Once upon a time Shay told him everything, but not anymore. Before last night he’d done his best to avoid her, and on the off chance he couldn’t, their conversations had mostly consisted of pleasantries and awkward observations about the weather.
“Did she have any idea of who it might be?”
“She said it was probably some teenagers.”
“Maybe it was the Johns boy. I’ve been hearing musings around town about him causing trouble.”
“He would have been my first guess, but I was with him and a group of other kids on the other side of town right before getting the call for the alarm.”
“Oh.”
“Exactly.” Matt ran a hand over the day-old stubble on his chin. He’d been too tired to shave this morning and said the hell with it. “I’m going to head over there now and talk to her again. Do me a favor? Don’t tell her about this conversation.”
“You want me to lie to my friend for you?”
“Just withholding information.”
“Funny. You’re asking me to do exactly what you wish Shay wouldn’t.”
“So?”
“Just thought I’d point out the irony.”
“Don’t be a smartass.”
“But I’m so good at it.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her, and her face softened.
“I won’t say anything. Just keep our girl safe.”
Our girl. If only Shay was his girl. If only he’d gone after her sooner… If only he hadn’t succumbed to the fear that their differences did in fact divide them.
It was ancient history though, and not something he cared to think about anymore. There was no use dwelling on the would have, could have, should have’s of life.
He’d keep her safe because it was his duty to do so. “I will.” He gave a nod to Kate and headed toward the entrance when she called out to him.
“Do me a favor and flip the sign to open.” She smiled big when he grunted. “Thanks!”
“Any word on if they rented out the other unit?” Matt asked, deciding he had a few more seconds to kill. Kate’s studio was connected to another unit that used to be occupied by Mae’s Toys, but when Mae fell and broke a hip a year ago, she’d had no choice but to close shop. The unit had been empty since. Everyone in Red Maple Falls was waiting to see what would open up. George Peters, a crazy old man with too much time on his hands, was taking bets. Last Matt heard, the pool was getting pretty high.
Gambling was illegal in their parts, but Matt chose to ignore it. George was harmless, and if it kept him from bugging Matt about the street light that was installed last year down on Roanoke Blvd, then he could keep on taking bets.
“Not yet. I’m just hoping whoever moves in is as sweet as Mae.”
“Big shoes to fill,” Matt said.
“Tell me about it. She was the best neighbor, and the kids always dragged their parents in here to watch me. I got so many sales because of that.”
“I’m sure you’ll luck out and get someone great.”
“I hope so.”
Matt rested his hand on her shoulder. “Just have a little faith. I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” He gave a squeeze and let his hand fall back to his side.
“I heard through the grapevines that Mason has big news,” Kate said and Matt stopped in his tracks.
At twenty-seven, Mason was fourth in the Hayes sibling lineup. While he often kept to himself, he was the go-to person for most of his brothers and sisters. He was the quiet, shy one, which is probably why he was extremely insightful. He might have lacked the extrovert gene, but he made up for it in dry wit that either left people laughing or scratching their heads.
“How do I not know about this?” Matt asked, not happy to be left in the dark. He was usually the first to know about everything in their family, or at least he thought he was. If there was news or drama, he was always on the inside.
“That’s what I hear.”
“From who?”
Kate smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” If he were fifteen, he would have grabbed her in a headlock and given her a noogie, but he was an adult, the Sheriff of an entire town; as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t resort to childish tactics.
“You’re not going to tell me?”
“And reveal my sources?” She shook her head. “Not a chance.”
With an obnoxious smile, Kate turned back to whatever it was she was working on, and Matt headed out. As soon as the fresh spring air surrounded him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
He found Mason’s name and hit call, but unfortunately got his voicemail. There was no point leaving a message. Mason was notorious for never listening to them. Matt would have to wait and find out the news like the rest of the family.
Besides, he had more important things to worry about right now.
Shay’s bakery was only a few doors down, so he left his car and made his way over.
***
Working as a VP of Marketing for a Fortune 500 in her old life made Shay used to functioning on little to no sleep. She’d put in long hours at the office and followed it up by meeting colleagues and clients for dinner then drinks. She’d be lucky if she managed to clock four hours of sleep a night. As long as she had her coffee, she would make it through the day no problem.
She took a sip of the glorious liquid then finished boxing the last of Tommy Kramer’s cupcakes. According to her clock, Sarah Kramer would be arriving in ten minutes to pick them up.
When she’d come into her shop last night and seen the disaster, she never would have thought she’d be able to clean up and remake all those cupcakes. If it hadn’t been for Matt, she probably wouldn’t have been able to pull it off. He’d saved her butt big time, and she owed him.
At the same time, she hoped they could both forget about it.
Shay closed the lid of the last white cardboard box and taped it in place before tying her signature ties, a pair of pink and white, and the other white and black, around the box. She should have finished up over an hour ago, but from the moment she walked in this morning, people had been stopping in to check on her. Apparently, word had gotten out about the break-in and everyone was concerned about her well-being. As exhausting as it was assuring everyone she was okay, it was nice to have people care. It was also nice that not a single person could resist a purchase after walking in the door.
The bell above her door rang, and she turned with a smile ready to greet another concerned citizen. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of Matt with dark stubble on his face. His usual combed hair was unkempt like he’d just rolled out of bed.
Her teeth slid over her lip as she imagined him waking up first thing in the morning, ruffled hair, bare chest, droopy eyes… oh my. Heat swelled in her chest and crept up her neck. Before the warmth made it to her cheeks and gave her away, she quickly pushed those thoughts far out of her mind.
“Good morning,” he said as he approached the counter.
“Morning,” she replied with her normal chipper tone.
“How do you do it?”
Confusion tugged at the space between her eyebrows. “Do what?”
“Look as if you got a full night’s sleep.”
She smiled. “Used to it I guess. I had a busy schedule back in New York. After a while sleep becomes a luxury and not a necessity. Plus, lots of coffee.”
On closer inspection, she could see the tiredness in his eyes. His lids were heavier than usual, his normally bright green eyes dull. Suddenly, she felt horrible for keeping him up all night.
It’s not like his job was mindless, like he just had to go through the motions. He needed to be alert twenty-four-seven. Not that there was really any danger in Red Maple Falls, but Matt Hayes still kept the people of this small town safe by making sure they didn’t speed, helping old women cross the street, and keeping old man Simpson from getting too far on his tractor when he had one too many sips of moonshine.
Matt protected people, gave them a feeling of security, and she didn’t want to compromise that.
“I’m so sorry. I should have insisted you go home.”
“Like I would have listened.”
“That’s true. I tend to forget how stubborn you are.”
“Family trait.”
“Are you hungry? Want some coffee? Whatever you want, it’s on the house.”
His eyes scanned down to the display case, and he pointed at a blueberry scone. “That’s looking pretty good.”
“You got it.” Shay grabbed a light pink paper bag with her logo—a cupcake with a hot pink and black striped baking cup and Sweet Dreams Bakery written in cursive above—and placed the scone inside. “Let me get you a cup of coffee, too. You look like you need it.”
“Is that your way of saying I look like shit?”
Shay froze as she placed the bag on the counter beside the register. “No, of course not.” She didn’t even think that was possible.
“Not everyone can look as beautiful as you do on no sleep, you know.”
Her heart came to a stop before jumping into overdrive. Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks before she could control it. She didn’t waver in her response, hoping he wouldn’t notice how flustered his words made her. “We all know that is not true, pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?”
Shay shrugged. “Sheriff or not, you are and always will be a Hayes boy.”
The Hayes brothers were the hottest bachelors in town—kind, each charming in their own ways, and undeniably sexy as hell. They all had a distinct look but shared a smoldering gaze that could make a girl weak in the knees.
Matt shook his head at Shay’s words. There was no arguing that point; it was a stigma he’d been stuck with for as long as she’d known him. The brothers were the subject of many girl crushes, and now they were objects of desire, stars of fantasies and daydreams.
“To answer your question,” she said. “You don’t look like shit, you just look a little tired.”
That damn gaze of his locked on hers, and she felt unsteady on her feet. She wondered if he knew how much he affected her still.
“Coffee would be great,” he said, flashing her that sexy lopsided smile of his. Shay quickly tore her eyes away before her body melted to the floor like overheated chocolate. “You should really think about putting some cameras up.”
She had hoped he would let last night’s disaster go, but she should’ve known better. Matt Hayes didn’t let anything go. But if it wasn’t some punk kid and it was, as Matt suggested, someone she knew then the last thing she wanted was for Matt to get involved.
The mess she left behind in New York was her problem and her problem alone. She thought leaving would fix things, but maybe it made things worse. Either way, it was a personal matter and one she would have to deal with on her own.
With a deep breath, she took hold of his coffee and turned back to him. “I don’t think that’s necessary.” She slid the coffee across the counter. “Milk, one sugar, right?”
“You remember.”
“My grandma always said I have a steel trap for a brain.”
“How are your grandparents?”
“Good. Enjoying the warmth of Florida and not missing the snow at all.”
Her grandparents had bought a second home in Florida a few years back and spent most of their time there. It was only supposed to be for winter, but after time they came home less and less. They were kind enough to let Shay stay at their place while they were basking in the sun. They’d insisted she’d be doing them a favor by keeping an eye on things and helping with the upkeep.
“They’re even taking salsa lessons.”
Matt laughed—the same reaction Shay’d had when her seventy-five-year-old grandma had shared the news with her.
“I can’t picture that.”
“I don’t want to,” Shay said and this time they both laughed.
Shay had always loved his laugh. It softened his features and made his green eyes sparkle.
Matt looked down at the coffee cup with trepidation.
“You didn’t tell me the cup was pink.”
“Does that bother you?”
“I mean it’s pink.”
“It’s not like it’s going to infect you and turn you into a girl. It’s just a cup.”
“If you say so.”
She rolled her eyes, and Matt took the cup into his hands, examining it like it was a foreign object.
She laughed and his face fell.
“What?” he asked
“Just thinking how cute you look with that pink cup.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Maybe.”
“Have you had any more thoughts about who could have broken in here?” Matt asked, completely knocking Shay off guard and reminding her that Matt was a stubborn mule.
“No,” she lied. “I have no idea who would do something like that.”
“Are you sure?”
Frustration bubbled inside of her, but she took a calming breath, pushing it down. “I’m sure.”
“You plan on staying after hours tonight?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“It’s not safe to be here by yourself, given the circumstances.”
Shay rolled her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous. I doubt they’ll be coming back.”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry. I don’t want to have to worry about you if I don’t have to.”
That stupid anger only he could provoke rose inside of her. “Then don’t. It’s as simple as that. I lived almost my whole life in New York City, a place where there actually is a crime rate. I took the subways at all hours of the night, walked the streets—” She sucked in a startled breath slapping her hand over her mouth like she was in disbelief and lowered her voice. “And most times I was…get this… alone. Without Mr. Sheriff Man worrying about me. I survived then and I’ll survive now. If you want to waste your time worrying that’s your problem, not mine.”
“You’re being completely unreasonable.”
A laugh bubbled out of her. “Do you even hear yourself? You can’t get safer than Red Maple Falls. I’m not concerned, and you shouldn’t be either. Besides, this is my bakery and I refuse… re-fuse to let anyone or anything keep me from it. So, don’t ask me to.”
“Can see you’re just as stubborn as you once were.”
“Look who’s talking.”
“You give me no choice, then. I’ll drive by on my way home from my parents tonight just to make sure everything’s okay.”
“Be my guest. Maybe then you’ll realize you’re overreacting.”
“I don’t overreact.”
Another obnoxious laugh exploded out of her. Was he really going to stand there—with a straight face, no less—and say that like it was the truth? He was delusional.
It’s not like her bakery was a crime scene with blood and guts. A few things got tossed around, a few dozen cupcakes were destroyed. The mess was cleaned up and forgotten just as the situation should have been.
The bell above the door rang, and Tommy Kramer came running in like he was shot out of cannon. “We’re here for my cupcakes!” he declared, and not wanting to ignore an excited birthday boy, Shay leaned across the counter and offered him a warm smile.
“They are right here waiting for you. And you know what?”
“What?” His eyes lit up in curiosity, the freckles on his cheek defined by the big smile spreading wide.
“I have a special one right here I’m only allowed to give to someone on their birthday.”
“It’s my birthday!” Tommy exclaimed.
“It is?”
He nodded with the excitement and joy Shay so adored.
“Then this is for you.” Shay handed him a cupcake with a fondant birthday hat on top.
“Mom, look what I got!”
“Thank you, Shay,” Sarah Kramer said with a big smile before bending down to her son’s level to admire his cupcake.
“Isn’t it awesome, Mom? Can I eat it now? Can I? Please?”
“You’re a good person, Shay Michaels,” Matt said just loud enough for her to hear. “While I’d love to stay for you to mock me some more, I have to get going. I’ll drive by later.”
“Suit yourself. If you want to waste your time, I’m not going to stop you.”
“Making sure you’re safe isn’t wasting my time.”
Before she could think of a retort, Matt crouched down to wish little Tommy Kramer a happy birthday before disappearing out the door.