Hooking Him (How to Catch an Alpha #3)(6)

“They are, but I kind of love how they devour life, even at their age.”

“True,” she agrees with a thoughtful look. “So about you dating. I think I might know someone—”

“No.” I cut her off, then soften my tone, not wanting to hurt her feelings. “I’m not ready.”

She reaches out, grasping my hand. “Anna.”

“I will date . . .” I cover her hand with mine. “One day. Just not yet.” Her expression softens; then we both look toward the doorway that leads to the front of the shop when the chime dings, letting us know someone has come in. “It’s not Gaston. He would already be shouting for you,” I say, and she giggles, squeezing my hand before letting it go, and I focus on her.

“Do you mind getting that? I’m going to go place the order for next week.”

“No problem. Also, make sure you add extra lemons to the list. I want to make lemon bars again. They were a hit last weekend.”

“Got it.” She winks, then starts toward the office as I head out to the front of the shop.

When I clear the doorway, I frown when I don’t see anyone. Then every single cell in my body seems to freeze when an all-too-familiar man rises out of a squat from in front of the display case.

“You.” The word comes out in a whisper.

“Anna.” Calvin’s deep voice washes across my skin, making me tingle in a few unwanted places.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, wondering how he knows my name. The last time I saw him, he was leaving in his police cruiser after issuing Edie a ticket, along with informing her that she wasn’t allowed to drive, so she’d have to find someone else to take the wheel.

All without even sparing me a glance.

“I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

“You’re forgiven,” I say instantly.

He tips his head to the side, and I don’t want to find that subtle movement attractive, but I can’t help myself. Dammit. “What exactly are you forgiving me for?”

“Whatever you’re apologizing for.”

He grins, and damn if that isn’t attractive too. “Well, since that’s done, what do you recommend?”

I shake my head, and my brows draw together. “What?”

“What do you recommend?”

“Do you mean from here?” I wave my hands around the shop.

He looks around, then asks somewhat sarcastically, “Isn’t this a bakery?”

My right cheek twitches, a tic that surfaces when I’m feeling annoyed or uncomfortable. “No, it’s actually a cover for a money-laundering operation. The stuff in the display case isn’t even real. It’s all made from plastic.” I slip my most wide-eyed, innocent look into place. “Pretty amazing, right?”

He bites his bottom lip like he’s trying not to laugh, and I have the urge to go over-the-top, Christian Grey alpha on his ass and demand he not do that. “Gorgeous . . . and a smart-ass.”

Wait. Is he saying I’m gorgeous?

Never mind. I don’t care. Time to get us back on track. “Everything here is good.”

“Everything.” He eyes me in a way that causes my nipples to pebble against the lace of my bra.

I cross my arms over my chest to hide the evidence that my body finds him attractive and hitch out my hip. “I’m sure if you live in town you’ve heard that this is the best place to take care of whatever sweet craving you might have.”

“I haven’t heard that, but I’m thinking you might be right.”

I start to open my mouth to ask him what exactly he’s doing here when the door chimes. It’s Chrissie’s husband, Gaston, looking as handsome as ever, even dressed casually in sneakers, jeans, and a plain navy-blue shirt. I would have sworn Gaston was the most attractive man in town, and Chrissie’s best friend’s husband, Tyler, second to him. But now, after meeting Calvin, I know I was wrong.

“Hey, Anna.” He smiles at me before scanning the bakery. “Is Chrissie in the back?”

“Yeah, she’s in the office, placing the order for next week.”

He nods, then eyes Calvin at the counter. He lifts his chin at him before asking me, “Are you good?”

“Yep, this is Officer Miller.” I wave one hand out in Calvin’s direction.

“Detective,” Calvin says.

“Okay, this is Detective Miller,” I say, emphasizing the word sarcastically. “He came in today to make sure we’re on the up-and-up.”

“What?” Gus frowns, turning his attention to Calvin. “Is there a problem?”

“Nope, Anna here was just telling me about the shop being a cover for a money-laundering operation, which surprised me, since it’s never come up on our radar.”

Me and my big mouth.

“Anna.” I turn to Gaston when he calls my name and wait for him to say more, but he doesn’t. Instead, he looks between Calvin and me a couple of times, and then his expression fills with some sort of understanding that I do not get, and he shakes his head. “I’m going to go check on Chrissie and see if she has time to go get lunch.”

“Okay,” I say, and he glances at us once more before muttering something under his breath and disappearing into the back of the shop. Once he’s gone, I turn to Calvin. “I swear if you get me fired, I will kill you.”