Sweet Heat Rising (Thoroughbred Men Series) (3 page)

4

The next morning, Sarah threw her brown hair into a casual pony tail in the car and headed in to the bakery. She donned her apron and began shaping the loaves that had risen from the night before. She loved challah bread. The dough was so very smooth and had such a rich smell. She carefully braided each loaf and placed it in the warmer for a second rise. She moved the coffee cakes to the front of the case, rearranged some of the muffins, sweet breads, and made room for the trays of cake donuts. The tinkle of the bell announced the first customer of the day and Sarah greeted them warmly.

Later that afternoon, as she swept around the display case and tables, she heard the bell on the door chime yet once again. She looked up thru the window and saw the large delivery truck in front of the shop. Sarah said casually without looking up, “Thank you, just put it on the table. I will be right there,” as she finished with the broom and dustpan.

Matt just smiled as he viewed her shapely figure. He watched as she kneeled down, surprised it was the same woman from yesterday. She was definitely something to look at. Long brown silky hair pulled back, curvy bottom that was accentuated by a bow from her apron. She turned around, carefully held the dustpan as to not lose any debris …  and promptly dropped it. “Oh hey! You aren’t Jill!” she exclaimed, placing her hand over her bosom.

Matt viewed her expression of relief. She was simply gorgeous when she smiled. He said, “Nope, but I do have a box for you.” He must have taken her by surprise. He eyed the dustpan on the floor and felt guilty for making her drop it, however, he would certainly enjoy the view when she swept it up again. That bow on her apron was putting wicked thoughts in his mind.

Sarah smiled warmly and said, “It's the new mini loaf pans I had ordered and a few spring forms pans. Would you like something to drink or are you finished with your route? Is this your route now? Where is Jill?”  she rambled on a bit nervously. He really did startle her, but she was pleased to see him again.

Matt smiled broadly “I’d love something however I have a few more deliveries before my route is finished, and yes, it's my route now. Jill gave her notice and I am taking it over. Is this your shop?” he said impressed. It was a cute little shop and seemed to be busy judging by the almost empty display cases, or at least he hoped so for her sake.

Sarah thought, so much for small town gossips! She had no idea who he was other than her new delivery driver, but could find out easily about Jill ...and about Matt. She planned on asking around to see what dirt she could dig up about them both. She hated to be a gossip but it was the easiest way to find out anything around here.

“We close up shop usually around five o’clock.” She glanced at the clock. She saw it was barely three, “However, I am getting a few things started for tomorrow and will be here for a bit longer,” she said blushing. She could not believe she had just told him what time she got off work! She did not even know the guy!

Matt grinned widely, took the clip board back from Sarah after she signed and winked. “Sounds like a date” he said, whistled and headed out the door. He hoped she would not be opposed to some time spent getting to know each other. He could use the company and was not ashamed to admit that he was definitely attracted to her. It had been a long time since he felt that way and planned to pursue her.

Sarah was surprised at her boldness, and relieved at the same time that Tyler was off today.  She didn't have to worry about an audience, questions or a third ‘wheel’ in the shop. “A date,” Sarah said nervously and was really looking forward to the next few hours passing quickly. She stepped back, watched his truck pull away and realized she was happy to have plans for the night with him.

5

Sarah milled about the shop: wiped down counters, cleaned the glass, straightened the magazines, watered the plants along the sill and started the next batch of loaves to rise. She carefully bagged up the few loaves that were still present in the case, marked them down and placed them in the basket at the end of the counter.  She flipped the sign closed and locked the door.

Sarah moved to start a pot of hot coffee and set a table carefully. She threw out the little carnation in the tiny glass vase and put a new cloth down on the table. She grabbed a few plates, polished the forks and fidgeted with it for a few. Tired, she rubbed her face. She then looked at her flour covered hands and frowned. Sarah raced to the bathroom as she saw a sedan pull in front of the shop. She carefully wiped down her face to free it from any flour, smoothed back her hair and took off her apron as she heard a knock on the door of the bakery.

Matt stood outside of the glass door, still in his uniform. He held a small bouquet of flowers and smiled when he saw her. He watched as she unbolted the door and welcomed him inside, bolting it again behind him. “I thought you had closed up and ran out on me” he joked as he handed her the bouquet. “I’m really glad you waited. I hope I haven’t kept you too long.” He was a bit concerned when he saw the parking spots in front of the store were empty and all the lights were off.

Sarah accepted the bouquet shyly.  It had been quite a while since she received flowers and this experience was definitely different from any of the guys she had grown up with, or had dated about town. It was nice to not already know all about him.  She could get to know him without knowing every detail of his life already. She hoped that since he was a stranger, they would have so much to talk about. “Please come in,” she said and gestured to the table. “I need to put these in some water. I will be right back,” she said and walked around the glass case towards the kitchen.

Matt waited patiently for her. He stood by the table as she came back from the kitchen with the bouquet. He watched as she placed it on the table next to the other tiny vase. “I like yours a lot better” she smiled as she pointed at the vase next to his. Matt replied “I’m glad, allow me?” and pulled out the chair for Sarah.

She seemed so nervous and it was adorable watching her flutter around the tiny bakery. She seemed quite at home in her shop. He assumed it was his presence that made her antsy.  He wanted to put her at ease, so they could get to know each other better. She was the loveliest woman he had seen in quite some time and he was definitely interested.

Sarah fidgeted just a bit and said, “Well, I need to get us something from the case. What would you like? Do you want some coffee?” She was a bit thrown off by him bring her flowers. She was so attracted to him. She didn't have much to offer, other than some of the items in the case. She could have kicked herself because she felt like she should have maybe made dinner for the two of them or something a bit more special.

Matt smiled, picked up the two plates and said, “No pressure! Let’s just do this casually and not quite so formal. What are you having this evening?”  He could almost watch the tension melt from her and found it quite humorous that she seemed to be so nervous around him.

Sarah smiled in relief that he seemed to be so easy going. She pointed at the case and said, “I think I may have a bit of the blueberry coffee cake. I’ve been smelling it all day and it’s been calling my name.” Sarah knew she was rambling but couldn't help it. She kept noticing things about him that she found attractive, that she had never noticed before: his tanned arms, his hands, even his nose was gorgeous. Oh, she had it bad!

Matt smiled. “Let’s make that two slices then, and yes to the coffee. How about you cut and I pour?” he offered, pointing to the fresh pot on the buffet table against the wall. He marveled again at how quaint the small shop was and how inviting it seemed. She had done an excellent job with the decor and every corner had her touch.

Sarah tried not to notice how very alone they were in the shop. She could not help it though, she could smell his cologne and was so very intrigued by him. He seemed so large in the tiny room. It was a bit intimidating. She responded, “Sounds good. Would you like a big piece or little piece of coffee cake?” she asked politely as she took the saucers from him to serve the confections.

Matt laughed, “Big piece of cake, if that’s okay? I have quite the sweet tooth” he revealed, sheepishly. She was simply adorable and had the prettiest smile. He admired that he could smell her perfume as she walked past him around the small glass display case. He watched her pony tail sway as she moved gracefully. Everything about her seemed so very delicate and feminine.

Sarah muttered under her breath, “You don't look it,” and heard him chuckle again. She felt her face heat up, mortified.  He looked amazingly fit and if he had a sweet tooth, he processed it better than she ever did. She could not believe she said that aloud. He captivated her, and she was having a terribly hard time playing it cool around him.

Matt smiled carefully, it was nice to know she was interested in him as well. “Well, thank you.  You look pretty good yourself,” he said easily pouring the coffee into two delicate cups. “Would you care for cream and sugar in yours?” he asked, as he placed the two cups on the table she had carefully set.

Sarah was mollified when he did not tease her for the slip of her tongue, instead he had let it drop. “Yes, please,” and she set the two small saucers down and moved to have a seat. Matt stepped over again, pulled out the chair for her carefully. He took his own seat and joined her.

Matt smiled at her and said questioningly, “So?” He studied her profile. Not only did Sarah have the prettiest smile, it was combined with a sweet dimple on one pink cheek. She had dark lashes that framed her eyes, with centers that looked like they were made of warm chocolate.

She tried to be casual, but found it was hard as she noticed him watching her. She shook out a cloth napkin carefully, not meeting his eyes. After a few minutes she replied back, “So?” and smiled back at him, feeling a bit nervous at his attention. He studied her with the most pleased expression. She wondered if he enjoyed her nervousness.

Matt picked up his fork, breaking eye contact with her in attempt to put her at ease. She seemed to be pretty timid. He hoped she warmed up fast and was a bit more talkative. “So tell me about yourself, Sarah?” he said. He could look at her all night, but had a feeling that would only make her more nervous.

Sarah picked up her fork in response. “There is nothing to tell really. What do you want to know?” It had been forever since she had really been on an official date. What in the world do you talk about? She did not want to discuss her ex-husband nor did she want to discuss the weather… and all she really had to talk about was work, and that bored most people she knew. It was just not interesting to discuss what temperature the butter needed to be at to make a good pie crust.

Matt took a bite of the dessert and gave a small sigh of contentment. “My gosh, this is amazing! Is this your own recipe?” he was impressed. Good looks, independent, and can cook. All definite positives in his book. Things seemed to have started out strained this evening and he wanted her to open up so he could get to know her.

Sarah beamed at the compliment, and took a bite of her own. “My goodness, I am pretty good at this,” she said lightly with a laugh. It always pleased her when her recipes turned out good, even more so when she was wanting to impress the person it was for!

He chuckled and said, “Yeah, having your own place I would say so! But seriously this is divine.  So what do you usually talk about on your dates?” He continued as he took another bite. He knew he was fishing. He wanted to see how things stood for him in her world. She was stunning and most women were usually taken, or so he had found out.

Sarah frowned a bit at the question. “I don't really date,” she said quietly. She wasn't upset about it, far from it in fact. It was just the truth. She did not date. She was normally very nervous to date someone. Josh still set her on edge even after all these years. It was amazing how being so wrong about someone could destroy your self confidence. The only person who had shown interest recently was Tyler and he was not on the radar. There was no interest for her and to have a relationship, it could not be one-sided. Plus, the other guys in town either were married, dating or just not interested it seemed.

Matt smiled at her response, took a sip of the coffee and said, “I'm glad, no competition,” he said with a wink.  He was very pleased to hear she was available. He was also pleased to see her open up a bit with his remark, instead of being jumpy or nervous.

Sarah laughed openly, “Nope, no competition! You are in the clear. So, let’s turn the tables. You tell me all about yourself now,” she asked with a bravado she did not feel. She wanted to get the focus off of her and see what he was all about.

Matt put down his fork and said, “Well, my name is Matt Geary. I’m thirty-eight, a widower, no children and work for UPS for the last eight years. I just transferred from Virginia Beach about three months ago,” he said with a smirk. Name, age, and serial number, he thought amused.

Sarah sat back stunned. A widower? “I am so very sorry.” Great, was he looking for a friend, a girlfriend, a rebound? Was he damaged goods too? She was instantly wary and Matt could see her expression change a bit and become guarded.

He smiled easily, reached over and patted her hand. Her hands were so soft, he noted casually.  “It's okay,” he said, “I was extremely young when we married and she was killed in a car accident about three years later. I have been single for quite a while. Everyone looks at you differently when they find out and apologizes.

“They just don't understand that because I am a widower that I am okay...do I miss her? Sure, I do. It has been a long time and I always wonder how things would have moved forward in our lives. She was very happy and always smiling. I think that is what hits me the hardest, is that it’s rare to find someone who is so open and just happy to be, you know?” he said, picking up his fork again. “Does it bother you that I have been married before?” taking another bite, he watched her carefully trying to judge her response.

Sarah was actually not surprised. People had made assumptions about her for several years now.  She herself had assumed instantly that he was ‘damaged goods’ when he said he was widowed. He was a very good looking man, but had assumed he was divorced like she was. “No, I’m just surprised a bit. I was once married before as well, a long time ago. Does it bother you that I don't date much or that I was once married?” she said trying to lighten the mood. Things had taken a quick turn and she wanted the smiling, relaxed Matt back in the room.

Matt was relieved to see that she was opening up with him and becoming a bit more talkative. “Not at all, I’m actually really happy about that unless you are done dating me already or hung up on your ex?” he said lightly, took a sip of his coffee and wagged his eyebrows at her. He was glad to see she did not have an expression of pity on her face. That was one thing that ruined several other first dates with other women. Part of the reason he jumped at the opportunity to transfer away. He needed a fresh start.

Sarah laughed loudly, picked up her coffee cup, clinked it against his and smiled widely “Nope, not hung up on my ex whatsoever and not done at all if this is how it is dating you,” she said lightly and was surprised at her boldness.

They continued to make a bit of small talk, she told him of her dreams to have her own bakery, the struggles she has had in the past: recipes, ideas, advertising, keeping it open, hiring employees. She shared that it had been a dream since she was a small girl. She carefully revealed that she had not been married long and had divorced quite some time ago. Sarah liked that he was so very easy to talk to.

Matt shared that he had finally moved because he needed a new start in a new town. It was hard marrying your high school sweetheart and having lost her. The town he had grown up in was full of people that knew him, and each felt sorry for his loss. There was no healing for him, if each day someone brought up the loss of his wife.

He felt guilty that he did not hurt anymore and wanted to move forward. There was no magic, no mystery, no secrets, no excitement in getting to know someone. So he asked for the position when it opened up, and jumped at the chance for a fresh start.

He admitted he began jogging to get out of the house with some of his friends from work, she shared that she liked to walk along the trail near her place but confessed that it was creepy sometimes to go by herself and she considered getting a puppy but hadn't yet because she spent a lot of time at the shop. He finished up his slice of coffee cake and sat back sipping his coffee as she talked. He was enchanted by how her face lit up when she talked and thought about how much he was enjoying her company.

She marveled at how easy the conversation seemed to be between them. “Am I boring you? Would you like to try something different for your sweet tooth?” she said jokingly. “I am talking your ear off. I can really talk sometimes!” She had not laughed so much in so very long, nor had she felt so happy in such a long time.

Matt smiled and said, “Nah, I am full, besides, I have an excuse to come by again to try something new, don't I?” He knew he was hinting and testing the proverbial waters, but he was enjoying her company so much and wanted the opportunity to see her again.

Sarah beamed in delight. “You are always welcome to come by, you do not need an invitation.” She had hoped he would be interested in seeing her again, maybe in a more romantic setting or just as friends. She sincerely hoped it would be the first since he was so attractive, but she had not been so content in so long she would welcome the companionship as well.

Matt smiled and said, “I am glad to hear it, want more coffee?” He was not ready for the night to be over but it seemed to have wrapped up somewhat. He hoped that he would have a chance to see her again sooner rather than later.

Sarah declined the coffee (she had to sleep tonight and odds were that the coffee this late in the day was gonna keep her up.... Either that or thinking about him) and stood to gather the plates. She felt he was concluding the evening and wanted to keep herself busy. She felt nervous again. If this was the date ending would he try to kiss her, she wondered.

Matt offered to help and gathered his plate and cup to follow her to the kitchen. “I need to see if the temperature is right in the warmer before I head out this evening and I am going to run this through the wash really quickly,” she said as she put the dishes down in the metal sink full of suds.

Matt wanted to prolong their time together. “I will tell you what, you wash and I will dry,” he said lightly, pointing at a towel. “It's the least I can do to earn my meal.” He teased her again.  She smiled and handed him a sudsy plate. He whipped a dishtowel off the rack with a flourish. He dutifully dried it off and stacked it on shelf above the sink, she moved to hand him another plate, same pattern.

“Sarah?” Matt said drying the last cup, as she wrung out the dishcloth and pulled the plug on the sink. “I am really glad I was going through your neighborhood with the guys the other day,” he said quietly. “This has been so nice and I would love to see you again.”

Sarah smiled warmly at him and took the towel from him, hanging it on the peg. “I am glad you were running there too. I just wish I did not have so much dirt on my forehead. I was really embarrassed about that,” she said shyly as she looked up into his blue eyes. The kitchen felt like it had just shrunk in size and she felt decidedly feminine beside him. She had not felt such anticipation in so long. She could not help but look at his sensuous mouth and wonder again if he would kiss her before leaving for the night.

Matt leaned in towards her slowly, he reached out and put one hand on her waist. “Don't be, you are real and I like it a lot,” and lightly kissed her lips. Her lips were just as soft as he imagined they would be. He adored the way she watched his mouth as he moved to kiss her. “Thank you for a wonderful evening,” he said softly against her lips. He pulled back and turned to head out. “Maybe I will see you soon?” he asked again.

Sarah said, “I would love that,” and genuinely meant it. Her heart fluttered in her chest still from his touch. She unconsciously touched her lips and smiled softly at him. She felt so overwhelmed as he leaned in and kissed her, and she wanted to repeat it again - which surprised her even more.

Matt nodded, pretended to bow towards her like an old fashioned gentleman and headed out the front door of the bakery, smiling. He marveled that he could taste cherry Chapstick on himself, and it made him think of how delicious her soft lips tasted. He adored the way she touched her lips after their kiss. He grinned again, as he planned to make sure he had the opportunity to kiss those cherry lips again.

Sarah locked the door behind him as he left, and stood leaning against it. She grinned from ear to ear and replayed their conversations in her head. Oh she liked him, a lot! He was easy to talk to and a quick wit about him that kept her on her toes and kept her laughing. She finished up in the shop and headed home, thought of his smile and the kiss they had shared.