THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU (The Thorntons #2)

Chapter 2-2

When Megan saw her sister and Harrison coming into The Rise and Shine, a part of her wanted them to leave. Immediately. She knew it was out of pride; she didn’t want them to see how utterly she’d failed. Especially Sara, as the business had been Megan’s attempt to show Sara that she could take care of herself.

Now look at her. She’d been robbed, her bakery was a mess, and she didn’t know what to say or how to feel. She felt curiously numb about it all. Shouldn’t she be crying? Raging? Something?

She stood stiff as a board when Sara hugged her, and she hugged her back only because she knew Sara would expect it. Harrison placed a hand on her shoulder in solidarity, but he looked so much like Caleb that Megan had to look away.

Caleb. Of course he’d be the police officer called to the scene. Just her luck. Although she wanted to hate that Caleb was there, she also had been relieved to see him this morning. His presence had been surprisingly calm, which she attributed to his training as a police officer more than her reaction to him as a person. This was what she told herself, although a voice whispered in her mind that it had everything to with him as a person—and as a man.

“Megan, what do you want us to do?” Sara asked her. “Do you want us to help clean? Or should we call somebody? I’m not sure we can do all this on our own, especially with the glass everywhere.”

Megan blinked. Cleaning. Glass. “I need to call my insurance company.”

“I’ll go with you to your office. Harrison, do you know somebody who can help?”

He smiled. “Why is it I’m always the one calling people?”

“Because you know everybody and their dog in this town, and you’ve probably gotten beers with them, too.” Sara kissed his cheek before taking Megan’s elbow and leading her into the back.

Sara didn’t say anything, and for that, Megan was grateful. She didn’t want sympathy. She wanted…she didn’t know what she wanted. To find the person who did this and punch them? Run far away and never look back?

The task of calling her insurance company gave her something to do, and for that, she was grateful. She needed something concrete, something beyond thinking and worrying. Some of the feeling that had left her body slowly came back, and by the time she hung up the phone, she felt, if not renewed, at least not as numb as she had been.

Sara rubbed Megan’s arm before they left the office. “Hey, look at me,” she said in a soft voice. “We’ll figure this out. We’ll get the bakery cleaned up, and they’ll find the guy who did this.”

Megan wanted to tell her sister that there was no we. She had to do this on her own, but one look at Sara’s face and she bit her tongue. She just nodded instead.

Gonzalez interviewed Megan, and she told him everything she knew, which was actually very little. She couldn’t think who would’ve done this. She didn’t have enemies—not really. Sure, maybe her next-door neighbor didn’t love her that one time she accidentally left the hose on and flooded her yard, but Megan couldn’t see Nora Blakely robbing her bakery for that reason.

“A cleaning crew is coming within the hour, and Officer Gonzalez has gone back to the station,” Harrison announced. “But we can get started cleaning. Megan, where do you keep your trash bags and cleaning supplies?”

She showed him, and she, Sara, Harrison, and Jubilee began the clean up. As she began to rifle through her bakery’s things, the anger she’d been waiting for bloomed in her chest. A hot flush crawled up from her chest to her cheeks, and she clenched her jaw so tightly that she knew she’d have a headache later from it.

Fuck whoever did this. I’d love to take them out back and break their kneecaps.

When she picked up a piece of glass and accidentally cut herself—a light scratch—she cursed. “f**k whoever did this!” she yelled. “Who would be this big of an asshole?”

Her question wasn’t directed to anyone in particular, but she saw Sara open her mouth to answer. But before her sister could say anything, Jubilee interjected, “Clearly it was somebody who has a very sad life. He probably sits at home watching soap operas and losing bidding wars on eBay, because he collects Smurfs figurines and has an entire room dedicated to them. And when he lost out on a rare one a week ago, he decided to go robbing.”

The trio stared at Jubilee. Then Harrison started laughing, which in turn caused both Megan and Sara to laugh.

“Bless you, Jubi,” Sara said as she hugged the girl. “I think we all needed that.”

“And I’m not sure why you think I’m not serious,” Jubilee replied solemnly.

That only set off more peals of laughter, which was how Caleb found them when he returned after interviewing people next door.

“Should I ask why you’re laughing?”

Megan saw him, and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She shook her head. “Don’t ask.”

“I probably shouldn’t.” The gleam in his eyes dimmed slightly when he added in a quiet voice, “Megan, can I talk to you privately?”

A shiver raced up her spine at his voice. She let him take her to the back and into her office, as the cleaning crew had just arrived and had begun working on the kitchen. Caleb shut the door and turned to face her.

“I wasn’t sure if you were aware, but this is the third robbery this month here in town. Unfortunately, you were hit the hardest by far.” He folded his arms, grimacing. “You’re lucky nothing was really stolen.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to refute the idea that she was at all lucky, but she refused to let him bait her right now. When he didn't say anything, she asked, “Is that all you needed to tell me?”

His mouth twisted. “Not exactly. Due to the rash of robberies in this area, my boss wants someone to keep an eye on this block. Specifically, he wants me to watch your store, as he thinks the perpetrator will return. Since he didn’t steal anything the first time around.”

“You’re telling me you’re going to guard my bakery?” She scoffed. “Is that really how the police are going to use their time?”

He frowned. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t be happy about this, but this isn’t some random thing. We’re trying to keep this area—and you—safe. Keeping watch here will make the perpetrator wary. He won’t do something this brash again if he knows the police are onto his movements.”

“I get that.” She rubbed her arms. She knew why she was agitated: this meant that Caleb would be around. A lot. Even more than usual. Would he be outside her very door for days? Weeks? Her heart raced, and she didn’t know if it was from fear or excitement.

Maybe a little of both.

“You know what? Do whatever you think you need to do,” she said, exhaustion lacing her words. “I’m not going to like having you skulking around, but if it helps catch this guy, fine.” She pushed past him, her shoulder bumping into his. “Just don’t think I’m going to bring you coffee and a donut every morning as you sit outside my door, okay?”

He grinned that grin, the one that made her stomach flip. “Why would I expect Megan Flannigan to be nice to me? I’m not totally insane.”

They stared at each other, their bodies brushing. Megan refused to acknowledge she was trembling, or that she could see golden flecks in Caleb’s eyes. Or that he smelled like cedar and vetiver, and she wanted to inhale those scents until she was dizzy from them.

“Don’t get in my way.” She was annoyed to hear how breathy her voice was.

“And don’t get in my way.” He leaned down, his hot breath fanning her cheek. “Unless you want to,” he said in a low voice.

She inhaled. Their gazes collided. And then before she could make another huge mistake, Megan darted from the room.