Page 5 of In the Arms of a Hero

His chin jerked back in surprise, and he tilted his head, his gaze roaming her face carefully, scrutinizing her features.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, waving her hand as she brushed off his perusal. Her smile was still warm on her face, matching her words. “You were Mr. Popular, and I was truly a nerd in high school. We wouldn’t have run in the same circles.”

He searched her face, trying to discern if she was hurt that he didn’t recognize her, but she turned her back to fill his pastry order. High school was a long time ago, but he was struck with memories of cliques, and he regretted the idea that he would have ignored someone just because of the unspoken hierarchies. Baytown High School was certainly large enough that he wouldn’t have known everyone outside his class.

His mind turned to his brother, who’d recently reconnected with a girl whom he’d treated badly in high school. Ivy was wonderful, and thank goodness, she’d forgiven Andy for the words he’d thrown at her many years earlier. Aaron had to admit he was self-involved in high school, and with the typical cliques, he could have easily hurt someone’s feelings without meaning to.

He cleared his throat, continuing to look for clues in her expression that she harbored ill feelings when she set his pastry bag on the counter. Not seeing any, he breathed a little easier. “I feel foolish. How could I have missed a beauty like you?”

She threw her head back and laughed. The melodic sound wrapped around him like a hug, in stark contrast to the hollow exchanges of past flirtations. When he was younger and interested in hookups, he quickly discerned there was no sincerity in the mannerisms, including laughter. But hearing Belinda’s delight only made him smile wider.

She dropped her chin and, still smiling, held his gaze. “Believe me, I had braces during most of high school and spent all my spare time with my face hidden behind the lens of a camera. I was in the photography club and took pictures of football and baseball games. I’m sure you must have been in my camera sights at some point.”

By now, his pastry bag sat on the counter next to his coffee, and she’d taken his money. The next customer behind him was inching forward, but Aaron longed to have more time with her. This delightful woman had observed from the sidelines, capturing moments he’d lived on the field.

By now, a woman interested in his charms would usually leave her phone number for him. But other than friendly conversation, Belinda had not indicated she was interested in seeing him again. Seizing the moment, he asked, “Any chance we can talk sometime when it’s less crowded or you’re not at work?”

He fought not to squirm as she peered at him intently. He wasn’t used to such intense scrutiny and tried not to chafe under the perusal.

Belinda’s lips remained curved upward as she nodded. “I have a morning and early afternoon job appointment, but I told Bess I’d come back to help her clean when she closes up about four. You’re more than welcome to stop by.”

With the promise of a quieter rendezvous, his spirits lifted, and he nodded, his wide smile aimed her way. Glancing at the woman in line behind him trying to keep a toddler entertained, he waved. “Hey, Melanie! How’s little Suzette?” Melanie was married to Jose, an officer with the Virginia Marine Police, the same department his brother Andy worked for.

“Oh, hi, Aaron. We’re all good.”

He tossed down extra money and said, “I’ll pay for Melanie's order since she’s been kind enough to wait.”

Melanie offered her thanks, but the wider smile on Belinda’s face was what he craved. “I’ll see you after my shift.” With that, he walked out to the parking lot with a strange, unfamiliar feeling in his chest—a combination of excitement and regret. He hated that he didn’t remember her when she had recognized him.But that was high school.

Hours later, after a long-ass shift, he and Lisa pulled into the station’s parking lot. She turned to him and said, “I swear you’ve looked at your watch continuously for the past couple of hours. Have you got a hot date lined up?”

“No!” He belatedly realized his one-word response came out more vehemently than he wanted.

Lisa laughed. “I should have known. You never get excited about a date… or even a girlfriend… or whatever you call them.”

He just grinned, refusing to acknowledge that his mind had been centered firmly on Belinda all day. Something that definitely didn’t happen with just a date. Once inside, he signed out and then jogged back to his vehicle.

The sheriff’s department was located in the tiny town of Easton, the county seat. Thankfully, the bakery was only a five-minute drive away. Truthfully, he would have driven much farther, but considering he didn’t want to miss her, he hurried into the bakery as soon as he parked and ran his hands through his hair.

The door chimed when he walked inside, and Belinda looked up from behind the display case where she was wiping it down. She smiled, and he could have sworn his heart beat faster. He shoved whatever the fuck was going on with his insides when he saw her to the back of his mind. Slapping on what he’d been told was his panty-dropping smile, he walked to the empty counter.

“Nice to see you again, Deputy Bergstrom. How are you?” she greeted with a twinkle in her eyes.

He leaned on the counter in the same position he’d taken this morning, smiling when she leaned toward him from her side. “I’m doing fine, Belinda. But don’t you think you could call me Aaron?”

“You’re in uniform,” she stated as though that explained everything about her greeting. “I want to show the level of respect you’re due.”

“Well, when I’m out of uniform, you can call me Aaron.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized the double entendre. Of course, at a bar, the typical hookup would’ve just laughed, winked, and commented about how they’d like to see him out of his uniform. But Belinda’s reaction was different. She blinked, and for a second, he thought she would call him out on his flirting. But she simply laughed and said, “If you ever come into the shop when you’re off duty, I’ll be sure to call you Aaron.”

Before he had a chance to say anything else, Bess walked through the door from the back. She smiled widely, her appearance much like Belinda's. “Hello! I think you’ve come in several times to my shop. I’m Bess, Belinda’s sister.”

Belinda laughed. “Bess, you should brag that you’re the owner of Bess’s Bakery!”

“Being your sister is the most important thing,” Bess retorted, her hands on her hips.

The two women wrapped their arms around each other as they faced him. “Bess, this is Deputy Aaron Bergstrom, a newdevotee of your shop,” Belinda said. “And this is the kick-ass owner, my sister.”

Bess added, “You’re welcome here, anytime.”

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