Page 16 of Sugar Coated Secrets

We both know it’s my car, and it isn’t double parked. He wants to do this outside. Alright, I’ll bite.

I turn to Dulce, who’s watching. “I’ll be right back, Dulce.” I drop my gaze to her lips. “Don’t go anywhere.” I open the door and give the Dickhead a fake smile. “After you, Officer.”

He walks out and stops in front of his cruiser, holding his stuff. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting breakfast,” I reply with a shrug.

“You know exactly what the fuck I’m talking about.”

I smile. “No, not really. Just getting breakfast. I hear Dulce’s food is the best.”

I see the way his eyes flicker when I mention her name. He’s knee-deep crazy about her. I just hope the closest he’s come to her is thinking about her while he jerks off.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m from here. Unlike you.”

“Yeah, well, news flash. This is my town now, not yours. You might have some people here falling at your feet because you’re a celebrity, but I’m warning you. That woman in there? You leave her the fuck alone.”

“Is that a threat…Officer?” I say coldly.

He gives me a chilling smile. “You think I can’t make your time here difficult.” He opens his driver’s side door. “You have a lead foot, Mr. Keller. Be careful where you step. I’ve heard about how you and your friends treated her in high school. You made her life miserable for four years. Actually, eight years, but at least for the past four of them, I’ve been there for her while you wereoff doing nothing good for anyone except yourself. You don’t give a shit what happens to her.”

I don’t answer and watch him leave. I let him think whatever he wants before going back inside.

Dulce Webster is mine.

7

DULCE

“You know Ford Keller, and you didn’t tell me?” Katie asks as soon as Danny and Ford go outside.

“I don’t know him,” I deny, pretty sure she can hear the lie in my voice. “We went to the same high school.”

She looks doubtful. Then her eyes widen in horror as I pull the wad of money from the tip jar. “You’re not giving that back. It’s not like he has trouble keeping the lights on.”

I drop it back in the jar grudgingly.

She cleans out the coffee machine. “He is so hot,” she says with a dreamy look in her eyes. “Don’t you think he’s hot?”

I check the orders for the day on the tablet, and my tone is informal. “I have eyes.”

“The way he looked at you… Jesus…”

I almost drop the tablet. “What are you talking about?” I ask, confused.

She grins and lowers her voice so the two ladies don’t overhear. “Ford Keller wants you.”

I shake my head. “No, he doesn’t.”

I’m the last thing he wants. Right?

“He isn’t the only one. Officer Mays wants to marry you, I think. He definitely wants to fuck you.”

“Katie,” I scold, but my cheeks flush, looking over at the two ladies still seated at the small table. I’m glad they’re engrossed in their phones, probably posting that they spotted celebrity race car driver Ford Keller.

“That is the last thing that crossed my mind.”

---