Page 6 of Evergreen Desires
Oh my God. Stop talking, Beau.
Jake blinked, clearly not expecting that either. He gave a nervous little chuckle and nodded, then glanced at the case of beer in my hand like he wasn’t sure if this was a flirtation or the start of a bad rom-com. “Thanks,” he muttered, taking a half-step back as if giving me space might make this interaction less weird.
Realizing I was fully blocking the doorway like some sort of welcome mat with boundary issues, I scrambled to the side. “Right—sorry, have a good afternoon, Jake.”
He nodded again and slipped into the store, not quite making eye contact, and I stood there for half a second too long, watching the door swing shut behind him.
Then I climbed into my Jeep and groaned aloud, tossing the beer onto the passenger seat.
“Smooth,” I muttered to myself. “Real smooth.”
But I couldn't bring myself to start the engine. Something held me back, an unexplainable force that seemed to pull me toward Jake.
CHAPTER 5
JAKE
I couldn't help but be captivated by Beau's striking appearance. His tall, muscular frame; brown hair; and piercing green eyes were simply mesmerizing. The deepest green I have ever seen on a person. The scruff on his face added an extra touch of ruggedness that made my heart skip a beat. But I had to refocus. I needed to concentrate on the task at hand.
"No problem, Jake, you can bump into me anytime," Beau said with a smile that made my cheeks flush. Why was he paying attention to me? I needed to snap out of it and focus on getting some food. My stomach growled in agreement. It had been a long day at the library, and now I needed sustenance to get me through another cold night in my car. "I sincerely hope to bump into you again sometime, " Beau added, his gaze fixed on me.
"Thank you," I managed to say, realizing that I hadn't moved since our collision. I took a step back, reminding myself to keep my composure. Sidestepping to let Beau pass, I finally walked into the store.
Once the door closed behind me, I quickly surveyed the store's layout. No visible cameras, but there were mirrors placed strategically where the ceiling and wall met. An older man sat at the register to the left of the door. Shoplifting was far from ideal, but I needed to eat. It seemed to be my only option at this point, since Declan drained my bank account.
"Welcome in," the cashier said without looking up from his magazine.
"Thanks. Just looking, not sure what or if I'm craving anything," I replied, partially telling the truth. I needed a plausible reason to leave without buying anything, just in case.
"No problem, take your time," the cashier responded, his attention still engrossed in the magazine.
I started walking up and down the aisles, pretending to browse the products while discreetly glancing at the mirrors. The cashier seemed completely unaware, giving me a small window of opportunity. I grabbed two beef sticks from the shelf, sliding one into my hoodie pocket while casually holding the other. Moving along, I repeated the same routine with a king-size Snickers bar. The cashier barely glanced up, seemingly uninterested.
Continuing my pretense of browsing, I made my way to the cooler and then the ice cream case. Time was running out, and I knew I had to act. Taking a deep breath, I spoke loudly enough for anyone in the store to hear, but made it seem like I was talking to myself. "Shoot, it helps if you have your wallet." I retraced my steps to the beef stick shelf, returning the one in my hand, and did the same with theSnickers bar. "Sorry," I apologized to the cashier as I headed towards the door.
"Wait!" the cashier’s voice boomed, causing me to freeze in my tracks. He jumped up from his stool behind the counter. "I've been here almost 40 years; I know all the tricks." He walked around the counter towards me, and panic surged through my body.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I forgot my wallet!" My heart raced as I desperately tried to come up with an explanation. This wasn't who I was; I wasn't a criminal. The world around me started to fade, and darkness closed in on me.
CHAPTER 6
BEAU
As I watched Jake through the store window, a strange sense of calm washed over me. The lingering scent of his presence still hung in the air, evoking warm memories of honey and milk. It was an enchanting aroma that filled my senses.
I wondered where Jake was from, considering he wasn't a local. I would recognize him if he was; I knew everyone who lived in town. Maybe he was just passing through, or maybe he was staying a while. I was positive I’d recognize him if I’d seen him before. Someone as captivating as him would surely have caught my attention.
My plan was to wait for Jake to come out so we could talk, maybe even get to know each other a little better. I felt inexplicably drawn to him and wanted another chance to talk to him. But I had to shake off the creeping feeling of being a creeper. Taking a deep breath, I reached for my keys, preparing to start the engine, when I noticed Bob suddenly spring into action behind the counter.
Turning quickly, I saw Jake's panicked expression as he shook his head. Alarm bells rang in my head, and aninstinctual growl rumbled within me, urging me to protect Jake. I jumped out of my Jeep, leaving the door open, and rushed into the store. My haste caused me to stumble on the curb, but I pushed forward, flinging the door open just in time to see Jake collapse onto the floor.
As I knelt beside him, I could smell a mix of the familiar milk and honey, but this time it was tainted with the pungent scent of fear. It was overpowering, almost causing me to gag, but it only strengthened my protective instincts. I cradled Jake's head in my lap, stroking his hair gently, and called out to him.
"Jake, are you okay? Come back to me, Jake," I pleaded, my voice filled with concern. I noticed Bob's surprise as he pulled back slightly. Frankly, I am surprised myself given I met him less than 5 minutes ago.Bob must have thought I knew him better than I actually did, since I’d rushed to his aid. Maybe I could use that to my advantage. A uniformed police officer rushed into the store, his cruiser parked at an angle outside, a clear sign that he had hurried to the scene.
Still stroking Jake's hair, I felt a sense of relief as his eyes began to flutter and gradually opened. His gaze seemed unfocused as he tried to regain his bearings. I quickly spotted his glasses nearby and placed them over his eyes, keeping his head on my lap for support. I hoped when he came to, he’d realize I was helping him and not being some kind of creep. Though I couldn’t help but notice the butterflies in my stomach at being so close to him. Damn butterflies!
The police officer turned to me, inquiring about the need for an ambulance. Jake’s response came from my lap, "No ambulance, I'm fine." His voice was weak, but his determination was evident as he attempted to sit up.
