Page 70 of Wanting More
But Finn wasn't done with a laugh, she said. "And every straight woman across the county wants to be in your position. Trust me, someone is going to get the balls enough to try and throw some real shade at you one day."
Turning her head with a toss of her ponytail, Sapphire gave her an indifferent shrug before letting a slow beguiling smile form on her lips. "Let them try."
Finn groaned with delight and began folding the jackets back up before placing them in a box. "God, let me be there when it happens. It might be just as vicious as the near brawl from the deputies had earlier over your apparently wonderful cookies."
Sapphire beamed at that. She had made a dozen cookies early that morning and gave them out as samples to the sheriff and his deputies. Her intention was just to get some feedback. She needed an unbiased source to truly tell her if they were worth selling or not. Their violent reaction after their first bite was answer enough. Starting next week, she and Julie would be selling her baked goods.
Without meaning to her, thoughts of the great news naturally turned itself back to the guys. Every single fiber in her body wanted to know what they would think. She had even set aside two cookies for them to give them before they left for the bar. Those hard faces, however, as they left the café, had made her chicken out, though. Maybe she was taking this "ice treatment" too far.
"You mentioned they run the town," she said somberly, knowing she was killing the upbeat mood they had just achieved. "Do the guys really have that much sway here in Holter?"
Finn thought about that and nodded. "They have something better than sway. They have the deeds."
Sapphire gave her a confused look that told her to explain.
"3H incorporated is the name all their properties are under," Finn said as she flicked a piece of cardboard between her fingers. "But it stands for Three Heathens. From what I've heard, they own pretty much the whole town besides the municipal buildings, the grocery store, and one other little old strip mall further down toward the interstate."
Sapphire thought back to what Joel had said outside the grocery store weeks back. "Joel told me they owned a few properties around town, but…"
"Yeah, they don't really brag about it much," Finn chuckled, and Sapphire suddenly realized that Finn admired Joel and Hayden. Throughout the entire conversation, there had been a note of reverence in her voice that Sapphire had thought was fear toward the ex-gangsters but now realized it was a bit of hero-worship. The realization made her want to smile, but she kept it in check as Finn continued. "Hell, you really wouldn't know it by looking at them either. Maybe they don't even make that much money since, from what I've heard, there really hasn't been a rent increase in years. Who really knows? Bottom line, they literally own this town, and people always make sure to remember that when it comes to them."
"I see."
"But on to brighter subjects," Finn perked up. "In celebration of someone turning in their final assignment for their senior year, ahead of everyone else, I brought you this," Finn whipped out a white plastic card and handed it to Sapphire.
Smiling, Sapphire read the card, her brows lifting in surprise. It was a Holter Library card with her name printed on the back.
"Courtesy of Mrs. Avery at the library," Finn added. "She says to just come in and fill out the rest of your personal information to finish setting up the card. Now you can fill your free time with books I want to talk about.
Very happy with the simple but thoughtful gift, Sapphire reached out and hugged Finn and pushed away any other thoughts. Especially the thoughts of two guys with checkered pasts that she would also love to be sharing this moment with. Or thoughts on just how she could make it right between them again.
Chapter twenty-one
Aloneinthebackroom,Hayden heard the back door open and Vic's voice. Fucking hell, he didn't want to deal with his shit right now. With one look at his face and Joel's granite expression, Vic was going to know something was up. He sat down the heavy crate of whiskey bottles onto the floor with a slight jingling clang and reached for another. The tequila crate he was looking for was buried under two more crates of liquor.
Ignoring the sound of Vic's boots coming down the hall, Hayden stiffened when he sensed him pause at the open door. No doubt looking at his turned back and stiffening shoulders. Hayden held his breath, expecting the man to say something any second but the heavy thumps of his boots picked up again and proceeded down the hall toward the office.
"Good," he sighed heavily under his breath. Let him harass Joel. Everything was all that bastard's fault anyway.
His fucking plan of pulling back with Sapphire had all gone terribly fucking wrong.
Sapphire had immediately sensed their remote behavior as they came down to the café. Hayden had spotted the brief note of hurt in her eyes before it was shuttered with an almost audible snap behind the fortress of ice. He had wanted to howl with anger. He wanted to march over there and grab her by the shoulders and shake her until the frosty barrier she erected fell away. He could still feel her searing yet soft warmth next to him as she slept and as she crawled out from between them in bed. Savagely he wanted to remind her of that fact.
But it was too late. Day after day, they watched the warmth they had fought hard to gain recede back until there was nothing. Hardly even a glance in their direction as they left for the bar in the evenings and just a cold plate of sandwiches on their return.
Finding the tequila crate, Hayden had to stop himself from hurling the heavy crate of expensive bottles into the fucking wall. He was seething. He wanted to shout. He wanted to jump on his bike and ride back home. He wanted to run up those steps and burst into the living room like a raging bull.
Hayden could envision her now. Those soft golden-brown curves sitting prettily on the couch. Her eyes wide from surprise as she stared at his enraged face. He knew he wouldn't speak. He wouldn't have the faculties to. Silent and furious, he would make his way to her, despite any protests, despite any attempt to run. He would reach for her, and he would not let go.
Forcing the muscles in his stiff body to relax, Hayden hung his head back and took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he took a few more calming breaths as the forbidden images flickered in his mind.
Grabbing the crate, he ignored the scratch of the rough wood digging into his hands and carried the jostling and clinking bottles to the front.
Joel was taking down chairs from the tops of the tables in silence while Vic stood behind the bar, counting out the register's money.
For a few minutes, everyone worked in silence until Vic's heavy sigh broke the spell. "I swear every time I come here, something is wrong with you two. What the hell is going on now?" He said, crossing his arms and looking at him before settling his gaze on Joel expectantly. "I know it involves that girl, so just tell me."
Hayden paused with a bottle of tequila in each hand and looked over at Joel. At first, he didn't think Joel would say anything. Joel looked at Vic with the same severe expression he had given him for the past few days, but to his surprise, Joel sat heavily down in a chair and exhaled.
