Sprinkled With Love

Chapter Three: He can bake

 For me the rest of the week flew by after my first day back on Monday. It was now Friday and I knew it was going to be a busy one, because as soon as I had the front door unlocked I had a line out the door within minutes. Everyone came in and was out quickly after Jane and I got in the grove of serving everyone. By noon Jane and I were already exhausted so we closed up shop for a quick lunch break and to restock before the afternoon rush I was sure was going to happen. When I talked to everyone through out they day they all told me about their plans for the last weekend of summer. A few had even invited me to BBQ's, I politely declined because I had plans already set to join the Sheriff and his family at the Sheriffs department end of summer bash. At the end of the day I let Jane go home early so she could start her weekend plans early. Just before locking the front door behind her, I saw a familiar face but couldn't quite tell who it was from the distance until he jogged across the street and waved. 

    "Hey Arizona!" Morgan said as he slowed his jog to a walk and stopped right in front of me. "Are you closing already?"

    "I am but come on in you can eat the last few goodies while I clean." I said and let him in before closing the door and locking it, then switching the open signed to close. When I turned around he was standing at the cork board looking at all the flyers. I walked to the counter and placed the last 3 treats on a paper plate.

    "See anything interesting?" I asked behind him and held out the plate when he turned around. 

    "I was looking at the flyer for the BBQ this weekend, I still haven't decided if I am going or not," he pointed at the flyer. He took the plate from my hand and walked to a table nearby. 

    "I'm going," I said and went to the counter to pick up my cleaning tools. I hoped by saying that it would be a hint he should go. Making my way around I cleaned all the tables as Morgan ate. It was silent but it wasn't awkward, I did my thing while he did his. I glanced his way a few times to find him reading a book and the last time I did he was eating the last bites of the muffin. "I'm moving to the back of the shop into the kitchen if you still want to stay." I walked through the opening and waited when I heard the chair move. A few seconds later he joined me.

    "So I know I'm a little late in visiting this week but I was hoping you were still up to telling me about everything around here?" he ended his sentence like a question.

    "Of course, I have some cookies to make for the BBQ so if you don't mind hanging out here while I do that I can tell you." A smile spread across both of our faces.

    "Can I help?" He asked and I nodded. He walked to the sink to wash his hand after taking his hat off. I watched him, the way his back muscles flexed when he lifted his arms to remove his button up shirt.

    "Pick an apron out and put it on, cookies can be messy," I pointed to the aprons on the wall when I said that. Giggling to my self a little since all of them were a little on the girly side. He grabbed a blush pink apron with the name of the bakery stitch into it on the front he put it on and I couldn't hold the giggle in any more. I covered my mouth with my hand. "Pink is for sure your color." I said behind my hand.

    "Thank you," he giggled like a school girl and twirled. I laughed even harder. 

    For the next 3 hours we worked, and laughed as I told him about the town and all the dirty secrets. I even divulged a little information on my previous relationship at the end and I could tell he wasn't happy but he kept his thoughts to himself while I finished. I don't know why I told him but after spending the last few hours with him I felt the need to and like I was safe. When I finished he put his hand on my arm. "If he ever shows up call me," he said referring to my abusive and cheating ex, John. I already had Tommys number programmed in my phone along with the Sheriffs department main line but it wouldn't hurt to add Morgans as well. I handed him my phone and he put his number in then called his phone so he had mine also. Smiling I put it back in my pocket then deciding against that to take a couple of candid pictures of him, maybe I could ask him if I could post it on the i********: page I had for the bakery. As I snapped a couple more pictures he finally turned around and began making funny faces.         

    "Hey! you ruined my pictures!" I joked.

    "Oh well," he said and went to the oven to pull out the sheet pans full of cookies, I stood there with my mouth open. I took one more photo of him when he turned around with a big smile on his face and holding the tray of cookies up.

    "That was the perfect picture," I held up my phone to him and he grinned.

    "I do look good in pink," he stuck his tongue out and place the last tray of cookies on the stainless steel counter so they could start cooling.

    "Ca.. Can I use this picture of you on the shops i********:?" I asked shyly.

    "Sure but only as long as you post a picture of both of us too." He grabbed the phone from my hand, wrapping and arm around my waist I felt those sparks that were there on Monday again, just as I looked up at him smiling he took the picture.

    "This is a good one too." he showed it to me. I nodded in agreement he handed the phone back and started taking the cookies off the sheet pan and adding them to the huge tray we had already had going.

    While he did that I put together the i********: post, I picked 9 different pictures I had taken plus the one he had taken of us. I swiped through all the filters the app offered until I landed on the perfect one. On the last step of posting the pictures I decided on the caption. 'Everyone welcome Deputy Reed to the Sprinkled with Love family! I appreciate all his hard work in getting the cookies for the #Sheriffs department End of Summer BBQ Bash ready'. After hitting post I looked back at Morgan who had finally taken a seat at the table and had his phone out.

    "What's the i********: for here?" he asked and I told him. My phone chimed and I looked at the notification where it said Morgan Reed is now following you. I cleaned up while he continued to scroll through his phone, my phone chiming every once and a while but I ignored it. When I was done and looked at the time I gasped. Morgan looked at me with question in his eyes.

    "Ohmygod... I am so sorry I kept you here this late I had no idea it was already 9." I apologized.

    "Don't worry about it, I had no plans, and this was really fun." his smile lit up my world when he said that.

    "Thank you for all your help, I honestly would probably still be working on these cookies if you hadn't been here." I tossed the dirty rags and aprons into the basket so I could carry them to my truck. Grabbing my backpack off the hook and slinging it over my shoulder. "Well its time for me to head home," I said and began turning off lights, Morgan grabbed the basket of dirty laundry for me.

    "I will follow you out," he smiled and let me lead the way through the back door. I locked it behind us and led the way to my truck. Opening it up we tossed everything into the back seat.

    "Thank you again for the help," I pushed a strand of hair out of my face and looked up at him. His 6'3 muscular frame stood tall over me as he smiled down.

    "No problem at all, do me a favor and text me when you get home, it late and I want you to get there safe." he said and shuffled his feet. It looked like he wanted to hug me but wasn't sure how to go about it.

    "I can do that," I turned to get in the truck but stopped to turn back around and hug him my arms wrapping around his waist, at first he hesitated then hugged me back. We both took a deep breath and the same time and exhaled at the same time. Right here was the most comfortable I had ever been in someones arms in a long time.