Noah's Journey (Sawyer Brothers #3) (4 page)

Chapter Six

Noah

“How are things going with Stacey and Austin?” Ryan asked as he sat down on the opposite side of my desk at the station.

I looked up at him in confusion. “Things with Austin have been great. But I’m not sure what you mean by Stacey, because there isn’t anything going on there.” I continued to watch him, waiting for him to dig a little deeper as I knew he would.

“You sure about that?” he asked as he leaned back in the chair, not taking his eyes off mine. “Because as an outsider looking in, it doesn’t appear that way.”

“She’s Austin’s mom, that’s all. We may have once had something, but that was a long time ago. Nothing’s changed,” I assured him. I leaned in, placing my forearms on the desktop and arched a brow at him. “Who else believes there’s more going on than me just spending time getting to know my son?”

He shrugged in the cocky manner of his. We continued to have a stare-down, because whether he liked it or not, he would be explaining what this little interrogation meant. I knew there was more to it. When he didn’t add anything, I decided to put a stop to this shit real quick.

“So if you think something is going on with me and Stacey, then I’m sure Amber does too. Which means Bailey and Alena think so too, right?” When his eyes widened, I knew I’d gotten to the heart of the matter. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it? Alena.”

“You really haven’t spent much time talking to her, have you?” he asked. “Last I heard, the only thing she gets from you anymore is maybe a text here or there. It’s been close to two weeks now since Stacey came back. How many times have you seen Alena since then?”

“I’m spending time with my son,” I said as anger rose within me.

“And that’s good, but does that mean you can’t at least call Alena, or even stop by to say hey? Or has that obvious attraction you had to her now dwindled?” He still wore that shitty-ass look on his face. It was really beginning to piss me off.

“I don’t think this is any of your business, but if you must know, I do still, in fact, have an attraction for Alena.”

“That’s good, but just so you know, brother, this is my business. Alena is Amber’s cousin, and when you fuck her over, that shit affects my home life. I told you from the beginning, if you remember, that if you didn’t have good intentions, you should leave Alena alone.”

“I got blindsided by the fact I have a son, Ryan. A son I haven’t been present for during the first four years of his life. I’m dealing with his crazy-ass mother, who thinks she and I are going to be something more to each other than two people who have a child together. That is a lot of fucked up, in a really short time.”

I had been holding shit back, trying to keep the peace, but I needed to vent. “Every damn day I am scared shitless that Stacey is gonna pick up and take Austin back to L.A. I worry about upsetting her, because if she takes him from me again, it will crush me. I don’t know how to balance this all out. Maybe that’s why I’ve kept my distance from Alena. She doesn’t need this shit.”

My outburst had gained the attention of a few officers around us. Ryan’s features softened as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“I’m sorry. I guess I just know what shit Stacey is capable of, and it’s not just you I’m worried about, it’s Alena too,” Ryan added before he stood up and walked back toward his office.

I knew over the last two weeks I’d only talked to Alena a couple times and texted her a few times in between those calls. My head was so messed up with Stacey and my own fear that I was backing away from Alena. I wasn’t doing it on purpose, I was just so afraid of losing Austin again that I wasn’t doing anything other than working and spending time with him.

After taking a few more minutes to calm down, I picked up my phone and sent a text to Alena.

Me: Are you free tonight?

After about five minutes with no response, I hung my head in frustration. My life had become a whirlwind of shit in a matter of days, and I wasn’t sure how to make it all work.

***

My shift was just ending, and I had intended on stopping by the bakery to see Alena. But as I stepped out the front doors of the station, I froze in the doorway.

Stacey’s red sports car was parked next to my old Ford truck, and she had my tailgate down. Sitting on the edge with his feet dangling over, Austin waved at me enthusiastically. Damn kid could make all this shit worth it with just a smile.

Stacey leaned against the tailgate just at Austin’s side. She wore a tiny red tank top and the shortest jean skirt I had ever seen. Her blonde hair was hanging in big, long ringlets down her back and over her shoulders. She looked beautiful. But I knew beneath that beauty was an ugly, conniving, and manipulative person. I wouldn’t fall for it a second time. I had been there once before, and the road to recovery took too damn long.

I focused on Austin as I walked toward my truck with a smile. “Hey, bud, whatcha out doing?”

“We came to see you,” he replied with a toothy grin. “Mommy said we could go to the bakery down the road. They have chocolate chip cookies and brownies.” I couldn’t help but chuckle as his eyes grew wide, and then his words hit me.

“The bakery?” I looked up at Stacey, and she was staring back at me with a look I didn’t like much. In fact, I was sure she had more than just chocolate chip cookies in mind when she decided to come here. “Why don’t I just take him?”

She shook her head and took a step closer. “No, Dad wanted me to pick up an apple pie for dessert tonight. Just thought we could take you along for a treat after your long shift.”

I heard the scuffle of boots against the asphalt and turned to see Ryan standing only a few feet away. “Heading to the bakery, huh?” he asked, staring at Stacey with narrowed eyes. “I was heading there myself to pick up Liv and see my wife.”

“Your wife, um…” Stacey wrinkled her eyes. “Oh yeah, Amber, right?”

“Yeah,” he said. “She owns it.”

“And the other woman that I see there sometimes?” Stacey asked him.

My heart was beating heavily, and my stomach felt sick.

“Depends on which one. There are two,” Ryan replied.

I wasn’t dumb. I knew Stacey was fishing for information.

“Well, I’ve seen a taller blonde girl there more often than any other. But now that you mentioned it, I have seen a brunette a couple times too.” Stacey then turned the conversation to me. “The brunette is that friend of yours Austin and I saw you with on that first night, right?”

“Alena,” I added, and the burn that had been filling my chest rose up into my throat.

“Yeah, Noah’s friend,” Ryan said as he flipped his keys in the air, making them land back into his palm with a jingle. “I guess I’ll see you all there in a bit.”

He pointed toward Austin, and for the first time since he walked up, Ryan’s lips turned up in a smile. “I’ll have your aunt get a warm brownie ready for you.”

Austin bounced excitedly and began to stand up on the tailgate. Both Stacey and I reached for him at the same time, and we ended up intertwined with Austin sandwiched in the middle.

I looked at her, she looked at me, and in that moment my stomach hit the fucking ground. Ryan was right. She was playing me.

Chapter Seven

Alena

“Oh my God, Hayden, this place looks great,” I said in amazement as I stood in the center of the store, looking around at each colorful wall filled with shelving and fancy little displays.

Hayden had been my savior over the last four days. He showed up with a small crew, and in less than three days, they had the place painted. One day after that, all the displays were up and ready to be filled.

“I’m glad you agree, because the shipment truck should be here at noon. It’s time to start stocking this place with all kinds of goodies.” He winked and walked around the edge of the counter toward me. As he stepped up to my side, he wrapped an arm over my shoulder. “That country boy that’s playing with my girl’s emotions will be an afterthought once you open this place. You are going to be amazing, and he is gonna regret not snatching you up.”

I swallowed past the lump that had formed in my throat from his words.

Over the last few days, Hayden had heard his fair share of Noah stories. I went from a sappy, lovesick girl, to an angry, bitter bitch, to my current state. And now I was confident and determined to make
Sassy Ladies
a hit. I also knew my newfound confidence had everything to do with Hayden’s take-no-mercy attitude. My biggest fear was that the confidence he’d brought out in me would leave with him in a few days when he left to go on his next adventure.

“So I was thinking since I’ve been slaving away—” he started, and I tilted my head and looked up at him. He offered me a smile and wink before continuing, “—what do you think the chances are of getting us some heavenly sweets from Amber?”

I laughed and nudged him with my hip. Hayden is over six feet tall and has the slim figure and apple butt most women would die for. Only he ate more junk than anyone I knew and had practically lived off Amber’s sweets since he arrived. Even in the middle of the night, I’d caught him hovering over an open container of the cookies or treats she had packed up for him each day before she closed the bakery. He was addicted.

“I think Amber would be offended if I didn’t get you your daily fix,” I replied as I pushed him away when he started squealing. He was such a spaz, but I loved his energy. He always made me feel better.

“I’ll be right back, you sugar whore,” I said as I waved over my shoulder while walking out the front door.

“Don’t forget to grab a drink too. I’m out,” he yelled as I stepped down from the curb and began walking across the street.

A few townspeople offered a smile and a wave as I passed. I hadn’t really paid that much attention to the vehicles lining the street, but when I pushed through the front door of Heavenly Temptations, I froze instantly. I had to blink a couple times to make sure I wasn’t imagining the scene before me.

I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach as I watched Stacey laughing as she looked at Noah, who held Austin on his knee. Noah’s back was to me, but there was no mistaking him. He still wore his officer uniform, and his body dwarfed the small chair he sat in.

I looked back toward Stacey and found she was looking over Noah’s shoulder directly at me. At first I was shocked, but I quickly recovered. Squaring my shoulders, I looked toward the counter and found that Ryan, Amber, and Olivia were watching me too.

I forced a smile and walked toward them, doing my best to not look back at Noah and his new little family. Evasive was what I was shooting for. “Hayden sent me over for his daily fix.” I forced a smile as I stepped around the end of the counter. “So if you would pack him up his usual, I need to run upstairs and grab a couple drinks.”

I continued past the three of them as they stared after me in silence. I pushed through the back door and practically jogged for the stairway that would take me up to my apartment. Once I was safely tucked inside, I leaned back against the door, taking in a calming breath. I hadn’t expected to walk in and find Stacey here, especially not looking so stunning.

The door moved against my back, and I jumped forward as it came open and Amber stepped inside. “Hey,” I said in a rush as I quickly walked toward the refrigerator, pretending she hadn’t just caught me in a moment of weakness.

“Alena,” Amber began as she followed me.

I just wanted to get what I came for and go back to the safety of my store. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I told her as I grabbed the water from the fridge and walked around her.

“He’s just—”

I held my hand up to stop her. “Honestly, Am, just let it go. It’s not my business. We went on a few dates, shared a few kisses. Doesn’t give me any rights to him. I think it’s great he’s getting to know his son. He deserves that. Please, just let the rest go.”

When she offered me a nod, I bit my lip and moved toward the stairs and back toward the bakery’s kitchen. When I reached the swinging doors that led to the front of the bakery, I squared my shoulders and pushed through. Without looking in Noah’s direction, I painted on a smile and put forward my best I-am-fine attitude.

“Hey, Liv, you got my goodies?” I asked Olivia as she shut the lid on the box I knew was meant for Hayden.

“Right here,” she announced a little too loud. I held my breath as I heard the chair to my left squeak against the floor. I saw movement from the corner of my eye, yet I kept my body facing forward.

“Thank you, darlin’,” I said in my best imitation of a country-girl accent. I felt Noah’s presence at my side, but I continued to act as if he had no effect on me. “You should come over later today and look through the items Hayden and I have coming in. I’m more than positive we can put a big ol’ dent in your dad’s paycheck.”

Olivia’s eyes lit up. Amber had gone on and on about her new daughter’s shopping addiction, and I had no doubt this sweet girl would be one of my best customers.

“I’ll be there after three,” Olivia said as she looked over at her father with a gleam in her eyes. Ryan groaned, and it triggered a laugh from me.

“You get my text earlier?” Noah’s deep, rumbling voice broke through my laughter, and I turned quickly to face him. “I was hoping you were free tonight.”

Just over his shoulder, I could see Stacey watching us closely. Her eyes were narrowed in obvious distaste.

“No, I hadn’t looked at my phone. But to answer your question, I’ve got plans.” I took the box Olivia was holding. “See ya later, Liv. I laid out some things I think you’ll love.” I winked at her as I stepped back and put some space between Noah and myself. “Have a good night, Noah.”

I turned toward the door and began walking away without looking back.

By the time I had made it across the street and back inside the store, my confident attitude had crashed and burned. I had a knot in my stomach that made me feel like at any moment I would be running for the bathroom.