There's Only Been You (5 page)

Nancy flashed a grateful smile. “I wasn't about to ask you for more help. You've gone above and beyond as it is."

Sara made an ‘oh, pooh’ gesture with her hand before picking up a bowl of pasta salad. “You'd do the same for me."

Ten minutes later, Nancy waved her arm over her head and raised her voice to announce, “Time to eat, everybody!” She grabbed Sara's arm and grinned. “Come on, let's get out of the way before Dwayne's family mows us down."

Sara wasn't all that hungry, but once traffic at the buffet tables died down, she decided to go fix herself a small plate. She smiled when she spotted Danny and Uncle Luke heading in the same direction.

"I was starting to wonder if you two were ever going to show up."

Danny handed them each a foam plate. “You know me. Last minute shopper. Uncle Luke came along and helped me pick out Shelly's gift."

They made their way down the long tables with both men practically salivating as they filled their plates to overflowing. Sara shook her head. It never ceased to amaze her how much food these guys could eat. She laughed, however, when Danny leaned over to smell a spoonful of tuna dip, wrinkled his nose, and dropped the spoon back into the bowl.

She led them over to an umbrella-covered table near the fence.

"Hell, I forgot to grab a beer,” Danny said. “Uncle Luke, you want one?” He started to rise.

Sara waved him back down. “I'll get them. I was about to go get myself a soda anyway."

She was heading back to the table when she realized Nicky had arrived. He sat in her seat, picking at her food. She set the drinks down and playfully rolled her eyes. “I guess I'll go fix myself another plate."

"Hey, sorry I'm late. There was an emergency at the office with one of the programs I'm working on.” He stood. “I'll go say hello to Nancy and Dwayne and then fix myself a plate.” He winked at her and strode away.

He returned a few minutes later with a plate in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. The four of them ate and talked until, finally, Ethan ran up to the table.

He grabbed Sara's soda and slurped off it before announcing, “Mom, I want a trampoline for my birthday."

She raised a brow and reached out to rub a smudge of dirt from his cheek. “We'll see. In the meantime, why don't you sit down and have something to eat. I'll go fix you a hotdog."

"Okay.” He hopped up on her chair.

Nancy had just started to put the food away when Sara reached the buffet tables. “Let me grab Ethan a hotdog, then I'll come back and give you a hand."

"You most certainly will not. You've done more than enough already. Besides, my sister-in-law is going to help me as soon as she's done eating."

"You sure?” Sara squeezed little dots of ketchup down the hotdog, just the way Ethan liked. “You know I don't mind."

"I'm sure. You go sit down and relax. Don't think I didn't see you yawning your head off a little while ago,” Nancy added with a sidelong glance.

"You got me. I am a bit tired,” Sara admitted. “I'll definitely be crawling into bed early tonight."

"Good. Oh, and we'll be opening presents in about half an hour. Shelly's climbing the walls with excitement."

Sara glanced over to yet another table where a literal mountain of brightly colored gifts waited. “Can you blame her? I've never seen so many presents."

"Tell me about it. This is the biggest birthday party we've ever thrown for her."

Sara had to suppress a smile. Most adults didn't have birthday parties this elaborate, never mind a five-year-old little girl.

Nancy picked up the untouched bowl of tuna dip and grimaced. “Not one of my better ideas, huh?” With a shrug, she headed into the house.

Sara returned to the table and set the plate down in front of Ethan. “Eat, sweetheart.” She looked over at the men. “Shelly'll be opening her gifts soon and Garrett isn't here yet. Am I the only one who's concerned about that?"

"He'll be here, don't worry,” Danny assured her.

"Hey, look Mom, there he is!” Ethan shouted, pointing toward the patio doors.

Sara spun around, relieved. He was talking to Dwayne and, from the looks of it, turning down the offer of a beer. Another weight lifted off her shoulders. She wouldn't have to worry about him going off half-cocked when she told him about Mike showing up at the bakery.

Garrett knelt down and gently tugged one of Shelly's pigtails before producing a pink and purple wrapped package from behind his back. Shelly squealed with delight and ran off to place it with the others. Garrett stood back up and scanned the crowd—an easy feat from his lofty height.

She waved at the same time Ethan jumped off the chair and made a beeline for his favorite uncle. Garrett waved back, then bent down to scoop Ethan up in his arms. Sara knew Ethan loved it when Garrett held him up high like that, where he could look down and declare, “I'm taller than you,” to everyone who walked by.

"I was starting to worry,” she said, when they reached the table. And for the first time, Sara realized Garrett wasn't alone. Standing beside him was a man she'd never met before.

And with a face like that, she damn sure would've remembered.

Grinning broadly, Garrett winked at her.

Sara nibbled suspiciously on her bottom lip. Garrett playing matchmaker?

"Jason, I'd like you to meet my family. Uncle Luke, my brothers, Danny and Nicky, my sister, Sara. And this guy here,” he ruffled Ethan's hair, “my nephew, Ethan. Sara's boy. Everybody, this is Officer Jason Thomas."

Jason nodded and shook hands with the men, even Ethan, much to his delight. But when he took her hand, he raised it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “Sara."

"Jason,” she murmured. Good Lord, the man was gorgeous. She glanced over at Garrett. He looked pleased as punch.

Danny took a swallow of his beer and asked, “So, Jason, you new to Green Bay?"

"Yep. Relocated here about a month ago from St. Louis."

When Jason crossed his arms over his chest, Sara noticed how muscular they were. Not huge like Garrett's, but long and lean, and lightly covered with golden hair. He was tall, at least six-feet, had medium blond hair with lighter, sun-kissed highlights, and kept it trimmed, not buzzed, which Sara preferred. His eyes were on the smaller side, but still nice. They were an unusual color, like gunmetal, and framed by long, golden lashes. He was clean-shaven, too, which Sara also preferred.
What a package.

"Jason, can I get you something to drink?” She tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear.

"I'd love a soda, if you don't mind."

"Not at all. Any preference?"

"No, whatever you grab is fine."

As she headed toward the coolers, she realized Nancy was waving at her furiously. She glanced back to make sure no one was watching, then made a beeline over to her friend.

Nancy grabbed her elbow and asked in a hushed voice, “So, who's the stud muffin?"

Sara giggled and the sound surprised her. “He
is
gorgeous, isn't he? He's a friend of Garrett's. Officer Jason Thomas."

Nancy's eyes widened in a feigned dramatic fashion. “Ooh, Officer, huh? Maybe if you're real nice, he'll frisk you later."

Sara giggled again. “I could tell by the look on Garrett's face he's trying his hand at matchmaking."

"Judging by the look on
your
face, I'd say he's hit the jackpot."

Sara gnawed on her bottom lip. She glanced at the table again, then back at Nancy. “Maybe. But I don't know if I'm ready for this."

Nancy rolled her eyes. “Sara, you've been taking care of those men for years. And you haven't been out on a single date since I've known you. It's your turn, girl, take it."

"You've only known me for a year,” Sara pointed out.

"A year is like forever for a single young woman not to have been out on a date."

Sara sighed. “Well, it's not like he's asked, and for all we know he may not even be interested."

Nancy cocked her head to the side. “Have you glanced in a mirror lately? There isn't a man on earth who wouldn't be interested. Hell, even Dwayne says he can't believe you're still single."

"Great,” Sara grumbled. “Now I feel like some kind of freak."

"Don't be silly, it was a compliment.” Nancy gave her a gentle shove. “Now get back to that table and start batting those eyelashes."

Sara shook her head, unable to hold back a grin. She'd never met anyone like Nancy before, and that was a fact.

She made her way to the coolers and dug out a can of cola for Jason. Her legs slowed when she realized he sat in the chair right next to hers, and looked totally engrossed in whatever Danny was saying.

Jason looked up when she approached and flashed those pearly whites. Sara handed him the can and sat back down in her chair.

"Thanks."

She watched him pull the top back and tilt the can to his lips. Her eyes traveled to his tanned throat as he swallowed, and she silently berated herself for staring.

He leaned back more comfortably in the chair. “So, Garrett tells me you own your own business."

"Yes, I own a bakery here in town."

"That's amazing. And at such a young age."

With one elbow resting on the table, she twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “I actually have Garrett to thank for that. He pushed me to follow my dream."

"Your family seems pretty close."

"We are. There isn't anything we wouldn't do for each other.” She quit playing with her hair and started drumming her fingers on the table.

Jason reached out and enclosed her hand in his. Her gaze was drawn up to his as if by magnet. The thought popped into her mind that his eyes weren't quite the right color, and she silently cursed herself for allowing Mike to steal into her thoughts yet again.

"You have beautiful hands,” he said, gently stroking her fingers.

The feel of his hand moving over hers in a soft caress caused her nipples to tighten. The erotic sensation surprised her so much she jerked her hand from his.

The face swimming before her mind's eye wasn't Jason's.
Damn you, Mike
.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so forward.” He crossed his arms, looking uncomfortable.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry.” She glanced at Garrett who stared at her with raised brows. “I've been on edge the past couple of days."

Jason's smile returned. “Then how about you let me take you out tonight to relieve some of that stress? We can go see a movie. Nothing heavy, just a couple of new friends getting to know each other better over a tub of popcorn. Wha'd'ya think?"

She was tempted. “To tell you the truth, it sounds like heaven, but—"

"But nothing,” Garrett chimed in, his smile so big he could hardly contain it. “Ethan and I are gonna go check out that new arcade tonight, so there's no sense you sitting home alone."

"Yeah, Mom, go see a movie.” Ethan turned to Jason. “See a scary one. They're the best."

Jason leaned over in a conspiratorial manner. “I agree. But you know how girls are. What if she cries?"

Ethan grinned and shook his head. “Not my mom. She saw
The Exorcist
like five times."

"Five times?” Jason raised his eyebrows in mock astonishment. “She's a pretty tough chick, huh?"

Ethan's chest puffed up with pride. “Yep. And she's not afraid of snakes, either. She caught one for me just the other day."

At that, Jason looked genuinely impressed. “No kidding. Well, I'll keep that in mind.” His gaze met Sara's and she couldn't help but blush.

"So do I have myself a date tonight or what?"

Sara glanced first at Garrett and then Ethan. They were both nodding furiously. Grinning, she said, “It's a date."

Mike stalked into the kitchen and pitched his keys and bag on the table. Why the hell couldn't he have kept on driving when he'd spotted that Sara's Bakery sign on Velp Avenue?

He dropped down on the chair and took a sip of his coffee. He scowled at the cup. And she makes a great friggin’ cup of coffee, too. Why couldn't it have tasted like tar so he wouldn't have a bullshit reason to stop in again.

Like tomorrow.
Damn her.

He wished he could reverse time and walk through the door of her bakery again. So he could do what he should've done in the first place—tell her to go straight to hell. Or take her straight to bed. Mike wasn't sure which he'd rather do.

Okay, so he knew he wasn't completely over her, even after all these years. He could admit that to himself. It wasn't as if he'd ever give her the satisfaction of knowing it. But damn, he'd really thought if he came face-to-face with her again, whatever mysterious reason there was for this lingering attraction would disappear as soon as he laid eyes on her.

He'd never been more wrong.

She was as beautiful as she'd been at eighteen. And she certainly had more fire. Sara had been on the shy side as a teenager, but she'd obviously gotten over that. Standing there shooting flames at him from those gorgeous brown eyes, she'd been breathtaking.

Mike couldn't remember the last time he'd been so turned on.

Until she'd brought up his father.

He set his coffee down and massaged his temples with both hands. Damn, why'd he come back here? He should've told them to pitch the old bastard in the city dump and donated the house to charity.

But then he'd come face-to-face with Sara and knew exactly why he'd been drawn back home. Closure. He needed it like a death row inmate needs absolution. He'd been living in limbo for eight long years and the thought of finally having that closure was too great a temptation to resist.

"He's the love of my life."

With a frustrated sigh, Mike reached for the bag and pulled out the humongous chocolate muffin. Since it had been close to twenty-four hours since he'd eaten anything substantial, he polished it off in four bites. And damn if it wasn't as good as the coffee, loaded with chunks of white and milk chocolate. He wished he'd bought two.

You can always go back for another
.

He crushed the bag and pitched it toward the garbage can.

It took some effort, but he managed to push thoughts of Sara aside—only to have memories of the night before flood his mind. He closed his eyes, wishing he could forget last night ever happened, only he had the throbbing jaw to prove it had. What a cosmic joke that he should end up at the same place, same time, as Garrett Jamison, the last person on earth he'd have ever wanted to run into.