sensibilities?”
Was she ever not defensive? “I’m not offended. Just curious.” Soaring oaks flowed past his window, their heavy limbs trailing the roof of the truck cab. He’d missed those old trees, though he hadn’t realized it until just now.
Sid was quiet for nearly a minute, then she said, “I grew up with men. I work with men. I guess I talk like a man.” The statements were made with no apology or regret, but he noticed her white-knuckled grip on the wheel. She wasn’t comfortable with this line of questioning, but she wasn’t fighting him either.
“Do you
“You saying you don’t curse?”
“I curse. But you can’t throw profanity around a courtroom so you learn to keep it in check.” His first year out of law school, Lucas had made the mistake of dropping a four-letter word in court and nearly found himself in judges’ chambers. He never did it again.
Sid’s grip on the wheel loosened. “That makes sense.” She fell silent again and Lucas returned to watching the old oaks mingle with a cedar here and there.
“No,” she said, sometime later.
“No, what?”
Caramel eyes darted his way, then back to the road. “I don’t want to talk like a man.”
He didn’t know what to say to that so he changed the subject. “Where can I get good, homemade sweets around here?”
If the change of topic threw her off, Sid didn’t show it. “I know just the place.” The wheel jerked left, sending the truck in a tight U-turn in the middle of the street.
Lucas braced one arm on the door and another on the ceiling above him. “What the hell are you doing?” Besides trying to kill him. Maybe this is what Joe was talking about.
“Getting you sweets.”
“This road makes a circle around the damn island. Why the fuck couldn’t we go around?”
Sid tsked. “Such ugly language.”
“I’m less restrained when I’m about to be thrown out of a moving vehicle.”
“If I wanted you out of the truck, I’d have shoved your door open before making the turn.”
Jokes. Now she decided to be funny.
“Where are you taking me?” he asked, straightening in his seat, but keeping a hand on the door handle. Just in case. “It better be worth the whiplash.”
Their eyes met and she gave him a wink. “Trust me.”
“After that stunt? I don’t think so.” Though the wink was actually kind of cute. And the relaxed smile that went with it. When Sid dropped the ass-kicker routine, he thought she might be fun to hang out with. Too bad she didn’t drop the act often.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Minutes later, Sid parked the truck in front of a tiny white building with baby blue shutters. The entrance sat off to the right, while brightly colored rockers occupied the left end of the covered porch. From the eaves hung a sign reading Sweet Opal’s Bakery & Confections.
“I don’t remember this place,” Lucas said as he climbed from the cab. The mouthwatering scent in the air made him forget his near brush with death.
“Hasn’t been here long, but if you came home more often, you’d know there are lots of new businesses on the island.”
The scent grew stronger as he followed Sid up two steps onto the porch. This had to be what heaven smelled like.
“I don’t care about other businesses right now,” Lucas said. A teenager exited the building carrying something that resembled a tart. He nearly followed her to the parking lot. “I’m too busy smelling this one.”
“You always did have a sweet tooth,” Sid said, gaining his attention again.
“How do you know that?”
She pushed through the door, setting off chimes to mark their entrance. “I’ve known you since high school. One year at Joe’s birthday party you nearly punched him when you thought he’d spit on the cake while blowing out the candles.”
He didn’t remember her being there. “Mom worked on that cake all day. Would have been rude to spit on it.” And a waste of a perfectly good cake.
“Right.” Sid’s throaty laugh hit Lucas somewhere below the belt. Had to be the sugary wonder floating in the air.
Sliding up to the counter, Lucas spotted the very food he’d been craving since waking up that morning. “Is that Key lime pie?” he asked, pointing to a meringue-covered confection on the top shelf of the display case.
“Best on the Eastern Seaboard.” Sid stuck two fingers in her mouth and let out a whistle that threatened to split his eardrums. “We need some service out here!” she yelled.
A heavyset woman with bright blue eyes, white hair, and wearing a pink apron that read “Be nice and I’ll let you lick the beaters” stepped through the doorway. She looked pissed. If Sid got them kicked out before he got his pie, he’d never forgive her.
He whispered to Sid. “Ruin this for me and I’ll key your truck.”
As if he hadn’t spoken, and the apron lady didn’t look mad enough to ban them both for life, Sid said, “Roll your ass out here, woman. We’re paying customers.”
Lucas closed his eyes and said good-bye to his Key lime dream. When he opened them again, the older woman was charging around the end of the counter.
When she reached Sid, her arms went wide. “Where have you been for the last few days, darling? I was getting worried.”
Sid stepped into the bear hug like she’d been doing it her whole life. He hadn’t seen her touch anyone in the two and a half days he’d spent with her. When he’d touched one strand of hair that night in the truck, she’d turned into an ice queen.
He could not figure her out.
Once the hug ended, Sid stepped back. “I’m covering over at Dempsey’s since Tom had the heart attack.”
The woman’s blue eyes filled with concern. “I heard about that. Is he okay? Such a lovely man. And Patty too. They’ve been so good to me.”
The praise didn’t surprise Lucas. His parents had been ambassadors for the island almost since the day they arrived. “Dad is doing well, thanks.” When the woman turned to him as if just noticing his presence, he stretched out a hand. “Lucas Dempsey. Helping out with the business while Dad recovers.”
“Opal,” the older woman said, taking his hand. “Are you that fancy lawyer everyone is always talking about?”
Lucas looked down to his beer-stained khakis and worn tennis shoes. “I don’t know about fancy, but yes, I’m the lawyer.”
She switched focus back to Sid. “You never told me what a cutie he is. Hubba, hubba.”
No one had ever used such terms in reference to him, at least not in his presence. Lucas felt the blush rise and also felt like an idiot.
Taking Sid’s hands, Opal pulled her around the counter. “I made your favorite cupcakes today. Put one aside in the hopes you might stop by.” Addressing Lucas, she asked, “And what can I get for you, sweet cheeks?”
He’d called Sid that name a day ago and she’d threatened his manhood. Now he knew why. “A piece of Key lime pie, please.”
Opal’s eyes danced. “Good choice.” Then she disappeared into the kitchen.
Nodding toward the seating area behind him, Sid grinned. “Grab us a table, sweet cheeks.” She escaped
