Mad About Matt (A Red Maple Falls Novel #1) Read online

  “That they were what? Abusive?” Kate’s voice held the disbelief he secretly hoped for. “God no. At least I don’t think so. Some were jerks, some more than others, but just stupid stuff. Nothing like that.”

  Relief settled through him, easing the tension that had been pulling painfully tight.

  “Don’t you think if she suspected someone she’d tell you?”

  He’d like to think so, but he wasn’t so sure. Once upon a time Shay told him everything, but not anymore. Before last night he did his best to avoid her, and on the off chance he couldn’t, their conversations mostly consisted of pleasantries and awkward observations about the weather.

  “Did she have any idea of who it might be?”

  “She said it was probably some teenagers.”

  “Maybe it was the Johns boy. I’ve been hearing musings around town about him causing trouble.”

  “He would have been my first guess, if I wasn’t with him and a group of other kids on the other side of town right before getting the call for the alarm.”

  “Oh.”

  “Exactly.” Matt ran a hand over the day-old stubble on his chin. He was too tired to shave this morning and said the hell with it. “I’m going to head over there now and talk to her again. Do me a favor? Don’t tell her about this conversation.”

  “You want me to lie to my friend for you?”

  “Just withholding information.”

  “Funny. You’re asking me to do exactly what you wish Shay wouldn’t.”

  “So?”

  “Just thought I’d point out the irony.”

  “Don’t be a smartass.”

  “But I’m so good at it.”

  He cocked an eyebrow at her, and her face softened.

  “I won’t say anything. Just keep our girl safe.”

  Our girl. If only Shay was his girl. If only he went after her sooner… If only he didn’t succumb to the fear that their differences did in fact divide them.

  It was ancient history though, and not something he cared to think about anymore. There was no use dwelling on the would have, could have, should have’s of life.

  He’d keep her safe because it was his duty to do so. “I will.” He gave a nod to Kate and headed toward the entrance when she called out to him.

  “Do me a favor and flip the sign to open.” She smiled big when he grunted. “Thanks!”

  “Any word on if they rented out the other unit?” Matt asked, deciding he had a few more seconds to kill. Kate’s studio was connected to another unit that used to be occupied by Mae’s Toys, but when Mae fell and broke a hip a year ago, she had no choice but to close shop. The unit had been empty since. Everyone in Red Maple Falls was waiting to see what would open up. George Peters, a crazy old man with too much time on his hands, was taking bets, and last Matt heard the pool was getting pretty high.

  Gambling was illegal in their parts, but Matt chose to ignore it. George was harmless, and if it kept him from bugging Matt about the street light that was installed last year down on Roanoke Blvd then he could keep on taking bets.

  “Not yet. I’m just hoping whoever moves in is as sweet as Mae.”

  “Big shoes to fill,” Matt said.

  “Tell me about it. She was the best neighbor, and the kids always dragged their parents in here to watch me. I got so many sales because of that.”

  “I’m sure you’ll luck out and get someone great.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Just have a little faith. I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

  “I heard through the grapevines that Mason has big news.”

  “Really?” At twenty-seven, Mason was fourth in the Hayes sibling lineup. While he often kept to himself, he was the go-to person for most of his brothers and sisters. He was the quiet, shy one which is probably why he was extremely insightful. He might have lacked the extrovert gene, but he made up for it in dry wit that either left people laughing or scratching their heads.

  “How do I not know about this?” Matt asked not happy to be left in the dark. He was usually the first to know about everything in their family, or at least he thought he was. If there was news or drama, he was always on the inside.

  “That’s what I hear.”

  “From who?”

  Kate smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” If he were fifteen he would have grabbed her in a headlock and given her a noogie, but he was an adult, the Sheriff of an entire town; he couldn’t resort to childish tactics as much as he wanted to.

  “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “And reveal my sources?” She shook her head. “Not a chance.”

  With an obnoxious smile, Kate turned back to whatever it was she was working on, and Matt headed out. As soon as the fresh spring air surrounded him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

  He found Mason’s name and hit call, but unfortunately got his voicemail. There was no point leaving a message. Mason was notorious for never listening to them. Matt would have to wait and find out the news like the rest of the family.

  Besides, he had more important things to worry about right now.

  Shay’s bakery was only a few doors down so he left his car and made his way over there.

  ***

  Working as a VP of Marketing for a Fortune 500 in her old life made Shay used to functioning on little to no sleep. She’d put in long hours at the office and followed it up by meeting colleagues and clients for dinner then drinks. She’d be lucky if she managed to clock four hours of sleep a night. As long as she had her coffee, she would make it through the day no problem.

  She took a sip of the glorious liquid then finished boxing the last of Tommy Kramer’s cupcakes. According to her clock, Mrs. Kramer would be arriving in ten minutes to pick them up.

  When she came into her shop last night and saw the disaster, she never would have thought she’d be able to clean up and remake all those cupcakes. If it hadn’t been for Matt, she probably wouldn’t have been able to pull it off. He saved her butt big time, and she owed him.

  At the same time, she hoped they could both forget about it.

  Shay closed the lid of the last white cardboard box and taped it in place before tying her signature ties, a pair of pink and white and the other white and black around the box. She should have finished up over an hour ago, but from the moment she walked in this morning people had been stopping in to check on her. Apparently, word had gotten out about the break-in and everyone was concerned about her well-being. As exhausting as it was assuring everyone she was okay, it was nice to have people care. It was also nice that not a single person could resist a purchase after walking in the door.

  The bell above her door rang, and she turned with a smile ready to greet another concerned citizen. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of Matt with dark stubble on his face. His usual combed hair was unkempt like he’d just rolled out of bed.

  Her teeth slid over her lip as she imagined him waking up first thing in the morning, ruffled hair, bare chest, droopy eyes… oh my. Heat swelled in her chest and crept up her neck. Before it made it to her cheeks and gave her away, she quickly pushed those thoughts far out of her mind.

  “Good morning,” he said as he approached the counter.

  “Morning,” she replied with her normal chipper tone.

  “How do you do it?”

  Confusion tugged at the space between her eyebrows. “Do what?”

  “Look as if you got a full night’s sleep.”

  She smiled. “Used to it I guess. I had a busy schedule back in New York. After a while sleep becomes a luxury and not a necessity. Plus, lots of coffee.”

  On closer inspection, she could see the tiredness in his eyes. His lids were heavier than usual, his normally bright green eyes dull. Suddenly, she felt horrible for keeping him up all night.

  It’s not like his job was mindless, like he just had to go through the motions. He needed to be alert twenty-four-seven. Not that there was really any danger in Red Maple Falls, but Matt Hayes still kept the people of this small town safe by making sure they didn’t speed, helping old women cross the street, keeping old man Simpson from getting too far on his tractor when he had one too many sips of moonshine.

  Matt protected people, gave them a feeling of security, and she didn’t want to compromise that.

  “I’m so sorry. I should have insisted you go home.”

  “Like I would have listened.”

  “That’s true. I tend to forget how stubborn you are.”

  “Family trait.”

  “Are you hungry? Want some coffee? Whatever you want, it’s on the house.”

  His eyes scanned down to the display case, and he pointed at a blueberry scone. “That’s looking pretty good.”

  “You got it.” Shay grabbed a light pink paper bag with her logo—a cupcake with a hot pink and black striped baking cup and Sweet Dreams Bakery written in cursive above—and placed the scone inside. “Let me get you a cup of coffee, too. You look like you need it.”

  “Is that your way of saying I look like shit?”

  Shay froze as she placed the bag on the counter beside the register. “No, of course not.” She didn’t even think that was possible.

  “Not everyone can look as beautiful as you do on no sleep, you know.”

  Her heart came to a stop before jumping into overdrive. Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks before she could control it. She didn’t waver in her response, hoping he wouldn’t notice how flustered his words made her. “We all know that is not true, pretty boy.”

  “Pretty boy?”

  Shay shrugged. “Sheriff or not, you are and always will be a Hayes boy.”

  The Hayes brothers were the hottest bachelors in town—kind, each charming in their own ways,
and undeniably sexy as hell. They all had a distinct look but shared a smoldering gaze that could make a girl weak in the knees.

  Matt shook his head at Shay’s words. There was no arguing that point; it was a stigma he’d been stuck with for as long as she’d known him. The brothers were the subject of many girl crushes, and now they were objects of desire, stars of fantasies and daydreams.

  “To answer your question,” she said. “You don’t look like shit, you just look a little tired.”

  That damn gaze of his locked on hers, and she felt unsteady on her feet. She wondered if he knew how much he affected her still.

  “Coffee would be great,” he said, flashing her that sexy lopsided smile of his. Shay quickly tore her eyes away before her body melted to the floor like overheated chocolate. “You should really think about putting some cameras up.”

  She had hoped he would let last night’s disaster go, but she should’ve known better. Matt Hayes didn’t let anything go. But if it wasn’t some punk kid and it was, as Matt suggested, someone she knew then the last thing she wanted was for Matt to get involved.

  The mess she left behind in New York was her problem and her problem alone. She thought leaving would fix things, but maybe it made things worse. Either way, it was a personal matter and one she would have to deal with on her own.

  With a deep breath, she took hold of his coffee and turned back to him. “I don’t think that’s necessary.” She slid the coffee across the counter. “Milk, one sugar, right?”

  “You remember.”

  “My grandma always said I have a steel trap for a brain.”

  “How are your grandparents?”

  “Good. Enjoying the warmth of Florida and not missing the snow at all.”

  Her grandparents had bought a second home in Florida a few years back and spent most of their time there. It was only supposed to be for winter, but after time they came home less and less. They were kind enough to let Shay stay at their place while they were basking in the sun. They’d insisted she’d be doing them a favor by keeping an eye on things and helping with the upkeep.

  “They’re even taking salsa lessons.”

  Matt laughed—the same reaction Shay had when her seventy-five-year-old grandma had shared the news with her.

  “I can’t picture that.”

  “I don’t want to,” Shay said and this time they both laughed.

  Shay had always loved his laugh. It softened his features and made his green eyes sparkle.

  Matt looked down at the coffee cup with trepidation.

  “You didn’t tell me the cup was pink.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “I mean it’s pink.”

  “It’s not like it’s going to infect you and turn you into a girl. It’s just a cup.”

  “If you say so.”

  She rolled her eyes, and Matt took the cup into his hands, examining it like it was a foreign object.

  She laughed and his face fell.

  “What?” he asked

  “Just thinking how cute you look with that pink cup.”

  “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Have you had any more thoughts about who could have broken in here?” Matt asked completely knocking Shay off guard and reminding her that Matt was a stubborn mule.

  “No,” she lied. “I have no idea who would do something like that.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Frustration bubbled inside of her, but she took a calming breath, pushing it down. “I’m sure.”

  “You plan on staying after hours tonight?”

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “It’s not safe to be here by yourself, given the circumstances.”

  Shay rolled her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous. I doubt they’ll be coming back.”

  “It’s better to be safe than sorry. I don’t want to have to worry about you if I don’t have to.”

  That stupid anger only he could provoke rose inside of her. “Then don’t. It’s as simple as that. I lived almost my whole life in New York City, a place where there actually is a crime rate. I took the subways at all hours of the night, walked the streets,” she sucked in a startled breath slapping her hand over her mouth like she was in disbelief and lowered her voice. “And most times I was…get this… alone. Without Mr. Sheriff Man worrying about me. I survived then and I’ll survive now. If you want to waste your time worrying that’s your problem, not mine.”

  “You’re being completely unreasonable.”

  A laugh bubbled out of her. “Do you even hear yourself? You can’t get safer than Red Maple Falls. I’m not concerned, and you shouldn’t be either. Besides, this is my bakery and I refuse… re-fuse to let anyone or anything keep me from it. So, don’t ask me to.”

  “Can see you’re just as stubborn as you once were.”

  “Look who’s talking.”

  “You give me no choice, then. I’ll drive by on my way home from my parents tonight just to make sure everything’s okay.”

  “Be my guest. Maybe then you’ll realize you’re overreacting.”

  “I don’t overreact.”

  Another obnoxious laugh exploded out of her. Was he really going to stand there—with a straight face, no less—and say that like it was the truth? He was delusional.

  It’s not like her bakery was a crime scene with blood and guts. A few things got tossed around, a few dozen cupcakes were destroyed. The mess was cleaned up and forgotten just as the situation should have been.

  The bell above the door rang, and Tommy Kramer came running in like he was shot out of cannon. “We’re here for my cupcakes!” he declared, and not wanting to ignore an excited birthday boy, Shay leaned across the counter and offered him a warm smile.

  “They are right here waiting for you. And you know what?”

  “What?” His eyes lit up in curiosity, the freckles on his cheek defined by the big smile spreading wide.

  “I have a special one right here I’m only allowed to give to someone on their birthday.”

  “It’s my birthday!” Tommy exclaimed.

  “It is?”

  He nodded with the excitement and joy Shay so adored.

  “Then this is for you.” Shay handed him a cupcake with a fondant birthday hat on top.

  “Mom, look what I got!”

  “Thank you, Shay,” Mrs. Kramer said with a big smile before bending down to her son’s level to admire his cupcake.

  “Isn’t it awesome, Mom? Can I eat it now? Can I? Please?”

  “You’re a good person, Shay Michaels,” Matt said just loud enough for her to hear. “While I’d love to stay for you to mock me some more, I have to get going. I’ll drive by later.”

  “Suit yourself. If you want to waste your time I’m not going to stop you.”

  “Making sure you’re safe isn’t wasting my time.”

  Before she could think of a retort, Matt crouched down to wish little Tommy Kramer a happy birthday before disappearing out the door.

  Chapter 4

  Sunday night dinner at the Hayes family farm had been a tradition for as long as Matt could remember. Even as a teenager he had to make plans around dinner or invite whoever he was with to come along. His parents were pretty lenient when it came to most things, but his mother would never budge on Sunday night dinner.

  The whole clan would be there except for Daisy and Cooper.

  Cooper’s backpacking adventure was a mystery to Matt. Matt loved his youngest brother, but he didn’t understand him. Cooper was a nomad, never staying in one place for too long, always out looking for the next big journey. Matt only hoped that whatever Cooper was looking for he would find it. He missed his little brother. Missed having him around to go fishing together, hike through the mountains to Angel’s Den, and having him around to help with the farm.

  All the siblings kicked in their time to help Mom and Dad manage Basil Hill Farms. It was made famous by their annual Fall Festival that started the last week of September and ran through the first week of November every year since Matt was seven. It was all hands on deck to get through the season.

  Matt and Cooper used to plan the corn maze, spending hours coming up with a design before bringing it to their father who was the mastermind behind turning their idea into a reality. This year Matt would be doing it on his own unless Cooper decided to come home. Matt wasn’t going to hold his breath.