2. Sadie

My jaw drops. Did Sheriff Underwood just say he was going to arrest me?

Have I entered the Twilight Zone?

There must be a mistake. “What?” I sputter. “Why? What did I do?”

He simply stares at me.

I gaze up at those harsh features and that molten gaze. His shirt looks like it can barely contain that massive chest and all those green muscles. The Sheriff just declared he was about to put me under arrest and I’m still hot all over because I always wonder at the size of his package. It’s literally difficult for me to keep my eyes on his face and not allow my gaze to drop for a peek of his crotch.

I’m a mess. Focus, Sadie, focus. The man said he was about to arrest you. Think with your mind and not with your pussy.

Finally, he answers, “You’re under arrest for the crime of having too many friends who want to help the local community.”

My shoulders soften. “Are you joking? Do orcs tell jokes?”

He takes a step closer. “No, I do not tell jokes. But I appreciate the jokes that certain humans tell. I am going to put these handcuffs on you and take you to townhall. You will spend most of the day in jail.”

“Jail?” I sputter. “But…but I’ve never been arrested. I don’t even know how this works.”

“Put out both of your hands.”

I nervously wipe my hands on the old apron I’m wearing and put them out like ordered.

He stands so close there’s barely any space between the two of us. I can smell him. Dear god he smells so good. Like sunshine, soil and leather, with just a light hint of cologne? I want to lick his whole body.

The handcuffs clink and glint in the light.

What is this man doing to me?

“Sheriff…?”

A growl rumbles in his chest and he clicks the cuffs closed. His fingers gently rub the skin of my wrists. “Call me Bowen.”

I swear he’s leaning into me. Is he sniffing my hair?

And then I hear giggling.

Bowen takes a step back and that’s when I spy my sister and our two other employees watching this whole scene through the other doorway that leads to the front of the store.

“The County Food Bank spring charity run is today,” my sister shouts in a sing-song voice. “And all of us joined in together to send you to jail as a donation.”

Oh wonderful. I had no idea any of this was going on. Like I pay attention. I am focused on my business and that’s about it. Well, my nieces and nephews, my family and friends get lots of my headspace too, but mainly it’s all about the bakery.

The instigators laugh like crazy. They high five each other and have cell phones up, obviously recording the moment I was handcuffed and the surprise and shock on my face.

Bowen puts a large hand on my shoulder and guides me toward the doorway. “Let’s go.”

I glance around at all the work left undone and sudden agitation hits me hard. “But the cupcakes for the McBride party…” I yell out.

“We know and it will get done and delivered.”

“The cake for the Johnson Wedding…”

Lila joins me briefly. “I’ve got this,” she states firmly. “I’m your partner, not some rando off the street. Let me, Cora and Sheri, our two excellent employees, do our thing. You never take any time off. We had to find some way to get you to slow down.” She leans in and whispers loudly in my ear, “And I had a feeling this orc would be the one to personally arrest you today. You’re welcome.”

Bowen grunts in response.

My sister waves a cheerful goodbye as I’m marched out the back door with my cuffed hands in front of me.

In moments we’re outside. His black patrol car is parked on the side street and I blink at all the commotion. Where did all these people come from? I recognize customers, friends and other business owners. My parents are even here, along with some of my siblings and their kids. They all clap and laugh. And yes, this group is recording me with their cell phones too.

“I’m so proud of you sweetheart, doing this for charity work,” my mom yells out, as if I thought of this myself. “We’re all going to donate to get you out of that jail, and for a good cause. This is wonderful.”

“Have fun in that jail cell,” my brother snickers. “Hope you don’t mind having to pee in front of strangers.”

I give him the evil eye. He’ll pay for this later.

More pictures are taken. Again, I wish I was wearing more makeup. I usually go in and change and freshen up in the office bathroom before I need to meet with customers, but there was no time. They’ve caught me with flour in my hair and me wearing me oldest apron. Jeez.

Bowen guides me closer to the sedan and I think he’s going to open the door and put me in the backseat, but he pauses. “I need to check you now.”

“Check me?”

“I’m calling in our female to come and pat you down. She’ll be here in a minute. She will check you, not me.”

I suddenly understand what he’s talking about and I look up at him and beg, “Bowen, I want you to check me.”

His chest expands.

“I want you.” I can’t believe I’m asking this. Where did this boldness come from? But suddenly it’s hugely important to me that Bowen Underwood touches me and no one else.

Bowen stares down at me, obviously thinking it through.

And then my brain fog clears and I remember that he has a girlfriend, dammit. “But if you don’t want to, that’s okay, I understand you wanting to remain professional…that was actually kind of rude for me to ask considering you have a…”

He puts down his phone and gives a curt nod. “I’m going to lightly touch your arms, chest and inner thighs on the outside of your clothes. Is this what you want?”

I sigh with relief. “Yes.”

And then my back is against the trunk and he gives me a quick, professional pat down just as he described—against my arms, stomach and between my lower thighs. I have a goofy smile on my face the whole time.

Then he’s done and he opens the backseat. “Get in,” he orders.

I nod. His huge hand touches the top of my head, making sure I get in nice and comfortably. Then I move my legs over and inside and lean back against the seat.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I squeak because now it’s all becoming very real. Yes, this is for charity, but I’ve never been in the back of a Sheriff’s car before because I’ve never been arrested in my entire life not even fake.

The door closes with a heavy thud. He leaves and enters the driver’s seat in front.

I take a deep breath.

It’s not real.

This is supposed to a fun April fool’s joke to gain funds for my favorite charity, the food bank, and time off for me, gifted by my sister.

And Bowen is with me.

Through the dark windows in the back seat I make out the shadowy visual of people still staring, waiting for me to leave. My sister, Cora and Sheri are all there too. I give them a half smile, trying to remain brave as I’m fake arrested. I lift my cuffed hands and give a wave.

It seems to make their day because they visibly sigh with relief and wave back harder. “Take all the time off you need,” I faintly hear Cora yell. She winks, pointing at the Sheriff, who is now starting the car. “Let us know if you need more time off because you’re busy with other things, it’s no problem.”

I bite my lip and gaze at the back of Bowen’s head through the partition that separates the front seat from the back.

He turns around. His hat is off now and I can see his deadly horns. “I’m taking you to town hall now. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I squeak again.

He lifts an eye ridge. “Sadie, answer me truthfully. I need to know if you’re okay before we leave.”

I glance out the window again at all the smiling faces and then back at Bowen. I take a deep breath, causing me to inhale his luscious scent. And then my anxiety decreases. “I can’t help it, I guess I’m worried about leaving work undone and all of this is a weird situation for me.”

“Your sister and your employees sound highly competent.”

“Yes,” I agree. “They are.”

“Your workplace will not suffer. And you’re not alone. You’re with me and I will make sure you are treated well. Nothing bad will happen to you while you are at my side.”

I give him a watery smile because now I’m with the orc I’ve wanted to date for the last six months, and our first time alone is me, handcuffed in the back of his patrol car. And he’s most likely eagerly waiting for the moment he can hand me off to his deputies so he can see Amanda Amato again. Life is so weird sometimes.

“You are ready to depart?”

“You really aren’t taking me to the county jail?” I question, double-checking that I’m not going to end up peeing in front of strangers, as my brother suggested.

“No, you’re going to be detained in a comfortable, fake jail cell in townhall sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and a few other businesses. They will treat you well and try to make it fun.”

I place my wrists with the heavy cuffs in a comfortable position on my lap. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Then he pulls out, driving slowly.

I take inventory of the inside.The back seat is like a black hole. I’m seated on a long bench seat without seat belts and the fabric is shiny fake leather. There are bars in front of me halfway up, from the back of the seat to the roof of the car and it’s fortified with probably bullet-proof plexiglass of some sort. There’s no way I could get through. I quietly continue to look at the streets as we go by. It’s not a very comfortable car, but every time we go over a bump I can feel it.

He makes a wide turn and I slide across the backseat. “Eeek.”

“Sadie,” he growls, “stay still.”

“I’m trying.”

He gives a deep sigh and continues driving.

The drive seems to take forever but then finally, we’re turning onto the part of town that houses the newer townhall and other small local and state government buildings. It’s not a big town, so the length of the drive is all in my head, obviously it didn’t take that long. Bowen waits in line for a moment as another Sheriff’s car pulls away, then he moves up and parks the sedan at the curb of the front of the steps leading to townhall. A large group of people are gathered there for the Spring food drive. I can see a local news truck parked nearby, which means Amanda is here too.

Bowen opens the door and helps me out.

There are loud cheers and claps and I smile big, because I’m happy to see individuals I recognize from the food bank and I really am happy to help out today.

Bowen guides me up the steps and between the jovial crowd.

We get inside and I see there’s a banner and indeed a free-standing fake jail cell all set up inside the lobby. It looks very real though. People from the County Food Bank are there, along with more deputies. They do a fake fingerprinting of me and then pretend to take a mugshot and it’s instead kind of cute with balloons behind me. In the end they give me a thank you certificate with my fingerprints and picture as a memento.

Sheriff Underwood remains nearby the entire time.

“Bowen, Bowen, it’s you. I’ve been waiting for you,” a breathless, musical voice greets.

I turn and see Amanda Amato rushing up, dressed beautifully, as usual. Her long black, highlighted hair is in perfect waves past her shoulders and her hazel eyes flash with a little too much makeup. She was Prom Queen, Miss Silver Lake County and later a cheerleader at the college level and now she’s a reporter for the local TV news. I expect she’ll soon land a bigger job and eventually a national program and I’ll be able to say I once went to high school with her.

She rushes up and looks between the two of us and frowns.

“Hi Amanda,” I comment. “It’s nice to see you again.”

She gives me a fake smile and then turns to Bowen and swiftly starts a conversation about plans the two of them apparently have for this evening, pointedly ignoring me and making zero effort to include me.

That’s my cue.

Bowen takes off my handcuffs very gently.

I step away, giving them space to talk.

A volunteer chats with me, talking me through today’s events. And then I’m handed a donut and coffee by a different smiling volunteer and guided into the temporary jail cell along with a welcoming crowd of jovial townsfolk, happy to be there for the day. They immediately greet the newcomer.

The bars clang shut behind me.

I choose to promptly ignore Bowen Underwood and start a conversation with the others nearby.

Because I need to get over him.

He’s taken and that’s the way it is.