Jeremy: Tracy Creek Daily Series, #1 6a7114

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Copyright © 2021 by [ Emily Evans ] All rights reserved. No part or any portion of this eBook may be reproduced, stored, introduced into retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including without limitation photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, or used in any manner whatsoever, without the express prior written permission of the publisher, except in certain noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. The scanning, ing, and/or distribution of this eBook via the internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and is punishable by law. Only the authorized editions of the eBook may be purchased. The publisher and the author reserve the right to initiate legal proceedings in case of any participation in or encouragement for electronic piracy of copyrightable material of this eBook by anyone. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address: [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE | CRYSTAL CHAPTER TWO | JEREMY CHAPTER THREE | CRYSTAL CHAPTER FOUR | JEREMY CHAPTER FIVE | CRYSTAL CHAPTER SIX | JEREMY CHAPTER SEVEN | CRYSTAL CHAPTER EIGHT | JEREMY CHAPTER NINE | CRYSTAL CHAPTER TEN | JEREMY CHAPTER ELEVEN | CRYSTAL CHAPTER TWELVE | JEREMY EPILOGUE | CRYSTAL

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CHAPTER ONE | CRYSTAL

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"Two beers coming right up." I manoeuvred through the crowd, glancing around only for a second before I handed the beers out to Daphne and Jax, two of the many patrons who frequented my cafe. As always, the cafe was packed. The atmosphere was airy and fun with Dolly Parton songs playing lightly in the background. Not loud enough to drown conversation but enough to keep the mood cheery. I pushed tendrils of my hair away from my face as I searched for him. Jeremy. The familiar sound of chatter and the glasses clinking together filled the space. Walking back to the counter, I glanced at my watch, silently wondering why he wasn't here yet. I owned one of the largest cafes in town which also served as a theatre on weekends. I was the director of the theatre group and what better way to do the two things I loved? "Searching for someone?" Elizabeth, my best friend whispered behind me, and I nudged her lightly. Of course, she knew about Jeremy. Beth wiggled her brows knowingly. She was a teacher at the Tracy Creek grade school, we had known each other since we were teenagers, and we were as tight as thieves. "Don't do that. It makes you look weird," I teased, and she sighed like I was a lost cause before she nudged her chin exaggeratedly at something behind me. Raising a brow, I turned around and almost forgot how to breathe.

Jeremy. The mystery that I wanted to unravel piece by piece. He was also the man who had taken over my dreams since the first day we met. He had dark blue eyes, like the eye of a storm, and curly brown hair that he had obviously run his fingers through one too many times. He oozed masculinity and sex appeal. He exuded an air of power and there was nothing sexier than a man like that. My heart skipped a beat when his eyes met mine and I smiled softly at him, fiddling with the hem of my dress. "Hey, Crystal," Shawn waved, grinning as he sat down on one of the cafe stools. Bradley followed suit, waving tiredly at me. Jeremy leaned over the counter, smiling at me. The three of them were inseparable. "Hey, Crystal. Long day?" I gulped and nodded, grabbing beer glasses to serve their drinks as an attempt to distract myself from his dangerous eyes. I tried to find a piece of rationality in my head, a reason to take my mind off him but it was a difficult feat. My lips parted as I took in every feature of his face in my brain. Jeremy was thirty-nine, ten years older than me but he totally owned it. Ever since he transferred here as the chief of police a year ago, he'd been the only man I wanted. I usually found myself comparing other men to him and it was depressing as he didn't want me as much as I wanted him. "Here's your beer." I placed two glasses in front of Shawn and Brad. Shawn was a basketball coach and Brad worked as a firefighter and their tight schedules were the reason they only visited the cafe once a week. Dropping ice cubes into another glass, I made Jeremy's drink. His preference was whiskey or scotch. "And for you, scotch on the rocks." I placed a glass in front of him, watching him mumble a 'thank you' before he brought the rim of the glass to his mouth. I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. I didn't know much about Jeremy, but I knew he was a private man. The only thing I knew was that he used to have a wife, but she’d died, and he didn't want to betray that memory. It was frustrating but I’d hoped that over time, I'd catch his attention. When that didn't happen, I learned to respect his choice.

I ed the day like it was yesterday. I was wiping the top of the counter, humming to the Dolly Parton song playing and swaying my hips. "Nice moves." I let out a squeal of surprise and spun around, breathing heavily with my eyes wide and palm pressed against my chest. However, I was at a loss for words when I noticed who it was. Jeremy...in his uniform. God, when wasn't that sexy? A man in uniform was sexy but Jeremy was simply heavenly. A grin played on his lips and I laughed. I had asked him if he wanted to grab a glass of wine with me last night. "You scared me, Jeremy. What's up?" I was proud of myself for not turning into putty. He chuckled and slipped his hands into his pocket, walking closer to me. My breath hitched and I wondered what his lips would taste like. I wondered how he'd hold me against his muscular body. "I'm sorry, Crystal." That quickly snapped me out of my fantasies. I nodded, still looking into his mysterious eyes. Jeremy was a lot taller than I was and it just made him even more irresistible. "It's okay. It's fine." It really wasn't but I refused to let him know that. "It's not...it's not. I just...I used to be married." My lips parted, and he cleared his throat. I was at a loss for words, not that I was even sure of what to say. Was I hurt or surprised? "Right now, I don't want a relationship. I'm fighting demons of my own and...I'm not ready to let them go." He offered me a saccharine smile and I nodded. "Crystal?" Jeremy's voice pulled me out of my reverie, and I glanced at him as he shuffled the cards for their usual card game in those large hands. "Yeah?" "You shouldn't lock up late, there's a burglar around and we still haven't caught

him...or them," I nipped my lower lip, tempted to tell him ‘no’ and see what he'd do. When I didn't say anything, he stopped shuffling the cards and looked at me with raised brows like he was saying, 'I dare you to say otherwise'. "I won't." He was already distracted by the game. I sighed and shook my head, wishing he'd pay some more attention to me, but I knew that'd only happen in my dreams. When night fell, everyone left, and I locked the cafe before driving home. Why did I want someone who I couldn't have? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get him out of my head. He was absolutely perfect. I stood up and trudged to the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge in search of food as I was too tired to cook. "What to eat? What to eat?" I muttered and pulled out the pasta I’d made this morning. Just as I put it in the microwave, the sound of my phone ringing pulled my attention. Making my way to the living room, I answered and pressed it against my ear. "The way you call me every night, anyone would think you're in love with me," I teased and Beth scoffed playfully. "In love? With you? No way. Anyways, come open the door. I have wine." Still holding the phone to my ear, I walked to the door and pulled it open. Elizabeth had her phone between her shoulder and her ear, holding a bottle of wine up and two glasses in her other hand. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she was wearing her pyjamas. It wasn’t weird for us to pop up at each other’s doors quite late in the night. “I could really use a few glasses.” I let her in and hung up. “Jeremy?” she called when she got to the living room. I made my way to the

kitchen to grab a cork screw. “Who else would it be? I think I should move to another town.” I turned the TV on and one of my favorite sitcoms was on, slightly distracting me from what I was thinking about. “Maybe you don’t see it, but I do,” Elizabeth said, holding my glass of wine out to me and I glanced at her, raising a brow. “See what?” “See the beautiful future. I see things that you don’t see.” “Because you’re crazy?” I joked and she scoffed before laughing, whispering ‘maybe’. I smiled and let out a sigh, taking a sip of the wine. The familiar sweet and tangy taste in my mouth almost made me forget everything. For the rest of the night, I kept Jeremy off my mind and watched TV. Elizabeth was practically asleep after one glass of wine. She was a lightweight. After a couple of hours, I draped a blanket over Beth and went to bed. No matter how hard I tried, my mind fluttered back to Jeremy. I wasn’t sure when I fell asleep, but like most of my other nights, my dreams were filled with Jeremy trailing kisses down my skin, leaving a flaming trail of ion and desire. “You really need to get a grip, Crystal,” I whispered, and a smile grazed my face when I smelled bacon. “I love you, Beth!” I yelled and threw off the sheets. “I love you too!” She called back and I took a deep breath. It was another day. Another beautiful day.

CHAPTER TWO | JEREMY

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I swirled the whiskey around in my glass, my mind still on that beautiful woman. Crystal. “So, you’re just gonna live alone for the rest of your life? Is that it?” Brad frowned. "You don't know the half of it. You don't know how much..." I trailed off and cleared my throat, realizing that I was probably saying too much. I wasn’t in the mood to talk about my wife, Crystal or my feelings. I wasn't drunk enough for that. “Hunter says he’s gonna ask her out next week. He really likes her,” Shawn teased. “I just don’t understand why you don’t walk up to her and tell her that you’re in love with her. It’s not that hard, is it?” He tapped a couple of cards against his chin and grinned. My heart skipped a beat, and I clenched my fist around my glass. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Crystal, but I feared that I was betraying Lucie. My wife. Crystal was smart, beautiful and yes, very sexy and I probably fell in love with her the first minute I saw her smile. “He better not or I'll put him in jail,” I said under my breath and took a sip of whiskey. Her body was so fucking perfect, it made my heart ache. I often imagined taking her to my bed, making love to her until the rays of the sun were peeking out. However, I just couldn’t get rid of the memories of Lucie. And how could Crystal even like me anymore after what I’d done.

I never talked about my wife or my past after I moved. All anyone in Tracy Creek knew was that my wife had died in an accident. Thinking about the past would be like bringing it all the way into the present. I tried so hard to let go of everything that reminded me of Lucie but the memories and the occasional nightmares still haunted me. A constant reminder that I was alive, and Lucie wasn't.

CHAPTER THREE | CRYSTAL

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I glanced at Jeremy from the bar. Was he jealous that Hunter was giving me attention? Not likely, Crystal, I told myself, cleaning the glasses. I glanced at him again and let out a hopeless sigh. Was he just clueless or he really didn't like me? "What's up? Why did you get back so late?" I asked when Elizabeth eventually showed up. "There's a new teacher at the school. He teaches second grade." "Is he hot? You like him?" I asked, wide eyed and Beth scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "What do you take me for, Crystal? Of course, he is." I grinned and nudged my hip against hers. She exaggeratedly flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I think he's pretty new to town. Anyways, the teachers agreed to have a drink at a bar in celebration. When we got there, he told me he liked me and I was like 'okay, let's see how it'll go' until he got a call from his wife!" I gasped and pressed my palm to my lips that had parted in shock. "Wife? What the hell? How did you know?" I whispered and Beth waved her hand in the air. "Let's talk after you close. I could use a hot cup of coffee."

I sighed and shook my head. Beth and I cleaned up and then decided to walk to a familiar coffee shop. It was just a twenty-minute walk, and we could both use the cold air tonight. "You know I'm a matchmaker, right?" I laughed and turned to Beth, poking her side causing her laugh and slap my hand away. "You and Jeremy are a match made in heaven. I'll be telling you ‘I told you so’ when you go on your honeymoon." She grinned. Of course, it was nice to think about it but it just left me making up so many scenarios in my head. "Ugh. You're a shitty matchmaker, Beth," I groaned and wrapped my arms around her. "You'll be thanking me soon," I sighed and shook my head as we walked into the warm coffee shop. We found a seat in the corner and a young waitress walked to us, a smile on her face. "Good evening. Welcome to Stacey's. May I take your order?" She glanced from me to Beth. "Coffee, please. Do you want some coffee, Crystal?" Beth asked and I pursed my lips, shaking my head. I rummaged through my bag in search of my phone as I had to call Ted about a beer delivery to the cafe. When I couldn't find it in my bag, I ed I had left it on the cafe. "Dammit. I forgot my phone. I'll go grab it and probably drive back," I muttered distractedly, wondering why I forgotten something so important. "Do you want me to come along?" she asked, and I shook my head. "I'm sure I'll be back before you finish your coffee. Could you ask them to pack my order?" I blew her a kiss, grabbing my bag as I walked out of the coffee shop.

I walked as quickly as I could so that I didn't keep Beth waiting but my steps came to a stop when I saw that the cafe had broken into. My heart dropped and I gulped, almost finding it difficult to breathe. I was about to search through my bag for my phone when I ed it was inside. I gulped and walked in, holding my bag tight like it was a sufficient weapon. I flipped the lights on and could hardly contain the gasp that escaped my lips. "Oh my..." Most of the liquor was gone. Reality hit me and I searched for my phone, hoping they hadn’t taken that. It was behind the counter, where I’d left it. I called the cops, trying hard not to cry. I called Beth after I called the cops. The cops arrived a couple of minutes later, took a statement and asked me a few questions. They said they would let me know of any development. "Crystal? Baby?" Beth burst through the door not long after the police left. "What did the cops say? This place is a damn mess. How could they even...dammit!" Beth was probably even madder than I was. After all, she helped me set up everything when I bought the place. "We should probably start cleaning up, right?" I stood up. "You wanna clean up right now? Are you insane? This will probably take all night!" Beth's eyes widened and she stared at me like I'd lost my mind. I probably had. "Know what? Tomorrow is the weekend and we'll clean it up together. I'm sure a couple of people would like to help as well. Okay?" Beth's voice was warm and soft, but I wasn't convinced. I nodded in agreement, regardless. "C'mon. I'll drive." Beth grabbed my bag. "Why do I feel like my week is only gonna get worse, Eli?" "Stop calling me that." Beth frowned with a pout and her hands on her waist. That definitely put a smile on my face. "Let's have a glass of wine when we get home? I'm staying over at your place

tonight." "What if I have a guy coming over tonight?" A silence ensued as we stared at each other until we both burst out in laughter. "You're taking the couch though." She pointed a manicured finger at me, and I narrowed my eyes at her. "You're still gonna make me sleep on the couch, Beth?" "I hate sharing a bed with you." Beth shook her head with a playful shudder. I smiled sweetly. Let's just say I was a huge cuddler.

CHAPTER FOUR | JEREMY

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I swung my car keys around my finger, a yawn threatening as I made my way out of my office. I contemplated calling Shawn and Brad to ask if they wanted to have a bottle together, but I heard a familiar being mentioned. Turning in the direction of the voice, I saw Officer Lane filing a report. "What happened to Crystal?" I asked, my voice coming out a little more aggressive than I meant to. He stood straight and held the report file. "There was a robbery at her cafe, sir..." He trailed off and my jaw clenched as I read through her statement. I wasn't sure which emotion was greater, anger or fear. "When did this happen?" I gripped the report tight in my enclosed fist. "Uh, around ten thirty, sir." Dropping the report carelessly, I walked out of the station. I climbed into my car and drove off. I was worried and wondered if she was okay. Why hadn’t she called me. She knew I was a cop. I impatiently tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, hoping she'd still be at the cafe. My heart was racing, and I couldn't stop worrying about her. "Fucking hell." I punched the steering wheel in frustration before stepping on the

accelerator. I got to the cafe in less than twenty minutes and fortunately, the lights were still on. "Crystal?" I called, jogging towards her as she came out with Elizabeth. My heart was beating two times faster than usual. It was what her presence did to me. "Oh, Jeremy?" I cupped her face, glancing over her body to see if she was hurt anywhere. "Are you okay? How did this happen? Why didn't you call me?" I ran my thumb over her cheek. I sighed and pulled her into my arms. Did I do it to comfort her or out of my own selfishness? I wasn't sure. I just knew that it felt too fucking good. Her breasts pressed against my chest, and I could feel every curve of her body. This woman was a masterpiece. "What are you doing here?" She pulled away too soon and cleared her throat. I pushed away the loose tendrils of hair framing her face. I wasn't sure where my boldness was coming from. I silently chastised myself for hugging her out of the blue?? Could she feel my heart racing? Could she tell that I liked her? Beth cleared her throat and I had absolutely forgotten that we had an audience. "Elizabeth." "Hey, Chief. I hope you don't mind dropping Crystal at home? She's too shaken up to drive." I nodded in agreement, and she left us alone. "Why didn't you call me, Crystal, you could've been hurt," I chastised. "I'll find whoever it was, okay?" I reassured her and her lips broke into a wide but shaky smile.

“You don't have to drop me home, Jeremy." Her voice was tired, and I clenched my jaw, holding myself back. I hadn’t realized how dangerous it was to so close to her, especially when she was saying my name like that. "Are you okay?" I ran my knuckles along her cheek and she stared into my eyes, shaking my resolve, before she nodded. "You can find the thief, right?" Her beautiful eyes held too much hope. I couldn't say no. "Of course. C'mon. Let me drop you home." I ran my tongue over my bottom lip, unable to control the direction of my thoughts. "Okay." She nodded. I didn't let go of her hand as we walked to the car. I drove to her house and we both stood at the threshold. Her mood hadn't lifted, and I sighed, brushing her hair away from her face. "Crystal, I'll find whoever it is, okay?" I reassured her and her lips broke into a wide grin. "That was all I had to say to get you to smile?" I teased, and she shook her head, fiddling with the strap of her bag. "You're feeling better and that's all that matters." I clenched my fists, fighting back the urge to touch her flawless and supple skin. One more physical between us would start a flame. An unquenchable one. I'd be unable to forget how her body felt against mine. I'd to go to bed, ing just how soft her body was. Imagining what it would feel like to be deep inside her. "Do you wanna come in for a cup of coffee?" "Coffee?" I whispered under my breath, feeling like the heavens were just testing my limits now. "It's okay to say no." Crystal laughed like she could see right through me. She looked most beautiful when she laughed and I hadn’t noticed how deep her dimples were.

"I'll take you up on that offer some other time. It's late and you should catch some sleep." I smiled, and she returned the smile before she nodded. She was about to walk in when I stopped her. "The keys to the cafe?" I held my hand out and she raised a brow. "Uh...why?" Her voice was filled with suspicion. "I'm a cop, Crystal." "Oh." She sounded like she’d genuinely forgotten. "What do you want the keys for though?" She tilted her head and I said nothing. She finally dropped the bunch of keys in my hand. "I'll need them tomorrow morning though. I'd appreciate it if you brought them early." "Yes, ma'am." I did a small salute and she laughed, waving her hand at me. "Good night, Chief." I really wanted to hear my name on her lips one more time. "Good night, Crystal." I felt light on my feet, walking back to the car, like I could touch the sky. I hadn't felt like that in so long. The feeling was almost foreign. It was intense and I'd never wanted a woman so badly. What are you really doing, Jeremy? I wondered as I drove back to the cafe. The night breeze made me shiver slightly. It reminded me of how lonely it was. I opened the cafe, walking in. The things I do for you, Crystal. I spent most of the night cleaning the mess up and left a note on the table when I was done and drove back home.

Surprisingly, Shawn and Brad were making themselves comfortable in my house. "It's 4 a.m,," I announced, walking to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. Shawn was cooking something while Brad watched a movie in the living room. "Exactly. So where have you been?" Brad asked curiously, and I uncapped the bottle. "Crystal's house, obviously. He couldn't deny his heart desires any longer," Shawn added and I scoffed. "I honestly don't know how you do it." Brad shook his head, and I raised a brow in confusion. "Do what?" "Lie to yourself." "I'm gonna go to bed and if I hear one more word of advice ..." I muttered a curse word under my breath.

CHAPTER FIVE | CRYSTAL

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Beth hadn’t brought my car back and Jeremy hadn’t yet returned my keys. I didn't even want to go to work today. I hadn’t slept much. The majority of my night had been spent thinking, but it wasn't about the cafe. It was about Jeremy. It was the first time he’d touched me like that, so affectionately and I hadn’t been able to think on anything else. Had he done it on purpose or not? Did it mean anything to him? "Ugh! This is driving me insane." I felt pretty useless as I lay on the couch. I heard a knock on the door and groaned tiredly. A young unfamiliar cop was smiling as I opened the door. "Oh. Good day, Miss. Larsson. Chief asked to drop your keys off.” He held out my keys, letting them jingle slightly and I smiled, taking them from him. "That's sweet of him but I won't be opening the cafe today. Let him know that I'm grateful.” "Yes, ma'am. I'll let him know." He gave a curt bow before he spun around and walked off. I looked at keys, wondering what Jeremy had used them for. A short while later Beth dropped my car off with a sheepish look on her face. “I saw how he grabbed you last night. That man is dying to have a taste." She closed her eyes dreamily and I scoffed, my cheeks warming at the thought again.

I had been thinking about it. All day. It almost felt like it didn't happen. Like something that I’d made up in my head. "So? Did he stay the night?” I avoided her eyes and shook my head. “Is he insane? Did he really just leave last night?" "I asked if he wanted to come in for coffee and he said ‘no’." I drew a deep breath I’d obviously mistaken a green light for a red one. "I don't really wanna talk about it anymore." I held up the keys to the cafe. "I know what I saw, Crystal. The way he held you. That's a possessive man right there."

CHAPTER SIX | JEREMY

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The three of us were at a café and I was thinking about Crystal like I had been the entire night. "So, you hugged her like...hug hug?" Shawn asked and I raised a brow. "Was that all you got from what he said?" Bradley shook his head and took a sip of his coffee while I brushed my fingers through my hair. I wondered how she was feeling. No matter the direction I forced my thoughts to go, it always circled around back to her. Was she okay? I hadn't seen her since yesterday and it was bothering me a whole lot. I ran my tongue over my top lip and let out a sigh. "It's odd." It was odd how much it was bothering me that I didn't know how she was faring. "What's odd?" Shawn asked, taking a sip of his coffee and I pursed my lips. "How you won't mind your business." I cleared my throat, thinking back to how amazing her body had felt against mine. "Wait...isn't that Elizabeth?" Shawn asked, and I turned around. There she was. Crystal. My heart skipped a couple of beats as she laughed and linked her arm in Beth's, walking into the cafe filled with patrons. I quickly looked away before she caught me staring.

"Crystal is here too. Go talk to her." Bradley pointed out and I contemplated it. "You've been mentioning her all day. Go," Shawn added and I nodded before taking a deep breath. "What could possibly go wrong?" I chuckled to myself, still holding my cup of black coffee and walked to her table where she was sitting alone, fiddling with her phone and as beautiful as ever. "Hey." I slid into the space across from her and she blinked, obviously surprised by my sudden appearance. "Chief?" She sounded as stunned as I felt. Just as I parted my lips to speak, Beth walked up and placed a latte in front of Crystal, a suspiciously teasing smile on her face. "Hello, Chief. I'll just go say hi to Shawn and Brad." Beth winked at Crystal, whose cheeks turned red, before she wiggled her fingers and skipped off. There was a heavy silence between us as nothing was said for seconds after Beth left. Normally I wasn't a shy person. I cleared my throat and took a sip of my coffee. Glancing at Crystal, I watched her run her index finger along the rim of her coffee mug. Wanting to take her mind off everything that had happened, I decided to speak up. "How are you feeling? Still shaken up?" "I guess. I didn't think it would happen to me, honestly. I wasn't expecting it at all." She shrugged like she wasn't bothered but worry was etched all over her features. "Don't worry too much about it, Crystal. We're gonna find the thief," I reassured her because I really planned to find whoever it was and bring them to justice. It was irking me that whoever the thief was, the person who put a frown on her face was walking around so freely. "Thank you so much, Jeremy." She smiled appreciatively and I liked how her gaze softened.

"I helped clean the cafe too...so, that's one less thing to worry about," I told her, tapping my index finger on the side of my coffee mug. Her eyes widened and I chuckled. "Oh my. I'm not sure of how to thank you, Jeremy. Thank you." Her smile was so bright, it could blind me. "You can thank me by keeping that smile on your face." Her cheeks reddened. It was truly an enticing sight. "I can definitely do that if it means I don't have to clean up. Thank you so much. I was a little lost on where to even start." She sighed, bringing the cup of coffee to her lips. "So, when is the next play?" I asked, wanting to take her mind off the robbery and I was glad it worked as her eyes brightened. "Next week. You're coming right?" she asked and I couldn't say no if I tried. There was just something about her that called out to me. Something about her that drew me like a moth to a flame. "Certainly. What's the theme this week?" I asked and l just listened to her talk.

CHAPTER SEVEN | CRYSTAL

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The next morning came like a blur and I found myself at the cafe after dropping Beth at the school. The cafe was empty restocked the alcohol bottles behind the counter, humming to a Dolly Parton song. "Hey, Crystal." I almost screamed at the sudden voice and spun around, only to find Jeremy close enough to make my heart race. "Ooh, hey." I gulped, staring into his gorgeous eyes. He looked so good in his uniform. And his smile was pretty wide. Pretty sexy. "We caught the thief." He grinned and my eyes widened. Purely out of instinct, I squealed and threw myself into his arms, giggling excitedly but that excitement quickly burned into something else as he kept his arm wrapped around me. "Sorry," I whispered, about to reluctantly pull away but he didn't let go. My breath hitched as he ran his nose along my neck. I gripped his shirt, feeling like I was high up in the clouds. I could hardly think properly. He slowly let go and I stared into his dark eyes. It wasn't a storm in his eyes today. It was a flame. One that was consuming me too. "J...Jeremy?" My voice was a feeble whimper as he leaned in, our lips almost touching, and I could tell that he was rethinking his decision. I nipped on his lower lip and that was all the push he needed. He kissed me intently, cupping my face as his tongue slipped hungrily between my lips.

I moaned at the sweet shiver that raked through me. His tongue grazed mine as the temperature in the cafe hit the roof. He groaned, pulling me close as our tongues danced an unfamiliar yet thrilling dance. Then he pulled away and trailed warm kisses along my neck. I moaned, brushing my fingers through his hair. "Fuck, Crystal. I don't think I can hold back anymore." His voice was a husky growl. My core tingled with eagerness and need. "Then don't hold back," I whispered against his lips. I could feel his warm breath on my mouth. He swept me up and I locked my legs around his waist, claiming his lips. He grabbed fistfuls of my ass over my pants, and I nipped on his bottom lip, biting and suckling on it. He tasted of black coffee. He kicked the door to my office open and placed me on the desk, staring into my eyes. My heart was beating a crazy rhythm. "You're so beautiful. I can't get you off my mind," he grunted his confession, making my heart skip a beat. I took the liberty of unbuttoning his uniform, slowly exposing his bare chest. It was obvious that he worked out very often. "You like what you see, baby?" He had a proud grin on his face, placing his hands on either side of my waist. I wasn't sure if I was more surprised at our position, the question he asked or the endearment. "I definitely do." I nipped on my bottom lip, running my index finger along his abs, over every contour and curve. He slid his hands under my top and cupped my breasts, running his thumbs over my nipples. A moan fluttered through my lips as I ran my hand over his bulging cock and God, was this man packing. "Please, fuck me," I whispered breathlessly, and he pulled my top off, then rid me of my jeans and panties in one, swift movement. I parted my thighs as he unzipped his pants. He moved forward and groaned when every inch of his length pressed deep

inside me. He cupped my face and kissed me. "You see how perfectly we fit, don't you?" He gasped, just as close to the brink of orgasm as I was. I nodded looking into his eyes as he thrust repeatedly into me. I shook violently, raising my hips to meet his. Jeremy pushed down my bra and latched onto my nipple, groaning as he fucked me, gripping my shoulders. My toes curled and I lost touch with reality as pleasure surged through my body. I was vaguely aware of a rumbling groan coming from Jeremy as he tensed, and we both cried out. He rested his forehead against mine as we both caught out breath. Finally, he brushed the hair away from my face and looked into my eyes. "How about a date this weekend?"

CHAPTER EIGHT | JEREMY

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I stood in front of the mirror that was fogged up from the steam from the shower. My heart skipped a couple of beats whenever I thought about how good it had felt to be with her. Everything with Crystal felt right in so many ways. It felt too right and that scared me. I like her too much. It’s hard to think straight. I don’t deserve such an amazing woman after what happened with Lucie. I’m not sure if it’s my guilt talking or I really believe I don’t deserve her but I don’t deserve the way I feel with Crystal. Not after Lucie's death. I glanced at the digital clock on my bedside table. I still had forty minutes to dress and go pick Crystal up. There was a party going on in my heart and I couldn't stop smiling. I pulled on a light blue shirt and a pair of dark jeans before I stepped out of the house. As I drove to her house, I tapped nervously on the steering wheel. There's no reason to be nervous, Jeremy. It's just Crystal. I cleared my throat and hummed to the radio but deep down, I knew she wasn't 'just Crystal'. She wasn't 'just Crystal' because she made my heart race. She made me feel like I had touched the cusp of Paradise. I got to her house and just as I climbed out, a thought hit me. Should I have got flowers? I looked at the variety of flowers in her front yard. I contemplated climbing back into my car and driving off to buy some but before I could make a decision, the door was pulled open and for a couple of seconds, I forgot how to breathe.

"Jeremy!" She yelled excitedly, waving. She was too darn beautiful for her own good. My eyes drifted over her and I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. "And pretty sexy too," I murmured, watching her walk towards me. I wondered if she wore that sundress for me. "Hey, baby." I spread my arms and she giggled, throwing herself into them. I groaned in satisfaction as her floral scent filled my senses, and I ran my nose along her neck. "I do hope you're this excited because of me?" I put her down and she looked up at me, pursing her lips like she was thinking about it. I tipped her chin upwards and pressed my lips to hers. She gave into the kiss and I wrapped my arm around her waist, never having enough of her. She tasted like cherry and cola. Her tongue ran over mine and she pulled away, breathlessly. I smiled and ran my thumb over her bottom lip. "Excited now?" I joked and she laughed, throwing her curly brown hair over her shoulders. "I guess I am. Where are we going?" I was in awe of the kind of feeling and warmth she brought to me. I really want to wake up every day to her in my arms. "It's a surprise but I know you'll love it." I kissed her cheek and pulled the car door open for her. She laughed, looking brighter than the sun as she nodded and climbed into the car. I turned on the radio, letting an unfamiliar song play while holding the steering wheel with one hand, the other entwined with hers. She sang to the song that she obviously knew, and I glanced at her a couple of times, smiling as she sang so ionately and sweetly. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this woman. We spent the rest of the journey talking and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed being in the same space as her. It was easy to talk to her, listen to her

and understand her. There was a connection between us, I couldn't lie to myself. I brought her hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to it as I stepped on the accelerator. We got to a theatre just outside town and I was hoping she hadn't been here before. "Wow, Jeremy," she whispered, obviously at a loss for words as she stared at the large and old building. I knew she’d like it. I knew how much she loved plays. I had watched every one that she directed at the cafe. “How did you find this place? I didn’t know it was still open.” She sounded like a child at an amusement park, and it left a feeling of satisfaction in my soul. “Let’s go in and check?” I held two tickets out and she gasped, eyes wide. She didn’t wait for me to climb out of the car and open her door for her. She just jumped out, waiting impatiently. I held her hand in mine as we walked inside. “I really can’t believe this. I’ve always wanted to come here but the cafe always kept me busy, and I wasn’t sure if it was open.” She rambled on as I gave the tickets to the attendant who led us to our seats. “I did something right again, right?” I really had the strong urge to make her happy. To keep her right next to me. She leaned her head against my arm, nodding excitedly. The play ended too soon and Crystal and I walked out of the theatre. "That was amazing, but I know you didn't watch it," she said with a laugh, pointing at me. I was going to deny it but there was no point. "I watched a few parts." I turned to her, wrapping my arms around her. Her cheeks reddened and I doubted that I'd ever get used to how beautiful she looked. "But I watched you for the most part."

"Now, you're just flattering me," she laughed airily, poking my chest before she wrapped her arms around me. I kissed her forehead just as her stomach growled. I laughed when she blushed in embarrassment. "Stop laughing, I didn't eat this morning." She smacked my chest and I laughed even harder, pulling away. She slipped her hand into mine as I led her to the car. She climbed in but before I shut the door, I twirled my index finger around a loose tendril of her hair. "Thank you," I whispered, and she blinked in confusion. It was adorable. I shut the door and walked to the driver's seat with a grin on my face. "Are we going back to town?" She turned to me as I drove to our next location. "No, not yet. I've got one more surprise." I winked. We got to the restaurant in minutes and had dinner together, laughing and talking. Her presence was comforting. I hadn't felt that kind of comfort in so long and it was refreshing. It felt like being with Lucie again. I felt that same thrill that I used to feel whenever Lucie smiled at me. "To us?" I tilted my glass, and she picked hers, touching it to mine. "To us," she repeated with a smile, and I watched her take a sip. Night fell a little too quickly as we decided to sneak into the restaurant’s cellar. It wasn't open to patrons but that was the most thrilling part of it. When we got there, she held my hand, as we walked deeper in. "Wow," she said, running her finger along a rack of wine as she walked farther away from me. "Have you made a choice?" I asked and she tapped a bottle of wine before turning to me. "Red wine?" she asked and I nodded, walking towards her.

"Anything you want, Miss Larsson," I whispered, her lips grazing mine lightly. It was strange, how she could make me rock hard without doing anything. She grabbed the collar of my shirt and crushed her lips to mine. I ground my hard bulge against her belly, shivers racing through me. "God, you're gonna ruin me," I whispered, and she giggled, unbuttoning my shirt as I kissed her lips. I could feel her hard nipples rub against my chest. The pleasure was pushing me to the brink of insanity. I hiked her sundress up. Her eyes had darkened under the pressure of desire and her breasts rose with every deep breath she took. Her hair was a beautiful mess. "Stay over at mine tonight?" I whispered and she smiled moving close. She unbuttoned my pants. "We'll see.” Her airy tone sounded like a challenge, and I was up for it. “Jeremy,” she moaned. Goosebumps settled on her skin, and I left a kiss on the crook of her warm neck. I could feel her veins pulsate right under her jaw. I unzipped my pants and she watched me through hooded eyes as I lifted her left leg, hooked it around my hip and pushed into her. "Fuck," she whispered, and I groaned, almost losing it. I nipped on her bottom lip. The thought that I was fucking her in the restaurant's cellar where we weren't supposed to be, was making me feel like I could touch the clouds. I cupped her breast with my free hand, pinching her nipple. A moan escaped her lips with every thrust. She gasped and slid her hands up my chest. Her touch started a fire on the surface of my skin, consuming my entire body. I drove harder into her. We both reached the peak of our orgasm together. It felt like fireworks and heaven. It was too beautiful to describe. "Tired?" I whispered against her lips, and she nodded tiredly. I kissed her one more time before pulling away. "I'll take you home then," I whispered, staring at her for a couple of seconds with a smile on my face. I loved that she smelled like me. I wanted to make her mine, make up for the time I’d spent without her.

CHAPTER NINE | CRYSTAL

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"Want me to run you a bath?" Jeremy asked, lying me down on his bed. The thought that I was in his home sent sweet thrills through me. I watched his eyes darken as my sundress hiked up and my lips stretched into a smile. I wasn’t sure why, but I liked how he looked softly at me. "You probably wanna take one too, right?" I sat up, fluttering my lashes at him because I knew what I was doing to him. He gulped audibly. "Let's save water?" I stood up and tugged on the strings holding my sundress together. His lips parted as it cascaded to the ground while I stood wearing nothing but my black lace panties and matching bra. "Great idea." He pulled me close. He kissed me ionately and we rid ourselves of every piece of clothing. Jeremy turned the shower on and spun me around so that my back was pressed against his chest. I took in a deep breath as he held me close and slowly slid into me, thrusting gently. He wrapped his muscular arms around me and trailed kisses along the side of my neck as I moaned his name. My legs shook from how good it felt. The sounds made from our love making were drowned by the sound of the rushing shower.

***

I smiled at the ceiling and Beth smacked my face with a cushion before letting

out a maniacal laughter. It didn't wipe the grin off my face. "Stop smiling like that, babe. It's creepy." She dropped into the space right next to me on the bed and I took in a deep breath before turning to her. "Do you know how I feel?" I exhaled, feeling like I could fly. It was how I’d felt since the date. Like I could touch the clouds or something. "I feel like I'm dreaming. You know, one of those dreams that feel so unreal. I don't wanna wake up if it is a dream." Beth smiled, and I wrapped my arms around her. "I guess you were right," I itted, climbing out of bed. Beth had slept over last night, and I’d told her about my date. How it was everything. How it felt so perfect. "Of course, I'm always right. I genuinely deserve an award for this." I silently wondered what he was doing right now. "I just can't get it out of my head, honestly. Eli, it felt unreal. Is this what it means to be happy? In love?" "You deserve the happiness, Crystal. Jeremy is a good guy too. I can't when I last saw you looking so excited in the morning." I had to agree with her. The truth was, I couldn't see myself with anyone but him.

CHAPTER TEN | JEREMY

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I poured myself some coffee and yawned. "Why are you guys here so early?" I raised a brow sleepily at Bradley and Shawn on the other side of the kitchen island. I took a sip of the coffee, wincing slightly when it burned my tongue. "You didn't tell us about your date with Crystal." Shawn crossed his arms across his chest and I scoffed, glancing at Brad who looked like he wasn't bothered, but he was. "And how do you know this?" I was curious as to how they knew. "And why are you always at my house? How do you even get in?" I let my mind trail off to Crystal. My lips unconsciously spread into a smile as I sipped on my coffee. "Everyone in Tracey Creek knows," Brad announced, dropping two cubes of sugar into his tea. "Everyone but us," Shawn added childishly and I sighed, brushing my fingers through my hair. Then guilt caused my excitement about our date to simmer down. "Are you guys dating?" Brad's voice was serious now and I shook my head. "I can't date her. She doesn't deserve to be with me." I liked Crystal more than I’d thought I did, and it scared me. "Jerem..."

" I don't wanna open that box right now. I'm not ready to...I don't deserve to be happy with her when..." I trailed off and sighed. "When are you going to let yourself move forward, Jeremy? Don't you..." "I was driving...when Lucie died." I cleared my throat. It was the first time I was telling them this and their expressions reflected the shock that they obviously felt. "But it's..." "I really don't wanna talk about it, Shawn. This relationship, or whatever it is, it's not gonna work." I turned away from them. It hurt to think about a life without Crystal now that I'd had a taste of what it was like to be with her. "What about Crystal?" Brad asked. "I like her. I do but I don't think its gonna ever work out," I confessed. I just knew that the guilt I felt for being alive without Lucie would ruin that relationship. "You don't even wanna give it a try?" Brad urged and Shawn agreed with a nod. "You might really be surprised, Jeremy. You said you were happy with her, right?" I nodded and threw back the rest of my coffee. "If you're gonna keep talking about it, just go," I grumbled and pointed my thumb at the door. "You know you won’t chase us out." Shawn said seriously. "I'm just curious. Why did you see her if you knew it'd come to this?" He was right. What was I thinking? "What time is Hamptons playing?" I asked, easily evading the question as I walked to the living room and dropped on the couch. "2 p.m." Brad answered, dropping on the couch right next to me.

"Hamptons or Bulldogs?" Shawn asked, holding a dollar bill up with a smirk on his face. Just as I was about to mock him for being a penny pincher, my phone rang. My heart skipped in excitement because I knew who it was. Without thinking much about it, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and realization hit me all too quickly. My finger hovered over her caller ID before dropping the phone on the table, my heart feeling like it had been shattered.

CHAPTER ELEVEN | CRYSTAL

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It felt like my world came crashing down after our 'date'. It had been over a week since I last spoke to Jeremy. Not that I didn't want to, but he was avoiding me and it hurt. I thought we had something going. Was it only sex that he wanted from me? No matter how many times I told myself not to cry, I couldn't help it. I was parked in front or his house just as he came out with Shawn and Brad next to him. He was laughing. "Is this really how insensitive you are?" I asked and his head snapped towards me. He clenched his jaw and my heart skipped. At that moment, I hated myself for being so weak. "What are you..." "We're not kids, Jeremy. You can’t just run off and ghost a girl like that when you’ve had sex and gone a bloody date!" I defended, my eyes burning with unshed tears. He combed his fingers through his hair and sighed. "I can't do this, Crystal. I ... I don't want anyone in my life right now. Not after what happened with my wife," There was a painful pang in my chest as he spoke. "What?" "I was the one driving when she died. I can't do this because I don't deserve it. I don't deserve you. We're not gonna work out, Crystal. Please just .... stay away. Please."

I laughed, because it felt like a joke. "You just decide this after we had sex?" I was mad. I was disappointed. I was frustrated. But most of all, I was heartbroken and hurt. I sniffed, refusing to shed a tear in front of him and climbed back into my car. I drove for hours, unsure of where I was driving but stopped after a couple of hours and cried. I knew I shouldn't have given myself such high hopes.

CHAPTER TWELVE | JEREMY

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I couldn't get the picture out of my mind. It had only been twenty-four hours since I saw Crystal. The tears on her cheeks. I caused that. Shawn, Brad and I were playing cards at Shawn's house because I couldn't go to the cafe right now. "She probably hates me." I murmured under my breath with a sigh. I could hardly get any sleep. Why was I feeling so guilty and empty? On our date I’d got to know Crystal better. She was an amazing woman. Beautiful and smart. It wasn't just sexual attraction that I felt for her like I did when I first set my eyes on her. It was so much more than that and the thought of letting her go didn't sit right with me. "Does this mean..." I whispered to myself and sighed, brushing my fingers through my hair. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I wanted her to be my wife. I took my keys off the table and drove to her place, hoping that she didn’t hate me. I knocked on her door impatiently. The door was pulled open and the minute she saw who it was, she was about to shut slam it in my face. "Listen to me, Crystal...please?" I hoped she could hear the plea in my voice. My heart was thumping with a fear of rejection and losing her forever. "I'm sorry. I made a mistake. I just thought that I didn't deserve the love you gave me. I was afraid because I had never felt the way you made me feel in so long." Tears welled in her eyes and I took her hand in mine, kissing the back of her fingers. "You're the woman I love. The love of my life. Give me one chance and I'll prove that to you."

She sniffled, and nodded, her warm brown eyes filled with tears. I cupped her warm cheeks, hating myself for being the reason for those tears. "Let me make it up to you?" I whispered, hoping she'd let me. She tugged me into the house by my collar and jumped into my arms, kissing me. Her legs locked around my waist, and I grabbed her ass, returning the kiss with an equal fervor. The taste of wine on her tongue was driving me crazy. I moved to the couch and lightly placed her on it, my lips never leaving hers. I kissed her like it had been years. She moaned into the kiss, and I hoisted up the large shirt which was the only thing she was wearing. I grinned and ran my index and middle finger over her core. Slipping two fingers into her, she moaned and arched her back. My member throbbed achingly in the confines of my pants, but it wasn't about me. She moaned my name loud as I quickened my pace. She came with a scream, arching her back and her hand moved to grip my shirt as she slowly descended from the peak of her nirvana. I kissed her lips and she giggled into the kiss, running her fingers through my hair. "I thought I lost you forever," Crystal said, and I left kisses all over her face. "You'll never lose me, babe. I'm all yours. And just to make sure...will you marry this man who can't think of any other woman but you?" I gulped nervously and she blinked at me, wide eyed. "I love you, Crystal. I don't think I can do anything right without you." She smiled and nodded, making me let out a deep sigh of relief. "I guess you're gonna spend a lot of time making it up to me now," she said sheepishly and I laughed, kissing her forehead. "I guess I do.”

EPILOGUE | CRYSTAL

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I stared out at the water, shivering with a smile on my face. I held my left hand up, watching the ring on it glimmer under the bright moonlight. Jeremy and I were on our honeymoon. Even I was finding it hard to believe but the time I spent with him was the most amazing one I had spent in my entire life. We were in the Maldives, in an overwater bungalow. Practically, a bungalow on the water. It was absolutely beautiful and Jeremy couldn't keep his hands to himself -not that I wanted him to. "Hey baby" he wrapped his arms around me. It was obvious that he just woke up as his voice was hoarse and deep. I shivered as he kissed my neck, a smile grazing my lips. "Y'know...we could take sex on an over water bungalow off our bucket list" I trailed off, turning around in his hold. I watched as his expression morphed into something less subtle and a lot darker. "How do you always have the best ideas?" He wondered aloud and I tugged off the sweatshirt I was wearing. "Because I'm your wife" I whispered and claimed his lips. He pulled his pants down, eager to enjoy the moment. I threw a leg around his waist as he slipped his thick throbbing cock into me and I groaned at how good it felt. I watched him, struggling to keep my eyes open as animalistic groans left his parted lips. His fingers dug selfishly into my ass cheeks. "You like that, baby?" He groaned and I nodded, my hard nipped rubbing against

his chest. The sounds of our skins slapping and my moans travelled into the night. The pleasure was undeniable. Even in the cool air of the night, beads of perspiration dotted our skins. His thrusts grew more urgent, desperate. My eyes rolled behind my lids as I came hard, my body shook violently. "I love you" he whispered and hoisted me up. I laughed, combing my fingers through his hair. "I love you too, babe" I whispered into his hair, my heart racing -an after effect that occurred whenever he said those words to me. "I love you so much," he whispered, kissing my lips. I laughed and hummed. It was just our beautiful beginning.