Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

Seemed legit.

For a second, I felt the weight of being a single parent like a concrete block on my chest. A good mom could have helped in this moment. Soothed my temper, provided some balance. Instead, I had to play both roles. Which meant I had to stop, think, and consider the situation from more than one angle.

Was shock and awe the way to go? Scare the kid straight? He’d never done anything like this before. His grades were good, he never got in trouble at school, most of the time he was polite and respectful. He was great with all of his cousins. Overall, a good kid.

This was an aberration. Not that I was naïve enough to think now that he’d been caught once he’d never do it again, or that it might not be the start of a new pattern of behavior. But I could bring down the hammer, or I could get creative.

An idea occurred to me. I’d save the hammer for next time, if it became necessary.

“Grab your stuff.”

A spasm of fear crossed his features. “Where are we going? Can you actually arrest your own son? They won’t let you do that, will they?”

I let out a breath. “I’m not arresting you. This time. Put the rest of those cookies in your backpack and get your shoes.”

“Where are we going?”

“Angel Cakes Bakery. You, my friend, are going to apologize.”

CHAPTER 5

Garrett

Owen slumped in the passenger seat with his arms crossed. He hadn’t looked me in the eyes once since getting off the couch and grabbing his backpack. He could be mad at me all he wanted. I wasn’t letting him get away with this.

Silence seemed appropriate on the drive to the bakery. He knew he was in trouble. I’d let him stew in it for a while.

But damn it, why had he done that? What had been going through his fourteen-year-old mind when he’d decided to skip school and rob a bakery? There was no shortage of snack food at home. I tried to keep us healthy, but I wasn’t a tyrant about it. If he was going to ditch school, why not just go home and raid the pantry? Why add theft to the mix?

I didn’t want to make it about me, but what would happen if people got word that Deputy Haven’s kid was a shoplifter?

We pulled up to the bakery and parked outside. The building was painted pink and white, with lines that evoked a fancy dessert. Black and white striped awnings shielded the windows and door from the worst of the mountain weather, and a sign in the shape of a cupcake said open.

I glanced at Owen. He hunkered down in the seat, as if he’d rather the ground open up and swallow him whole than go inside and apologize to Doris Tilburn.

“Here’s the deal, pal,” I said, deciding to give him at least the illusion that he had a choice in the matter. “You can go inside, apologize to Doris, and we’ll figure out how to pay her back. Or I can take you in and hand you over to one of the other deputies.”

He seemed to consider that for a second. When he answered, I could hear the hint of worry in his voice. “Fine. I’ll go say sorry.”

We got out and I motioned for Owen to go in ahead of me. He shuffled to the door, carrying his backpack, his shoulders hunched in defeat. I followed him inside and took off my aviators.

The scent of sugar, bread, and vanilla washed over me. Angel Cakes always smelled good enough to give me a head rush.

“Be right there!” a woman’s voice called from the back.

Didn’t sound like Doris. Maybe the woman who worked the front counter was there. Beth? Her name might have been Beth, but I didn’t remember for sure.

I put a light hand on Owen’s shoulder and nudged him farther inside. “We don’t need to hang out by the door. It’s not like you’re going to make a run for it.”

He looked back at me, eyes narrowed in a glare.

“Don’t test me. I can still catch you.”

“I’m not gonna run.”

I didn’t actually think he would, but I kept myself between him and the door anyway.

Habit.