Faith came around the counter and kissed her husband and daughter hello. Adam was another happily married man who had fought it tooth and nail but Faith had won his heart and the two were so much in love.
Adam glanced at Drake, then eyed Jasmine with curiosity. Red Hook was a small, close-knit town. Adam set Hope down on the ground and she took off running on her small, chubby legs.
“Hey buddy, didn’t see you there. I was distracted by my beautiful wife.” Adam walked up to him and shook his hand. “I hear it’s going to be a bad storm. We’re all on call. Noah says there is a tornado watch in this county.”
Drake nodded. “We’re on call as well. We’re patrolling the streets and making sure people know to stay home and not decide they need to make a quick run to the grocery store during the worst of it.”
Adam nodded and kept his eye on his daughter, who explored the empty shop on her short legs. She found a shiny penny on the floor but Faith picked it up before she could grab it. Hope sat down on the floor, looking like she was going to cry.
Faith handed her a piece of bread to occupy her. She came over to Drake with a large white box. “Take these sweets to the station with you, Drake. I am ready to close and head home.”
Drake took the box and took a sniff. “Mmm. I hope they make it to the station. If Noah is there, he will eat them all. I might have to sneak one in on the ride over.”
He introduced Jasmine to Adam. “This is Jasmine, Kate’s niece. Kate is on her way over to pick her up.”
Adam gave Jasmine a polite look. “Welcome to Red Hook. Sorry you arrived during this big storm. Usually the town is filled with people and activity.”
Adam turned back to Drake. “Noah was taking Alana to her parents’ house. Now that she is pregnant he doesn’t like her being alone. Especially in this weather. She was grouchy, but she went along with him.”
Drake nodded with understanding. Noah, Adam’s brother, was the town sheriff and also Drake’s friend since high school. His wife Alana was expecting their first child and Noah was being very protective of her.
Faith picked up her tiny daughter, who giggled when her mama kissed her neck.
“Thank God she looks like you, Faith, and not Adam.” Drake teased, punching Adam lightly in the arm.
Adam chuckled, not at all offended. “Can’t argue there.”
“She is adorable. What’s her name?” Jasmine asked softly. Her voice was so light and feminine and affected Drake more than it should. He had to ignore his racing pulse and heart. It had been a while since he dated, that was all. He had been so busy working. This weekend he needed to go to the bar and just relax and find himself a woman. Soon he would forget all about Kate’s niece.
“Hope,” Faith answered. “She is almost two and a handful. She might look like me but she has her daddy’s stubborn personality when she wants something.”
“I see your aunt’s truck, Jasmine,” Drake said, looking out the window. The thunder was getting louder. It rattled the windows. “I think this storm is arriving early. I’ll walk you out.”
He turned to Adam and Faith. “Be careful out there, Adam. I’ll probably see you around town.”
“You too,” Adam replied, picking up his daughter. “See you around, Jasmine.”
Drake walked Jasmine out of the coffee shop. He carried the box of sweets in his hand. He had to hold on to them tightly or the wind would have stolen them right out of his hands.
“Oh my God. This is going to be bad, isn’t it?” Jasmine looked so worried he was tempted to hold on to her. He ignored the temptation and walked toward her aunt’s pick-up truck.
“If you need anything call the station and ask for me,” he told her. “Your aunt has the number.”
Jasmine nodded and gave him such a sweet smile that he almost leaned down and kissed her lips. He caught himself just in time and shook his head to clear it. What was wrong with him?
He knew nothing about her or her personality.
Jasmine walked around to the passenger side of her aunt’s truck. “Thanks, Drake. I’m glad you stopped and helped me.”
He nodded and waved to Kate. Kate gave him a friendly wave back. He watched them drive away until the red taillights faded into the darkness. Kate lived on the outskirts of town. She and her husband used to run a cotton farm. After Dale passed away she just rented the land to some neighbors and tried to concentrate on running the store but she had been so depressed her business had suffered. Drake was glad Jasmine was in town.
As soon as he got in the car the rain started pouring out of the sky as if the clouds could no longer hold the drops in.
Drake turned his wipers on high and headed for the station. For some odd reason he was hoping to see Jasmine again.
Chapter 3
Jasmine woke up in the middle of the night to a loud siren blaring. Luckily she slept in sweatpants and a loose shirt. She got out of bed, feeling anxious in the dark unfamiliar bedroom. The rain and thunder had stopped and it was quiet except for the loud sirens. Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest. She opened the guest bedroom door and saw her aunt right away. She was wrapped in a pink robe. She looked frightened too. Her short black hair was pulled back with a barrette.