Baker’s Law by Denise McDonald

for?”
    “Bunny’s daughter, Callie. You remember her, don’t you? She was a few years behind
     us in school.”
    Relief washed through Marissa with so much force she swayed a little on her feet—though
     she had no reason for it.
    She did remember Callie. As a matter of fact, she’d always suspected Callie was the
     one who’d turned all the linens pink. She’d seen the girl lurking in the back hallways
     of the club the night of the incident, but it wasn’t as if Marissa could accuse her
     of doing it. And she’d only been eleven or twelve at the time. She’d been a spoiled,
     rich brat, but not deliberately malicious.… Marissa gave a mental shrug. Given that
     Callie Carlisle had gone through three wedding planners already, it sounded as if
     things hadn’t changed much.
    She turned her attention to Jax. “Good evening, Chief.”
    Jax removed his hat and nodded to Marissa and her sister. He sure did make that OH
     uniform look good. Marissa gaped a moment, worried he could read her mind as he held
     her gaze. She fought off the urge to fan herself.
    “Ladies.” He interrupted her thoughts. “I came to check on how you’re doing. Any more
     break-ins?”
    “Break-ins?” Marlie’s head whipped around and she pinned Marissa with her narrowed,
     blue gaze. “When did you have break-ins? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Behind her, Jax shifted and his eyebrows rose.
    “It was no big deal. I didn’t want to worry you.” Marissa moved around her sister
     and turned her attention to the chief. “All’s well. My brother came out and fixed
     the door.”
    “Duff came over here? You told one of the guys but not me?” Marlie stood, then slammed
     her hands on her hips.
    “Like I said, I didn’t want to worry you. And I was a little afraid you might overreact.
     Silly me.” She rolled her eyes. “Marlie, you remember Jax Carlisle from high school.
     He’s the new police chief.” That cooled her sister’s jets.
    “I heard you were moving back.” Marlie morphed from freaked out, concerned sister
     to businesswoman—emphasis on
woman
—and went to shake Jax’s hand. “Congratulations on the job.”
    He gave her a quick, polite shake, but his gaze didn’t linger on Marlie. A fact that
     gave Marissa even more relief than when she’d heard he wasn’t the intended groom.
     Though, that might be totally premature. She didn’t know a thing about him. She normally
     swore by her instincts about people, but he could be getting ready to celebrate his
     twentieth wedding anniversary and have half a dozen kids at home. His mother was tightlipped
     about the foal she couldn’t keep corralled.
    “How does it feel to move back to Oak Hollow? Have you gotten settled in yet?” Marlie
     peppered him with questions. “Must be a rough move for a household.” Leave it to her
     to ask the questions Marissa had been wondering.
    Jax gave a quick chuckle. “It’s good to be home. Settled just fine and moving me and
     my dog wasn’t all too traumatic.”
    He was single.
    Marlie turned her back on Jax for a brief moment and gave a quick brow waggle. And
     all Marissa’s hopes dashed. Not too many men were immune to her sister’s charm and
     beauty when she turned it up.
    As Marlie asked Jax another barrage of questions, Marissa glanced at her watch. It
     was about an hour until closing time. “If y’all will excuse me…” She hurried behind
     the counter and plucked out the unsold cupcakes she’d take over to her dad later.
     She’d just finished packing up the box when Jax came over to the counter.
    “I’m sorry I haven’t been by sooner to check on your shop. I did beef up patrol and
     have them coming by more frequently.”
    Marissa nodded. “I’ve seen them. Thanks.”
    “Would you mind if I check out your door?”
    “My brother did a good job on it. But I don’t mind.” She waved him around the counter.
     “Marlie, will you keep an eye on the front for a sec?”
    When her sister nodded,