Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
He stopped in front of the counter, those golden eyes scanning the pastry case like he was sizing up a threat.
“Coffee,” he said, voice low and gravelly.
I nodded quickly and grabbed a cup, feeling his gaze on me the whole time. My hands shook just enough that I almost dropped the lid, but I managed to snap it on without incident. When I slid the cup across the counter to him, I blurted, “You should get a cookie, too.”
Wesley quirked a brow.
“On the house,” I added hastily, feeling my cheeks heat. “You know…for helping out with our security system.”
“You wanna pick one out for me, I’ll eat it.”
I scrambled to grab a wax paper bag and dropped a double chocolate chip cookie inside. It was still warm from the oven because Marcy had just made another batch since they’d turned out to be a bestseller.
Wesley handed me a crumpled five-dollar bill, his big fingers brushing mine in the exchange. The brief contact sent a jolt up my arm, and I dropped the cash.
Proving he was as observant as I thought—and had incredible reflexes—he caught the money and pressed it back into my hand.
“Thanks.”
His gaze lingered on my face for a beat, and then he nodded once before turning to go.
He paused when the bell over the door jingled, and Austin strolled inside, his gaze immediately searching me out. Hunter faced away from me so I couldn’t see his expression, but when Austin finally noticed him staring, he paled a little. After a second, Hunter’s head twisted around, and his eyes were filled with heat, making goose bumps break out over my skin. Then he looked at Austin one more time before moving toward the exit again.
I watched him walk out, the bell over the door jingling softly behind him.
Only after he disappeared down the street did I realize I was still standing there, clutching the five-dollar bill like a lifeline. And grinning like a lovesick fool.
I worked on autopilot when Austin ordered a muffin and barely processed his attempts to start a conversation. When he left, I pulled the bill from where I’d stuffed it in my pocket and stared at it dreamily.
Thank goodness Marcy was also an amateur matchmaker because, after watching the entire interaction, she didn’t chastise me for being such a hot mess around Wesley. Instead, she shot me a triumphant grin and singsonged, “Told you so.”
Not even her boast could pop my bubble. I floated through the rest of the afternoon in a haze of happiness, replaying every second of Wesley’s visit in my head. By the time the clock hit closing, I practically hummed as I stacked the chairs. Marcy was counting out the register, humming along to the oldies station we always kept playing low in the background.
“I’ll check the mailbox before I head out,” I called, grabbing my bag from the office.
“Thanks, hon!” Marcy replied, not looking up.
The small metal box was mounted on the wall just outside the front door. I twisted the knob and pulled it open, expecting nothing more exciting than a flyer or two. Instead, a folded sheet of paper sat inside.
My brows drew together when I lifted it out and noticed nothing was written on the outside.
Even though the street was empty, I glanced around before I flipped it open.
Stay away from them.
That was it. I had no idea what the message meant. Or who wrote it since there wasn’t a signature at the bottom.
My heart started to pound, hard and fast.
I read the words again as if they might rearrange themselves into something less scary, but it didn’t help. I still didn’t know who “them” was. Although, if I had to guess, they were probably referring to the Iron Rogues since I hadn’t really met anyone else recently who could be described in the plural like that.
I twisted the paper in my hands, torn between running back inside to Marcy and pulling out my phone to text Wesley.
He’d already done so much, and Country Crust was her baby. Plus, she was my boss.
My fingers hovered over my phone, uncertainty rooting me to the sidewalk. Then it buzzed in my hand.
A new text lit up the screen.
Wesley
Checking in.
I had no explanation for how he’d known the perfect time to send me a message. But Marcy didn’t seem the least bit surprised when she came out to see what was taking me so long with the mail.
Marcy’s eyes dropped to the phone still clutched in my hand, then the note dangling from my other fingers. She didn’t even blink.
“I told you Hunter would watch out for you.” Her voice teased, but her eyes were serious. “Hiring you was the best decision I’ve made since opening the bakery, and not just because you’re amazing.”
“You don’t think he somehow knows about this already, do you?” I glanced at the screen of my phone again. “It has to be a coincidence, right?”