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)
“Oh my god,” Marcy breathed. “You like it.”
I let out a small, helpless laugh. “I don’t know! He’s just so…intense.”
“Uh-huh.” Marcy smirked. “That man came in here with a predator stare, installed four cameras when I only approved one, and looked like he was one wrong answer away from ripping Austin in half the other day.”
“I know,” I sighed. “There must be something wrong with me because it all makes me weak in the knees.”
She grinned at me. “If you pass out, I’ll catch you. But if he catches you first, I’m not interfering. Hunter has clearly claimed someone in that sexy head of his.”
My brows drew together. “Claimed?”
Marcy gestured toward the door with a nod. “That man is not thinking casual thoughts about you, honey. That’s Iron Rogue-level interest. Which means it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”
My mouth opened, then closed again since I had no clue how to respond.
“You’re doomed. But like…in a good way.” Marcy grabbed her apron. “Tell your cupcake lion that we’ve got a fresh pot of coffee brewing when he comes back, which I’m sure will be any second now. Might as well caffeinate the muscle.”
“He’s not—” I started, then sighed. “Okay, fine. He is.”
“Damn right I am,” Wesley muttered under his breath as he walked back into the kitchen and sat down on a stool only a few feet away from me.
Marcy chuckled and headed into the walk-in fridge, and I let out a long breath. Wesley might’ve been quiet, but his presence was loud. Especially with how he took every bit of our surroundings in even though it was just us and Marcy in the bakery until we opened.
I wouldn’t complain if he wanted to watch over me like some overprotective, brooding biker shadow.
I was halfway through smoothing the buttercream on the last tray of cupcakes when I heard a thunk behind me. The sound wasn’t loud, but it made me freeze mid-frost.
“Did something just—” I turned toward the noise and saw the prep table wobbling slightly to one side. One of the legs had slipped, the bolt connecting it clearly working its way loose. “Oh no.”
Marcy peeked out of the walk-in with a raised brow. “Something else broke?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I’ll text Austin to swing by later and—”
“No,” Wesley cut in, sharp and immediate.
Both Marcy and I looked at him. He was already on his feet, moving toward the table with a quiet intensity that made my breath catch. He knelt to inspect the loose bolt, then glanced up at me.
“You’re not calling anyone.” His voice was low and final. “I’ll fix it.”
I blinked. “Do you know how?”
He gave me a look that told me how foolish my question was. Then he pulled a multitool from his back pocket like he’d been waiting for an excuse to use it. “I can handle a loose bolt.”
Marcy ducked back into the walk-in, smirking to herself, and I bit my lip.
“Well, I mean…if you’re going to start fixing things around here,” I murmured, trying to sound casual even as I felt my cheeks heating again, “I should probably get you a tool belt. You can wear it without a shirt.”
Wesley’s head tilted, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
I held up my hands quickly. “Actually, no. Scratch that. Too many people come through this bakery, and no one needs to see that but me.”
His eyes darkened as he straightened to his full height, the multitool clicking shut in his palm. “That right?”
I nodded fast, trying not to squirm under the heat in his gaze. “Definitely.”
He stepped closer and murmured, “You want me shirtless in a tool belt, you’ll get it. But only for you, sunshine.”
I could’ve melted into a puddle on the floor right then and there. Instead, I managed to squeak, “Good. Great. Love that plan.”
His smirk went full-blown as he stepped around me, brushing a kiss to the top of my head as though he hadn’t just made my panties spontaneously combust.
I was still trying to cool off from the mental image of Wesley in nothing but jeans and a tool belt when my phone buzzed in the pocket of my apron. I pulled it out and smiled at the screen.
“It’s my parents,” I told him.
His brows lifted just slightly. “You gonna answer?”
I hesitated for a second, suddenly shy. “They’re video calling. If I’m not driving, they like to see my face when they talk since they’re going to be gone for so long.”
“Can’t fault them for that. Go ahead and answer.”
I tapped to accept, and my parents’ faces filled the screen—Dad in a ball cap and hoodie, Mom with windblown hair and a huge smile.
“There she is!” Mom beamed. “Hi, honey!”
“Hey,” I said, suddenly feeling sixteen again instead of nineteen.
“Sorry to bother you at work, but at least we caught you before the bakery opens.” Her eyes narrowed as she leaned toward the camera. “Wait a second…why do you look like you’ve just been necking with someone?”