Page 118 of Killer Confections

I frown. “I thought Blair was supposed to be working?”

She shrugs. “She’s asked me to take her shifts for the last week and since I’m not in school anymore, I’ve appreciated the overtime.”

Huh. That’s strange…

Blair never told me she needed someone to take her shifts.

“Did she say why?” I ask.

“I think she has a new job,” Riley mutters.

Miranda’s lips pull to the left. “She never said, but I’m sure she has a lot going on with college starting soon. She’s been pretty busy.”

“New job,” Riley sing songs.

Hmm. It’s still unlike the goth girl to bail on us…

Maybe I’ve been working her too hard and haven’t noticed? She’s always liked the four shifts in a row, then three days off. Maybe something changed, and I just wasn’t here to hear her out?

“Well, I’m glad you could help her out,” I smile at Miranda.

The bell over the shop’s door chimes and Miranda instantly gets into work mode, switching over to her chipper customer service voice as she greets whoever is at the door.

“God damn,” Riley breathes, sounding envious. Her sight is trained on the new customer. “If I looked like that, I wouldn’t know how to act.”

I glance over, doing a double-take at the striking woman who’s just walked into my establishment. Long golden locks that fall into soft curls reach just past her mid-back. Her skin is fair and her cheeks a natural rosy shade. Her mouth is heart-shaped as it tips up in the corners.

She’s wearing some light-washed bell bottoms that cling to her generous curves and thick thighs. Her top is cropped and a pretty cream color that shows off a sliver of her soft stomach. Her cleavage is teasing with a chest large enough to make me envious. She has a pair of dark sunglasses on and when she pushes them up, siren green eyes captivate me, holding me in a trance as she walks up to the counter.

“Welcome to Sweet Haven!” Miranda greets. “What can I get for you today?”

The woman taps her chin before leaning forward and observing the baked goods in the display case. She points to a croissant and holds up five fingers.

She doesn’t speak.

She doesn’t even look like she needs to.

“Coming right up,” the cashier says as she gets a box out from under the counter and loads it full of the pastries.

I see Micah nearly falling over the table to get a look at the blonde before Ross reaches a hand out, grips his shirt, and drags him back.

Riley chuckles beside me. “Your cousin looks like he’s having a hard time keeping his tongue in his mouth.”

“I don’t blame him,” I whisper.

Riley tosses a thumb toward the kitchen’s swing doors. “I have a few more questions before you leave. Can you help me real quick?”

I glance at Ross, and he checks his watch before nodding approval.

“Ask away,” I smile as I follow her. Before I push through the swing doors, I catch the blonde’s gaze at the counter. My neck prickles as our sights collide and she stares directly at me with a small, knowing look. Her eyes are low-lidded—predator-like—as a grim smile barely tugs at her lips. Her hands rest on the countertop as she leans forward. Like she’s preparing herself for something.

But it’s gone as quickly as I notice it. Miranda offers her the box, and she smiles at the girl before taking it and sauntering out the door.

My eyes flit to Ross and Micah, but they’re deep in conversation, arguing over the game playing on Micah’s phone.

They saw her. She didn’t look familiar. I’m okay.

I’m on edge. I can’t lie to myself that I’m a little traumatized over the last time I was in my bakery. It was only days ago, but it feels like a lifetime as I walk through the swing doors.