Page 10 of Merry Fake Bride

“Do you have painkillers? I forgot to grab mine.”

She glances up from her icing design and squints at me over her gold-rimmed glasses, then she nods.

“In my bag, back pocket, I think. Or the small one inside the big one.”

“Thank you!” I duck back into the coat room and rummage through her bag, but as I search for painkillers, something else catches my eye.

A red stamp ofURGENTover the corner of an envelope.

I’d ignore it, but the logo of the family lawyer on the corner causes my heart to jump.

I shouldn’t look.

But why is the lawyer sending urgent letters?

Everything with the bakery should be in order, shouldn’t it?

Against my better judgment, I unfurl the letter and my world screeches to a halt as I skim it.

The letter, dated two weeks ago, is written in thick, black letters warning of severe legal repercussions because we’re behind on rent for the bakery.

Fourmonthsbehind.

3

DEVON

Two hours later, we make it home and I head straight for the shower to wash off the stink of the day and the lingering unease from my slowly depleting hangover.

Confronting my mother about the letter didn’t feel right in the bakery, but I have to talk to her about it.

My parents have devoted their entire lives to the bakery, following in my grandparents' footsteps.

Even though I moved out of state for a few years, I did my best to stay up to date on all the shows they attended and the awards they won.

I can’t fathom how we’re behind on rent for that place given how long the bakery has stood there.

I replay the letter over and over in my head while washing my hair, but the moment I touch my neck, I’m distracted.

Flashes of the man from last night burst into my mind, specifically, his lips against my neck.

With the hot water pouring down over me and the steam closing out the world, I let my mind wander just for a few seconds.

He was so hot.

The kind of hot that exists only in magazines, and I was certain his interest in me was some kind of joke at first.

But on top of being sexy as hell, he was kind and sweet.

I’ve never done anything like that before, but just thinking about him pressing me up against the wall gets my pulse racing and my core throbbing.

It has to be because I’ve not slept with anyone since I left L.A.

There’s no other explanation for how fast he turned me on or how quickly I came just from penetration.

The more I think about him, the more I remember little details like the warmth in his small, gentle smile and how tender his lips were against my ear.

His arm around my waist, keeping me balanced, and the tender circles his thumb stroked on my hip as if he wanted to comfort me while fucking me.