Page 16
Chapter
Fifteen
D ANNY
My gut swam with nerves as I opened the oven and pulled out the pie tin I’d used to make apple pie this morning. I hoped Knox would like it. My family loved apple pie and this was my special recipe.
A snick sounded in the silence of the bakery and I jumped in surprise. I spun around, searching for the source of the noise but saw nothing.
Damn, I hated being here by myself in the morning and the evening. After the run-in with Rex and the incident with the car driving through the front window, I felt I had the right to be nervous.
Metal scraped on metal. I placed the apple pie on a board on the countertop and silently closed the oven. Then I tiptoed through the kitchen and peered into the main section of the bakery. A figure was framed by the dim street lights, standing only about five and a half feet tall against the glass of the door.
I relaxed. It was Skye. Thank the gods.
She opened the door and shuffled inside, her handbag slung over one shoulder. Her familiar scent—cinnamon and freshly baked bread—comforted me.
“You gave me a fright,” I said, working to calm my breathing.
She glanced over. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be sneaky.”
“I know.” I rubbed my chest, easing the tension there. “I wasn’t paying attention, that’s all.”
She grinned. “Too busy daydreaming about your hot mate?”
I snorted. She was closer to the truth than she knew. I’d been waiting since Saturday for the chance to impress Knox with a treat made especially for him. Now that the day had arrived, I just hoped he’d get here soon so that I wouldn’t have to be anxious for long.
“Oh.” Her grin widened. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Maybe a little. But this is the only time I’ll ever admit it.”
She sniffed. “Is that apple pie I smell? I didn’t think we were making any today.”
I headed for the kitchen and heard her trail behind me. “It’s for Knox.”
“Aww.” The joy in her voice warmed me. She was genuinely happy for me. “So, any news there?”
I set a timer to allow the pie to cool before I took it out of the case. “Nothing major. I just wanted to do something nice for him.”
“I get that.” Her tone had changed, growing serious. “If I found my mate, I’d want to do nice things for them too.”
I turned to her. “You will soon.”
“Gods, I hope so.” Her tone was wistful. If anyone deserved a mate, it was Skye. She was so sweet, and so caring to everyone she met.
“You’ll meet your alpha soon,” I promised. “They’re out there and I’m sure they’re trying to find you. ”
She dismissed my comment with a wave of her hand. “Enough sentimental stuff. Let’s get to work.”
For the next hour or so, we went through our usual daily tasks, getting everything set up for a busy morning. Mondays were often chaotic as everyone got back into work for the week.
When the doorbell sounded a little after nine in the morning, I didn’t think anything of it until the enticing notes of pine and leather reached my nose. Then my pulse skittered. Knox was here.
I rushed out of the kitchen, bustling past Skye, who was making coffee, and hurried around the kitchen counter. “Hi!”
“Danny.” A smile stretched Knox’s full lower lip. “Good morning.”
“You came.” I felt silly as soon as the words were out of my mouth. He’d said he would, so of course he had. I shouldn’t be surprised. And yet, I’d grown used to Rex failing to keep commitments he’d made to me.
Honestly, it was shocking that he’d had the audacity to accuse me of being unfaithful, considering that I’d had far more reason to be suspicious of his fidelity than vice versa.
“I did.” He glanced at Skye. “I don’t want to keep you from your work though.”
“It’s his break time,” she said, presenting the man at the counter with a coffee. There was only one other person waiting. Most of the early morning rush had already been through. “You’ve got fifteen minutes.”
I blew her a kiss. “Thanks, Skye. Can I get you a drink, Knox?”
He nodded. “You know what I like.”
I did, and a primal sense of satisfaction welled up inside me because of it.
I knew how to satisfy my alpha’s coffee craving .
I prepared his usual double-shot espresso and made myself a caramel latte with whipped cream, then carried them both to a table in the corner of the bakery.
“I’ll be back in a moment,” I told him. “Sit.”
I darted back into the kitchen, readied my surprise, and carried it out to him, brimming with excitement and nerves.
His eyes widened as I approached. “Is that…”
“Apple pie,” I declared, setting it in front of him with a flourish. “With whipped cream and apple spice.”
“Mm.” He breathed it in and his eyes flashed green. “Smells delicious.”
Somehow, I didn’t think he was only talking about the pie. My cock plumped a little. I sat opposite him before it became obvious, although he could probably smell my arousal anyway.
He scooped up a portion of the pie with a spoon, gathered cream on the end, and popped it into his mouth, holding my gaze as he chewed. Green flickered in his eyes again, and his nostrils flared.
Yeah, he definitely knew what he was doing to me.
He withdrew the spoon from his mouth. “This is the best apple pie I’ve ever had.” His rough voice heated my blood. He scooped up more of the dessert and offered it to me. “Have some.”
I stared at the spoon. Was I seriously going to let him hand-feed me?
Without conscious thought, my lips closed around the spoon and the sweet/tart combination of apples and sugar melted on my tongue.
Apparently, I was.
His eyes flared brighter, and this time, the intense green color lingered. I drew back and drank my coffee, grateful to have a break from his intensity. This definitely wasn’t the right place for my libido to reawaken.
I cleared my throat. “Have you had any luck finding a job?”
His irises turned brown again. “Not yet.”
“Sorry to hear it.” I’d have to work harder to get the locals to embrace him.
He shrugged. “It’s fine. I have enough free time to look into a few troubling goings-on in the area.”
My eyebrows drew together. What did he mean? I wanted to ask, but something gave me the impression he wouldn’t answer.
“Be careful,” I warned him. I was only just getting to know him, but I still didn’t want anything happening to him. My bear shifted restlessly inside at the thought.
Protect mate .
I almost laughed at the notion. I couldn’t even protect myself. How the hell was I supposed to protect an alpha wolf?
“I will.”
We chatted for a while longer, but when Skye reminded me that my break was over, I had to return behind the counter. Knox left, but he paused outside and looked back in through the recently repaired window to smile at me.
My heart hammered, and I silently promised myself to make sure he had all the apple pie he ever wanted. Feeding him was one of the only ways I could care for him at the moment, so I’d make the most of it.
I got busy serving customers, and it wasn’t until the pre-lunch lull that I realized Knox hadn’t mentioned seeing me again soon.
“What if he’s getting tired of me holding back?” I asked Skye.
She propped her chin on her palm and a lock of her hair fell across her forehead. “Perhaps he’s just letting you set the pace. You know, like, waiting for you to go to him.”
“Maybe.” But I wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to do that.
Gods, I was messed up. I didn’t want him to push me, but I was too damn cowardly to take the lead myself. What on earth was I supposed to do?
Table of Contents
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- Page 16 (Reading here)
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