Page 48 of Baked

Goddamnit. This is why I don’t, and shouldn’t, talk.

Just as he was thinking about what he could possibly say to wipe that deer-in-headlights look off her face, she spoke.

“I know.”

Relief flooded him. “You do?”

“I do,” she confirmed.

Thank fuck.

It was a good job they were already in a designated make-out spot, because that’s exactly what they were about to do. The steak could wait. There were tastier things on the menu tonight.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Things were good. Hunter’sthree-week vacation meant they were making the most of the honeymoon period. They’d wake up together. Shower together. Drive to Fairy Baked and spend the day working together. Evenings were spent in Hunter’s apartment where clothing was most definitely optional.

It was so natural that it was hard to comprehend it had only been five weeks. Five action-packed weeks of Hunter by her side. And she wouldn’t change a thing. Well, not between them anyway.

Today was no exception. Having an extra hand also meant she could bake during the day while Hunter covered the counter, which was what she was doing now. It was muffin-making time, and she was making extra lemon poppyseed just for her man. Despite his claim to love every flavor equally, she’d definitely noticed the lemon poppyseed depleting quicker in Hunter’s presence.

After placing her second batch in the oven, she frowned over at the kitchen bin. Hunter must have forgotten to empty it.

Oh well. No time like the present.

Removing the overflowing bag from the bin, she attempted to pull on the drawstrings before stumbling out the back door.

As soon as she stepped outside, everything happened so fast. Her eyes barely had time to adjust to the daylight before she was being pushed against the closed door. The trash bag instantly dropping to her feet.

By the time she registered what was happening, a greasy face was in hers, the scent of whiskey and stale tobacco drifting up her nose as a strange man leered at her.

“Look what we have here, Den,” the man hissed, his black eyes narrowing on her. “Who’d have thought an ugly bastard like Leo would have such a pretty little thing as a daughter?”

Her stomach sank. They were here. The men her dad owed money to. The men who’d broken into her apartment and had also apparently been watching her.

Shit. She could feel the bile rise up. Where was Hunter when you needed him?