Baked (Love Burns #3)

CHAPTER ONE

S triding down the terracotta cobbles like a man on a mission, Hunter knew what most people saw as they crossed the street to avoid him. But just because most people compared his physical build to the Hulk, it didn’t mean he also had the whole wrath thing going on too. Although, if he was ever going to suddenly develop anger issues, this week would have done it.

He was pissed as hell. Nine months he’d stayed away. Kept his distance. Damn well tortured himself. And all for nothing. Because now? Now he didn’t have a choice. There would be no staying away anymore. Not while Rachel was in danger. It changed everything.

What kind of man would he be if he let something happen to the woman he’d not been able to stop thinking about since he first laid eyes on her, just because he couldn’t get over himself?

A shit one.

Exactly. He was fine being many things. A man of few words. A man most people had to stretch their necks to see fully. He was even fine being a man who tipped the loneliness scale a bit too enthusiastically. But he drew the line at being a shit one.

That being said, he knew what going to her meant. He wasn’t dense. There had been a reason he’d stayed away. A good one. And now he was willingly throwing himself into the fire.

It meant he was done running. Done fighting his feelings. It was time to claim his honeybun. It was time to claim Rachel. And that’s exactly what he was on his way to do.

Stopping outside the pastel pink storefront, his eyes went to the even pinker neon sign that hung above the window display. The name Fairy Baked was flashing above a line of pretty cupcakes that had been sprinkled with assorted candy.

You’ve got this. Just go inside and calmly explain that starting from today, she is not to go anywhere without an escort.

Easy.

Blowing out a deep breath, he pushed through the glass door, vanilla hitting his tongue as soon as the shop bell rang. Mouth-watering.

Speaking of mouth-watering, Rachel’s head poked up from beneath the counter, those blue eyes going wide at the sight of him.

“Uh, Hunter, what are you doing here? I mean, um ...” She scrambled up from the floor, giving him a better view. Even under her cotton candy apron, he could tell how tight that tank top was. And he definitely already knew how perfect her ass looked in those jeans. “Did you want your usual?”

His usual was two dozen doughnuts for the guys at the fire station. He hadn’t always been so generous though. No. Not until nine months ago, when his friend Zach had introduced him to the local bakery owner. Who just so happened to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. With her cute button nose, skin creamy enough to give milk a run for its money, and pouty pink lips. He’d decided then and there that a diabetic coma was worth the risk. It was why he allowed himself one visit a week to Fairy Baked, to get his fix.

“No, honeybun, I’m not here for doughnuts today.” It only took one of his big steps to take him all the way over to the counter. Not breaking eye contact, he stifled a groan as her sugary sweet scent hit the back of his throat.

Don’t fucking sniff her, man.

He was trying not to. He really was. But his body responded to absolutely everything about this woman. She was a goddamn enchantress, casting her fairy magic over his body and flipping switches in his brain he didn’t even know were there.

“Uh, I don’t suppose you’re here for a cupcake?” Her voice was shaky. A bleak reminder of why he was there. That and the black eye that was making his fists clench.

It had only been a day since he’d received her panicked call. Asking him for help because she was scared. Scared because her asshole dad had turned up. Once he’d gotten over the initial shock of her having his number, he’d been pissed as hell.

“No, baby.” He made sure to keep his voice gentle. “We need to talk about what happened.”

Her cherry-red ponytail whipped around as she gave him her back, pretending to busy herself by reorganizing the neatly stacked pile of pink cake boxes. He was right. Her ass did look fucking perfect in those jeans.

Control yourself, man. Keep your head in the game.

Another groan stifled, he tried again. “I think it’s best we work out some sort of schedule. I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself. Not until it’s safe. Now, I can pick you up and drop you off at work most days ... but when I’m on shift, I’ll have to get one of the other guys to do it.”

The other guys being his friends from work—fellow firefighters Zach, Benny, and Luke. And if they were busy, he was sure his friend Cody would be willing to help out. He’d said as much. He also happened to be married to one of Rachel’s best friends, Cat.

That seemed to get her attention. “Did you hit your head, Hunter Campbell? Is that what’s going on? You had a bad fall.” The shake in her voice was magically fixed as that ponytail whipped back around. “’Cause that’s the only explanation I can think of as to why you’re in here proposing you walk me around like a damn dog. What’s next? A collar? A leash?”

Don’t. Stop it.

Her hands were on her hips now, cocked to the side in a challenge. That was more like it. This was the side of her he was used to seeing. The fiery fairy. Not the fragile shell of one that he’d watched her shrink into since her dad showed up.

“This is not up for discussion. Until Cody can locate your dad, you’re in danger.”

Turns out her father was a scumbag. You name it, he did it. Gamble, drink, abuse. The thought of his little fairy growing up with such a man turned Hunter’s stomach. No wonder she’d fled to Woodvalley to get away from him.

Now that her father had found her, Hunter had decided to become her protector. Whether she liked it or not. Just the fact that he couldn’t protect her from the man’s fists yesterday was still killing him. Gnawing at his soul. When Hunter did find her, seeing Rachel shaken, bruised and scared had been the single worst day of his life. No one deserved that. Especially not his honeybun.

He’d also discovered that her dad came here for money. Money he didn’t get. Which meant only one thing. He’d be back.

“You’re right, it’s not up for discussion.” Fire danced in her eyes. “Because there’s no way in hell I’m gonna let you and everyone else treat me like I’m made of glass. I’m a thirty-three-year-old woman, for God’s sake. With a business to run! If I’d have known I’d be dealing with your damn hero complex, Hunter, there is no way in hell I would’ve called you. Believe it or not, I have better things to do than stroke your ego.”

You can stroke something. And it’s not my ego.

He could feel his lips twitch. Hero complex? That was a new one. Not as good as yesterday, though, when she’d accused him of being a wannabe knight wrapped in tinfoil when he’d insisted on escorting her home.

“I’ll be back at five, honeybun.” He turned on his heel and went back out the way he came, only allowing his mouth to tip up when his feet hit the cobbles, Rachel’s cursing still within earshot.

He’d learned long ago that arguing didn’t get you anywhere. It was a waste of breath. Not when the outcome would be the same.

***

H unter arrived back at Fairy Baked at five on the dot. Rachel was not surprised to see him. She did, however, refuse to talk to him as he stood by the entrance, arms crossed, watching her go through the motions of closing up. His offer to help had been met with silence. She was pissed. But he’d take pissed—and, more importantly, safe—over scared any day.

When she disappeared into the back, he followed, not waiting for an invitation. That only seemed to annoy her more. She made sure to bang every single pan and tray on the steel topped surfaces as she rushed to put them away.

It didn’t faze him. Even the growl that escaped her sweet lips as she bent down to open the safe was darn cute.

He found himself wanting to growl right back at her when her apron was discarded. He was right again. The tank top she was wearing was tight, clinging to curves in such a heavenly way that it made him want to get down on his knees and pray to them. Rachel was a petite, womanly package he would do anything to unwrap ... with his teeth.

What kind of books are you reading? The fairy princess ends up with a prince, remember? Not the hulking giant that scares little children.

With that thought, he felt his muscles stiffen. Was he being a fool? Even if Rachel did like him back, a part of him knew deep down that she could do better. Deserved better.

“What’s that face for?” Rachel asked, effectively ending his silent treatment and pulling him out of his head.

“What?”

“You’re looking at my cookie sheets like they just insulted your mama and then went ahead and kicked you in the shin,” was her unhelpful reply.

He didn’t answer. His face was enough of a reply. And she understood it, otherwise she wouldn’t have rolled her eyes like she did.

“Come on then, Captain America. Time to go.” Gathering her bag, she walked back toward the main floor.

He followed behind, his eyes glued to the sight of her swaying hips.

Sweet Jesus.

Maybe this wasn’t the best idea after all. Maybe it would be better if the guys were the ones picking her up and dropping her off.

And let Benny and Luke hit on her?

Hell no.

Zach was engaged to Rachel’s other best friend, Libby, so he knew she was safe with him. But Benny and Luke were single. And Hunter already knew they thought she was hot. It was only because of his presence, and possibly his snarl, they hadn’t already hit on her.

“Are you growling?” Her ponytail whipped around again just in time to catch him looking at her ass. And apparently growling at it.

Not a good fucking look, man.

Clearing his throat, he met her icy blue stare. “Sorry,” was all he could say before opening the door and gesturing her outside.

Her eyes followed him. Assessing. They didn’t break away until she was safely beside him on the sidewalk. Only then did he let himself gulp as he watched her pull out her keys and lock the front door.

“Where are you parked?” he managed to grind out, his throat feeling a lot tighter than it should.

“I’m not.” She side-eyed him as they began walking. “I don’t live far, and I enjoy the walk.”

What the ever-loving fuck?

“What about the nights you work late? Please tell me you drive home on those nights.” He remembered her telling him once that she often stayed late to bake.

He twisted to see her shrug. “Nope. We’re in Woodvalley, Hunter, what’s the worst that could happen?”

This woman was going to give him a stroke. He could already feel his heart palpitating to near-dangerous levels. Deciding he just couldn’t wait to educate her, he came to a standstill on the cobbles.

Rachel made it a few more steps before she realized he’d stopped. Once she did, she turned and offered up a puzzled expression.

One step into her space. Another step until she stumbled backward. One final step until her back was pressing against the window of Attica Antiques.

He was a foot taller than her, meaning she had to bend back her neck to look him in the eye. Which she did. His own head instinctively bowed, obviously trying to get as close to those pink lips as possible.

“That ends today.” Taking a deep, sugar-filled breath, he tried his best to remain calm. “And I’m not just talking about the time it takes to get that asshole father of yours thrown in jail. I’m talking about never a-fucking-gain. You work late, you drive. You work late and you don’t have your car ... you call me. Understand?”

It was safe to say that she, in fact, did not understand. He watched as those bright eyes switched from wide and glazed to narrow and mean in an instant.

“You’ve got a real nerve, Hunter Campbell, you know that?” He did. “I call you once for help and now you think you can just show up here and start bossing me around when you haven’t so much as said more than two words to me in nine frigging months?”

She was right. He hadn’t.

He’d never been good with words. Even with his friends. From a young age, he learned that most people didn’t want to hear what he had to say anyway. So why bother?

But Rachel had him tongue-tied for a different reason. She scared him shitless. Even if he had stayed away, it didn’t change the fact that he wanted her to like him. But talking might fuck that up. What if she didn’t want to hear what he had to say either?

“I’m talking to you now, honeybun.” He heard his voice drop another octave. “And I’m telling you, there’s no way in hell I’m ever gonna be okay with you walking home in the dark, alone.”

As soon as he saw the fire light her eyes, his hand came to the window next to where her ponytail was squashed against the glass. His head dropped lower, and his mouth hovered over hers, soaking in every heavy breath she gave him. In turn, every nerve in his body came alive.

“I think you know why I didn’t say more than two words to you, baby.” Her chest heaved so hard, he felt her soft flesh brush up against his muscle. “It’s the same reason your pretty pink cheeks are turning red right now. The reason you check me out when you think I’m not looking. And it’s sure as fuck the reason I was the first person you called when your daddy showed up.”

Just when he was going to do the unthinkable and pry those plump lips apart with his own, a loud chime vibrated between them. Her phone.

Taking a step back, he tried his best to get his shit together, his eyes never leaving Rachel as she pulled out her phone. She was just as flustered as him. He could tell by her shaky hands. Her flushed neck. And her sexy as hell wet lips that she’d somehow had time to drag her tongue over.

But she didn’t look away. She held his gaze, even as she answered the call.

“Hi, Cody.” So much for getting his heart rate under control. Cody was a cop, and the man who’d been out searching for Rachel’s dad. “Okay ...” She nodded. “Uh, yeah, I guess I can ...” Her eyes were still on Hunter as she said, “Yeah, he’s with me now.” Another pause. “Okay, sure, I’ll ask him.”

Ask me what?

He didn’t have to wait long to find out. A second later, she hung up. “Cody found my dad. He’s in custody.” Thank fuck. “But, um, he said something came up when they were interviewing him. Something he wants to talk to me about in person. He wants me to go down to the station and ... uh, he asked if you could come down too.”

That didn’t sound good. But he didn’t have time to dwell on it as he witnessed his fiery fairy shut back down right in front of him. Her head dropped, and she began fiddling with her fingers. He saw nothing but hopelessness. And it pissed him right off.

“Okay, baby.” He took hold of her hand and began leading them back the other way to his truck. “Let’s go talk to Cody.”

One way or another, this had to end.