Chapter Twenty
Adam
As I read the words written in black marker on the page, it felt like my blood was going to boil over.
I scanned the paper again, still not believing what was written.
Hey basic bakery bitch—
You should try going one day without being a cunt.
Of course, that might be hard for a whore like you with a bastard son.
If I were you, I’d watch my back. Oh, and you probably should keep a close eye on your kid. You wouldn’t want something bad to happen to him. That’d be a real shame.
Maybe you should get out of the bakery biz altogether.
“Oh, fuck no.”
The tears that had been threatening to spill earlier, rolled down her cheeks.
“Who would send me that?”
On instinct, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in for a protective hug.
“I don’t have the slightest idea.” Her hair felt like silk as I stroked the back of her head, and she smelled like baked goods. Good enough to eat. “But I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you or Conor.”
“How can you say that? You’re leaving.”
I pulled back with a lazy grin to look at her beautiful, tear-streaked face.
“Haven’t you heard? I’m the newest hire with the Haven Springs police department.”
She half-laughed, half-cried as she swiped her cheeks.
“I thought those were just rumors.”
“Well, technically until two minutes ago, they were.”
Her eyes went wide, then she shook her head and whispered, “You can’t stay in Haven Springs simply to protect us.”
I couldn’t help myself; I tucked her hair behind her ear as I stared into her eyes. I wanted nothing more than to be her knight in shining armor.
“Wanna bet?”
“Why would you do that?”
“You know why.”
As I slowly lowered my face to hers, she didn’t look away, only whispered my name.
I didn’t know if she meant it as a plea to keep going or a warning to stop.
My lips hovered over hers, giving her the opportunity to push me away. She didn’t, and my mouth captured hers.
Was it wrong?
Absolutely.
Did I care about that as she softly moaned while her arms came around my neck and pulled me closer?
Not one fucking bit.
****
Lainey
Adam’s mouth tasted like cinnamon gum as his tongue tangled with mine. His lips were soft, but everything else about him was hard.
Very hard.
He backed me into the kitchen without pulling away from me. He didn’t break the kiss until he put his hands on my hips and lifted me onto the counter, then stepped between my legs to resume kissing me.
And man, did he know how to kiss. The perfect combination of tongue, soft bites, and lips. I’d never been with a man who turned me on this much simply by kissing me.
His cock was pressed exactly where I needed it, and I found myself rocking against his bulge while cursing the clothing barrier between us.
I wanted him to fuck me right there on my kitchen counter and clung tighter to him, hoping to convey that without actually having to say the words.
His hands roved up my sides to cup my breasts, and I froze.
Nothing would scream “not sexy” like my boobs leaking milk as if I was some sort of dairy cow. I’d already been worried I’d lactate just by getting aroused, but I knew all bets would be off if he squeezed my nipples.
He immediately dropped his hands and stepped back with a worried expression. I’d had to fight the urge to press my thighs together to keep his cock in place like a wanton woman.
“Did I hurt you?”
I decided the only plausible explanation why I’d reacted that way was the truth.
“No, I’m worried I’m going to leak milk.”
I reached for his arm to pull him back to me, but he took another step back and rubbed the back of his neck.
“We shouldn’t be doing this. You’re Shawn’s girl.”
“Shawn died,” I reminded him. “We’re not cheating.”
He shook his head.
“I’m so sorry. I took advantage of you. You were vulnerable and I—”
“And now I’m turned on!” I blurted out. “And you’re going to stop?”
I could see his dick was still hard beneath his jeans, so I knew I wasn’t the only one who wanted this.
Then I realized the real reason he must have brought things to a halt.
The idea of my boobs leaking milk grossed him out.
He replied, “I shouldn’t have—”
Humiliated, I held up my hand and hopped off the counter.
“Save it. I’m sorry my milky boobs repulsed you.”
His eyes narrowed and his voice seemed to go down an octave. “What are you talking about?”
I walked past him toward the living room, intent on going to my bedroom to change my ruined panties. As far as I was concerned, this conversation was over. I couldn’t handle any more embarrassment.
He grabbed my elbow and spun me around.
“Lainey, answer me. What are you talking about?”
I defiantly yanked my arm back, then planted a hand on my hip when I retorted, “I think my statement was pretty self-explanatory.”
“You think I stopped because I was worried about a little milk?”
“It seems pretty convenient that you developed a conscience right when I mentioned my fear about my boobs leaking.”
He took a step closer, so he towered over me.
“Are you kidding? I think that’s erotic as hell. I feel like a fucking pervert for getting hard every time you feed Conor in front of me.”
He pulled me against him, and I could feel his cock against my stomach as he murmured in my ear, “When you said you were worried you were going to leak milk, it occurred to me if that happened, Conor could go hungry.” His hold on my hips loosened and the space between us widened as he continued.
“Then, I remembered Conor is Shawn’s son, and that’s why I developed a conscience.
Not because I don’t want you. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted a woman.
And I feel like a horrible friend because of it. ”
“If Shawn were here, would you still want me?”
My question seemed to take him aback, and he stammered, “I—I mean, I’d still think you’re beautiful.” His voice held a lot more conviction when he continued, “But no, I would never even entertain such an idea.”
He thinks I’m beautiful?
God, I’m such a girl. Focus! That’s not the point!
“Nor would I. But Shawn isn’t alive, and that’s the difference.”
Was I really trying to talk a guy into sleeping with me?
Damn, how desperate had I become?
****
Adam
“You’re right. Shawn is gone.”
Because of me.
“But it’s still wrong to want you. He trusted me to give you his engagement ring, for god’s sake.”
Lainey set her jaw and lifted her shoulders.
“You’re right. Message received—you’re not interested. I think Brian and the rest of the department can keep me and Conor safe. You don’t need to stay in Haven Springs on our account, especially since you and I won’t be seeing each other unless it’s in passing.”
I knew I’d hurt her pride, and I hated myself for it, but didn’t know how to fix it.
I shook my head. “Don’t do that. We can be friends.”
“I think we just proved five minutes ago that we can’t.”
“That was a moment of weakness. I’m sorry I took advantage of your vulnerability. I—”
She interrupted me. “Don’t you dare try to be a martyr about this. I wanted you to kiss me. No, you know what? I wanted to have sex with you. Right on my counter! So, suck it with your ‘I took advantage,’ b.s.”
Goddammit.
Now I was thinking about fucking her on the kitchen counter.
“ The point is ,” I responded aggressively as I tried to get that picture out of my head. “We can be friends. I slept on your couch the night before last without us crossing a line.”
“Oh, you think I laid in bed, knowing you were in my living room, and didn’t think about riding your cock on my couch? Well, hate to break it to you—but you would be mistaken. I wanted you to slip into my bed and fuck me.”
And now I was picturing her on top of me on the couch.
I knew she was doing it on purpose. Two could play at that game.
“And do you think I didn’t want to wake you up with my face between your legs, tasting your sweet pussy? The point is, we didn’t, because we respect Shawn. We are capable of having a friendship.”
“I don’t want to be your friend, Adam.”
“Well, I want to be yours. So, if it’s a one-sided friendship, then it’s a one-sided friendship.”
“You have to have a friendship first in order for it to be one-sided. I just said I don’t want to be your friend. I don’t think I even want you as a customer.”
That kind of hurt my feelings, which I suspected was what she was going for. Not that I didn’t deserve it.
Still…
“Too bad. Because I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be in the bakery every day. Probably more than once.”
“I don’t understand why.”
Because since the moment we met, I’ve been drawn to you.
“I owe it to Shawn.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
“You know what? You’re right. I owe Shawn, too. He’d expect me to make you feel welcome, so that’s what I’ll do. But we’re not going to be friends.”
Yeah, we are.
“Fine. I’ll take it.”
“Fine.”
We stood glowering at each other, our chests heaving as we fumed. It was the perfect quintessential romantic movie moment where we’d then grab each other’s faces and kiss passionately.
Yeah, that’s not what happened.
And I’d probably regret it for the rest of my life.
Instead of kissing her passionately, I stepped back and sputtered, “I need to let Angus know I’m going to accept his offer. And I want to show Brian the letter you received.”
Lainey waved her hand. “Take it. Get that bad juju out of my apartment. The envelope it came in is on the kitchenette table; take that, too.”
I gathered up the letter and envelope, then paused at the door. “Make sure you lock this behind me.”
“Yeah, no shit,” she grumbled.
“I’ll text you later.”
“You don’t need to. I’m certain Brian will check on me once you talk to him. We’ll be fine.”
That wasn’t going to work.
“I’ll want to make sure for myself.”
“Then ask Brian. I don’t know if I’ll respond to you.”
“Then I guess I’ll just come by.”
“And I guess I won’t answer the door.”
“You don’t need to. Simply tell me your safe word through the door, and I’ll be on my way.”
“ Safe word ?”
I felt my mouth turn up.
“Yeah, a safe word. How about “Runaway Baby”? Or dancing queen ?”
“Har har. You’re hilarious. I think I’d probably remember baseball bat easier. Or concussion . Or breast milk. ”
“Ouch I don’t like baseball bat or concussion. But breast milk works. Let’s go with that.”
“How about bite me instead?”
“I mean, it doesn’t have as nice a ring to it as breast milk , but we can go with that if you prefer.” I winked at her as I opened the door. “Talk to you later.”
“Hmph,” she replied with pursed lips.
“Lock the door behind me.”
I didn’t shut the door when I left and couldn’t help but smile when I was halfway down the stairs and heard it slam shut, and the locks engaged.
I loved that Lainey was feisty as hell. She’d answered the door wielding a baseball bat, like she thought she was a badass or something. But I’d also seen the vulnerable tears, that I was an asshole and took advantage of, no matter what she said.
I know that letter had scared her.
Hell, it’d scared me, too. And I was determined to find out who’d sent it. Hopefully the camera Brian had ordered had arrived, and I could help him install it before nightfall.