CHAPTER 9
SCARLETT
For the first time since I opened the bakery, I do not want to wake up. I’m so damn warm and comfortable right now. And I’m finally sleeping. I stretch my body and the strong arm, part of it tattooed, tightens around me.
I know what I’ll find if I were to turn over. Dean is back home and he’s in my bed. And I was finally able to sleep peacefully with him in bed with me.
How the hell did I sleep well before I met him and then having him in my bed for one night sent me all out of whack? It makes no damn sense, but for the last few nights with him out of town, I was a mess. Calling him and texting wasn’t enough, but it was better than no contact.
I did get to learn a lot about him when we talked at night. It was as if neither one of us wanted to get off the phone. He tried to be good and tell me to go to bed because he knew how early I was going to get up. Still, I just didn’t want to hang up and go.
It was a chance for me to learn everything about him and I was going to take it. We talked a lot about all sorts of things. He told me about the club and how important it is to him, especially since he didn’t have much of a family growing up. My heart ached for him.
I didn’t have a dad in my life, but I never felt like I was missing out. Mom made up for not having the man who donated his sperm to grow me. She ensured I had everything I needed, even if it meant she went without. More importantly, she ensured I felt the love she had for me.
Since he opened up to me, I did the same. I shared a lot of good memories of my Mom with him during our talks, most of them involving baking. I’m sure it was no real mystery about why I wanted to open Crescent Sugar, but he still asked me anyway.
The entire time we were talking, it felt like he was hanging on every word. Having someone so invested in me, in my past, in my dreams for the future, in my feelings and opinions, was totally new for me. I already wanted Dean, fiercely, but the man stole my heart with those long talks and the vulnerability he was willing to show me.
I’ve fallen in love with this man.
He makes a humming sound and starts to kiss along my shoulder. “Good morning, Sugar,” his voice is rough with sleep.
It’s so damn sexy that I can’t help but wiggle back against him. The groan he lets out does nothing to quell the need I have for him.
Last night, when Dean came over, we were both clearly exhausted. At first, my insecurities tried to take hold of me. He’s such a sexy man and if he was in another chapter’s clubhouse, how would I ever know that he didn’t hook up with someone. I tried to push those thoughts away, but I must have failed because Dean saw right through me.
His words reassured me and even though I don’t have to, I believe him. Sure, he could tell me lies and be stringing me along, but why bother putting in all the effort he did when he was out of town? He could have just sent me a few texts and be done with it, but that’s not what happened.
He made a point to show me how much he valued me.
I wanted to climb him like a tree, but I could see the dark circles under his eyes and the exhaustion written all over him. I’m sure I didn’t look much better.
Having his arms around me made me feel so comfortable. It felt like coming home which was kind of shocking because the bakery had been my only true home for a year. But in Dean’s arms I found another home, another comfort, another sense of peace.
Now, waking up with him, I don’t want to get out of bed. Even though it’s still dark outside, I look at my clock and know my alarm is about to go off. It’s not unusual for me to wake up before my alarm because I’ve been waking up so early for so long.
“Can we just stay in bed?”
I wiggle my ass back against him, knowing full well that I sound a little whiny and a lot pouty. Dean’s chuckle skates across the back of my neck and only makes me want to stay right where I am more.
“Once you decide to hire some more people, including another baker, you could have the option to stay in bed with me,” there’s a seduction in his voice.
When he grinds against my ass, I let out a low moan. Why didn’t I hire someone already? I should have.
I groan as I drag myself out of bed, fully expecting Dean to stay in bed a little longer. After heading into the bathroom, I’m damn glad I took a shower last night. Not wanting to be tempted, I don’t even look at the bed as I head toward the kitchen.
“Need coffee,” I mumble to myself and then freeze when I step foot inside the kitchen.
Dean is standing there without a shirt on and his jeans on but unbuttoned. He’s stirring coffee in a travel mug and from the color it looks like he’s added the perfect amount of cream. How we take our coffee is one of the things we talked about while he was away.
I guess it stuck?
“Time to get to the bakery, Sugar,” there’s amusement in his voice as he holds out the travel mug while holding another in his hand, clearly for himself.
He’s the kind of guy that takes his coffee black. That was never me. I want all the sweetness and flavoring I can put into it, and milk or cream. Honestly, coffee is a means to a caffeine end.
I can’t tear my eyes off him as I whisper, “Thanks.”
“If you keep looking at me like that, we’re never going to get you to the bakery,” he rasps.
My eyes snap up to his and I swallow hard at the lust in his eyes. I let out a long, suffering sigh. “You’re probably right. I just,” I shrug one shoulder, “missed you.”
He hooks an arm around my waist and hauls me against his chest. My breathing starts to come out in pants.
“You have no idea how much I missed you.” His eyes are intense and focused as he stares down at me. “I desperately want to take you back to bed and bury my cock deep inside of you.” My breath hitches because that is exactly what I want to happen. “But I know how important the bakery is to you, and I won’t be the reason you don’t follow your dream.”
I completely melt and reach up to cup his jaw with my hands. “That is both the sexiest and sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Dean grins down at me before kissing me until I almost forget about my dreams and the bakery. That’s just the kind of thing this man does to me.
Normally, Dean follows me on his bike while I drive to the bakery, but today he walks me to the passenger side of my car and helps me in before walking around to the driver’s side and holds his hands out for the keys. I can’t help but giggle at how presumptuous he is, but I still give him the keys.
We quietly enjoy being around each other as we head toward the bakery and sip our coffee. We don’t need words. There’s just a comfort between us and I think we spend this down time to just soak it up.
The moment we turn on the street to Crescent Sugar, I know something’s wrong. It’s not like there are flashing lights or anything, but there are three motorcycles parked outside of my shop.
I sit up straighter and demand, “What is going on?”
Dean reaches for my hand, entwines are fingers and gives a little squeeze. “I don’t know, Sugar, but we’re going to find out.”
I nod absently and then gasp when we park in front of the bakery next to the bikes instead of going around to the back where I’d normally go. With one glance, it’s clear what’s wrong.
“Fuck,” Dean barks and is out of the car and then around to my side in seconds.
His hands are gentle as he helps me get out and then his large hands are cupping my face and his dark eyes are filled with promise. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this. I promise you. You won’t be able to open today, but we’ll do what needs to be done to get you open tomorrow?”
I nod absently and Dean wipes the tears from my cheeks. I didn’t even realize I was crying.
As he turns me toward the bakery, two huge men I’ve never seen before are staring at me with a mix of rage and sympathy in their eyes. Hacker looks fucking distraught. With a deep breath, I allow Dean to lead me closer to the men.
These are his brothers and they’re here for me. As much as I want to break down, now is not the time.
I glance at the front of my shop and have to swallow back a sob. All the windows in the front are smashed and that’s not all. It looks like everything that could be destroyed inside the bakery is destroyed. From here I can’t see into the kitchen and can only hope that the destruction was just to the front of the house, but my gut is telling me not to hope too much for that.
Dean, no, Frenzy, barks, “What the fuck happened?”
Hacker runs his fingers through his hair, tugging at the strands slightly in frustration. “I had Billy,” he glances at me, his eyes filled with apologies, and explains, “a Prospect, watching the feed tonight. He fell asleep and then by the time I got the alert on my phone and woke up, they were already tearing through the bakery. I called Scythe and Lucifer before tearing ass down here, but I was too late. The two guys who did this were already gone.”
“Two guys?” I know it’s a strange thing to focus on, but that’s all I’ve got at the moment.
Hacker nods slowly and then looks away as if he’s watching the footage he saw in his mind again. “Well,” he hedges, “maybe. Both of them were on the smaller side. Maybe they aren’t big guys or maybe they’re just kids.”
I sound horrified, “Kids?”
Dean tugs me into his side, and I lean against him, needing him to ground me, needing him to keep me tethered to reality right now. “Not all kids are good. Some are criminals,” he points out to me.
“And some are just misguided,” a man intones, authority radiating through his voice.
He’s older than Dean, Hacker, and the other man I’ve yet to be introduced to. I can barely make out the name on his cut—Lucifer. This is Cherise’s man.
I try and force a smile on my face, but I’m sure it comes out as more of a grimace. “It’s nice to meet you, Lucifer. Cherise talks about you with a dreamy look on her face that has made me envious more than once.”
“Hey,” Dean whines next to me and when my lips tip up this time, it feels more genuine.
The other guy, who is all muscles and tattoos, steps forward with a smirk on his face. “What has my Tallulah said?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me, “I’m Scythe, I’m sure she’s spilled all the good things.”
Now might not be the time to joke or tease, but I still find myself tapping my chin and making a humming sound. “Scythe. Scythe.” I shrug and shake my head with a small frown on my face. “Sorry, doesn’t ring any bells.”
Scythe roars with laughter, Dean and Lucifer joining him. My man squeezes my hip and kisses the side of my head. The giant, who I know is an enforcer—whatever that is—with Tallulah, steps closer with a soft look on his face.
“You’re going to be just fine, little bit. Your man will make sure of it, but it won’t just be him. Every brother is at your back. We’re your family now.”
That’s when the tears fall and there’s not a damn thing I can do about them. It’s all too much. The bakery being destroyed. Not getting enough sleep in the last few days. Missing out on my man making me scream his name last night.
Dean wraps me up in his arms and whispers words I don’t even try to make out into my hair. I do a walk-through of the bakery like a zombie. Nothing seems to be missing and none of the kitchen equipment has been destroyed beyond repair, which does help to ease some of my turmoil.
Still, this is all almost too much.
When we’re back outside again, Lucifer shoots Frenzy a look, his voice filled with authority, “Take her back to the clubhouse.” He glances over when a van pulls up along with a few bikes. “They’re going to get everything boarded up and we’ll have the place watched 24/7. Church, the moment we get back.”
I look at Lucifer, Scythe, Hacker, and then my man. It’s far too early to be dealing with this bullshit, but here they are.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
They smile sadly at me and nod before Dean leads me back to my car. I stare out the window the entire time we’re driving, not caring about where we’re going or how long it takes to get there. I don’t care about anything right now.
Dean will keep me safe, I’m sure of it, but the destruction done to my dream is devastating.
I barely register when we pull through a gate and then park. It’s only when I’m surrounded by the loving arms of Cherise and the other Old Ladies that I’ve met at Crescent Sugar that I snap back to reality. My man is at my back, his warmth a constant, but it’s the fierce look in the eyes of the women in front of me that really tell me everything is going to be okay.
When his arms wrap around me, I lean back against his chest and take a deep breath for what feels like the first time since I saw the mess that is my bakery. He tucks his face into the crook of my neck and whispers, “I have Church. We’re going to get to the bottom of this. Let the Old Ladies take care of you until I get back and can take over.”
The women smile at me and nod and when they grab me, giving me hugs and passing me around, I let the feeling of family help to push away the despair. What I lost this morning were just material things; this is something far more precious.