2. Zander
Chapter Two
ZANDER
Kyla’s on my mind.
It's been two days since I responded to that fire alarm call, and her soft curves and warm smile keep sneaking into my brain at the most inconvenient moments. Like now, when I'm supposed to be focusing on equipment maintenance at the station.
“Zander!” Chief Brock's voice breaks through my thoughts. “That's the third time you've checked the same oxygen tank. Either it's the most fascinating piece of equipment you've ever seen, or something's got you distracted.”
I set the tank down, trying not to look guilty. “Just being thorough.”
“Right.” Brock leans against the truck, arms crossed. His gruff expression and the deep scar on his face might make him look intimidating to outsiders, but the twinkle in his eyes gives him away. “This wouldn't have anything to do with the new baker who keeps having alarm issues, would it?”
“How did you?—”
“Mila saw you leaving Cookie Corner the other day. Said you were grinning like you'd won the lottery.” He chuckles. “Reminds me of that same look your brother Axel gets when he's just completed a successful mission with that fancy Search and Rescue team of his.”
I try not to roll my eyes. As the only Blake brother who chose traditional firefighting over joining the family legacy at Ember Heart Ridge Search and Rescue, I'm used to the comparisons. I'm proud of what my six older brothers do two mountains over, but I've always been drawn to traditional firefighting. I like the pace and the community here In Snowflake Falls, rather than helicopter in for dramatic rescues on the side of a cliff. My brothers tease me about choosing the quiet life, but I like to think they respect that I’ve chosen my own path.
“I gave her an electrician's number. And mine. For emergencies.”
Brock’s grin gets wider. “Sure, sure. So has she had any emergencies yet?”
As if on cue, my phone buzzes in my pocket. Kyla's name flashes on the screen and my chest tightens.
Kyla: Hi, Zander. The electrician fixed the wiring yesterday, but I found something weird this morning. Would you mind stopping by when you're off duty? No rush…definitely not a ghost emergency!
Brock reads the message over my shoulder and whistles as he walks over to the door. “Not even open yet, and she's already got my star probie at her beck and call...”
Zander: Just finishing my shift. I can be there in an hour?
Kyla: Perfect. I'll have coffee ready.
The rest of my shift passes quickly. As I change out of my uniform into jeans and a sweatshirt, my phone buzzes with a text.
Axel: Heard through the Blake family grapevine you've impressed the cute new baker in Snowflake Falls. Mom's already planning what to make for Sunday dinner to impress her.
I groan. Of course the news had already made it up to Ember Heart Ridge. Between six nosy brothers and Mom, nothing stays secret for long.
Zander: There's nothing to tell. Yet. How the hell did you find out, Sherlock?
Axel: Mom knows your baker’s Aunt Christa. She owns someplace called the Candy Cabin? Said Kyla was asking about you. Just remember, if you need any romantic rescue tips, I literally sweep people off their feet for a living…
Zander: Stick to your mountain rescues, bro. I've got this.
Axel: That's what Ryder said before he fell off that cliff trying to impress Luella. Good thing we were there to save his ass.
I pocket my phone, ignoring Chief Brock's smirk as I head out. The January air is crisp as I walk the few blocks to Kyla’s store.
Through the glass, Kyla is moving inside, unaware I’m watching her. She’s wearing a red ruffled apron that skims her luscious curves and my cock twitches. Her hair is tied in a high ponytail that swings as she moves, and I’m entranced. I need to get it together and stop gawking at her.
The bell chimes as I push open the door, and the store is filled with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla. Kyla looks up from behind the counter, and a beautiful smile spreads across her face.
“Hi,” she says, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. Something about her sweet voice is so sexy that my cock leaps in my jeans again, pressing against my zipper. “Thanks for coming.”
“No problem.” I try to sound casual. “What's that smell?”
She reaches under the counter and pulls out a plate of cookies. “I was testing recipes. These are the ghost-appeasing snickerdoodles I promised.”
I grin. “You made them for me?”
“Well, I had to do something to thank you for your help.” She pushes the plate toward me.
The cookie melts in my mouth, buttery and still warm. “These are incredible.”
Her eyes light up. “They're my grandmother's recipe, but I added something extra.”
“Let me guess. Ghost repellent?”
“That's a trade secret.” She pours two cups of coffee and gestures to one of the café tables. “But speaking of mysterious things…”
“What's up?”
Kyla pulls out her phone and leans over to show me the screen. I’m distracted by the peachy scent of her hair, trying not to lean closer to take a sniff. It's a close-up of what looks like scratch marks on a door frame. “I found these this morning when I was opening up. I could swear they weren't there yesterday.”
I lean in to look closer. The marks are deliberate, too uniform to be accidental. “Where exactly are they?”
“Back door, near the handle.” She wraps her hands around her coffee cup and I resist the urge to cover them with my own. “I know it's probably nothing…”
“No, you were right to text me. Mind if I take a look?”
She leads me through the kitchen to the back door. The marks are even more concerning close-up; someone tried to tamper with the lock. I frown and run my fingers over the scratches.
“You should file a police report. Even if it was just kids messing around, better to have it documented. And use the bolt across the door from now on, not just the lock.”
Kyla folds her arms across her chest as if she’s trying to protect herself. “I’m sure it’s nothing but I left…a difficult situation behind when I moved here. Drama. I don't want to start causing problems before I even open.”
Something in her voice makes me look at her more closely. There's a shadow behind her eyes that wasn't there during our first meeting. “Protecting yourself isn't causing problems. This is your business. You have every right to feel safe here.”
She meets my gaze, and there’s a vulnerability there before she masks it with a smile. “You're right. I'm probably overthinking it anyway. Small town, right? Everyone knows everyone?”
“Exactly why you should report it. We look out for each other here in Snowflake Falls.” I pull out my phone. “I know the sheriff. Want me to give him a call?”
Kyla hesitates, then nods. As I make the call, she moves around her kitchen, straightening things that don't need straightening. There's a story there, something she's not ready to share yet. The way she brushed off her concerns and quickly tried to minimize the situation doesn’t sit right with me. She’s scared, but trying to hide it.
After I hang up, Kyla insists on sending me home with a box of cookies for the station. Her fingers brush mine as she hands me the box, and a spark runs up my arm and down my spine.
I pause at the door. “Hey, would you maybe want to–”
She looks up, tucking that stray curl of hair behind her ear again. “Yes?”
I clear my throat. “Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night? Celebrate your store opening. If you're free…”
The slow smile that spreads across her face makes my heart thud in my chest. “I'd like that.”
“Great. I know this Italian place just off the square. Best garlic bread in three counties.”
“Perfect. Text me the details?”
“Sure.” I hold up the box. “And thanks for these. Though I'm pretty sure the guys at the station won't believe the ghost connection.”
“Then I guess you'll have to come up with another excuse to check on me,” she says, then blushes. The rosy pink of her cheeks makes me wonder if her nipples are the same delicate shade. My cock throbs against my zipper, rock-hard in my jeans.
“I'm sure I can think of something.”
I walk out to my truck. Those scratch marks nag at me. They were too deliberate to be random vandalism, too careful to be kids messing around. My curvy baker’s comment about leaving drama behind has my senses on high alert.
I don’t like leaving her unprotected. The bolt on the back door should deter anyone trying to come in, but the glass windows of Cookie Corner seem too open, too exposed. Anyone who wanted to could watch her inside. I sit in my truck until she turns off the lights downstairs. But I still can’t drive home. I bunch up my sweater behind my head and get comfortable, keeping an eye on the store.
My phone buzzes.
Axel: Mom wants to know if your baker has any food allergies for Sunday dinner.
Zander: Way ahead of yourself bro. First date isn't until tomorrow.
Axel: First date?!
Axel’s the second oldest in the Blake family and he’s usually a big old grump. But he has two weaknesses; teasing his younger siblings and gossip. Under his hard-ass exterior, I swear he reads romance novels in his spare time.
I smile as I put the phone in my pocket. Tomorrow can’t come quickly enough.