Chapter 5
5
SADIE
T he bakery smelled like my own personal heaven of warm sugar, fresh bread, and a hint of cinnamon lingering in the air, but none of the delicious pastries tempted me. My stomach was too busy being tied up in a thousand nervous knots, which was ridiculous.
I just saw Wesley yesterday, so the odds of him coming in again this morning were probably slim. If he hadn’t been so quick to install that temporary security camera the other day, I’d know for sure that he’d be back soon. Instead, I spent the next two days watching for him. I hadn’t been disappointed yesterday, but I doubted he would come by every day.
Even knowing that, I rearranged the already perfectly organized pastry trays as though he’d even notice. Assuming he came in…which he wasn’t going to do.
Marcy caught me smoothing my apron for the third time and laughed. “Young love.”
I rolled my eyes and muttered, “You’re not that much older than me.”
It was easier to point that out than to think about the fact that I didn’t even really know Wesley, no matter how attracted I was to him.
“I have almost an entire decade on you.”
I rolled my eyes and teased, “Then you look good for your age.”
“Whatever,” she huffed, tossing the towel she’d been drying her hands on at me. “But take it from me…love keeps you young. So don’t even bother trying to resist when Hunter tells you that he’s taking you on a date. Just go for it.”
There was a lot to take in with what she’d just said, so I started with what felt like the most obvious to me. “I think you meant when he asks me out instead of tells me, not that it’s going to happen either way.”
“That’s what I thought when I met Derek during my sophomore year of high school.” Her smile turned dreamy. “He was the star quarterback, and I was the girl who spent all of her time in the kitchen baking. I had no clue that he even knew I was alive until he came right up to me in the hallway between classes and told me that he was taking me to prom.”
My heart melted at her story. “Aw, that’s so sweet.”
“I love Derek with all my heart, but I have to admit that when Hunter does the telling thing with you, it’s gonna be a heck of a lot hotter.” Marcy wagged her brows. “My guy was just a boy back then, but yours is all man.”
“Wesley isn’t mine,” I protested, my cheeks heating.
She shot me a knowing look at my use of his first name. “I am so going to enjoy him proving you wrong.”
The bell over the door jingled, and I whipped around, nearly knocking over a tray of lemon bars…only to find a little old lady shuffling in with a walker.
I let out a shaky breath and pasted on a smile, grateful my face was already red from the ovens.
“Welcome to Country Crust,” I chirped before helping her pick out a few pastries.
The morning rush picked up from there, giving me just enough to do to keep my mind occupied. Mostly. But every time the door chimed, my traitorous heart reacted the same way.
Finally, I was sliding a tray of cinnamon rolls into the display when the bell jingled again.
I didn't look right away. I was determined to act normal and professional. But then I felt a shift in the air.
Slowly, I turned. And there he was. The sexy biker who I hadn’t been able to get off my mind.
The wind had ruffled his thick black hair, and his beard looked even scruffier than yesterday. His sharp amber eyes zeroed in on me with laser focus, and my heart forgot how to beat.
He prowled toward the counter, and I dropped the pastry tongs with a loud clatter, fumbling to catch them as they bounced off the edge of the display case.
Wesley’s mouth twitched. The curve of his lips wasn’t quite a smile, but it was close enough for butterflies to swirl in my belly.
“Morning, sunshine,” he rumbled, voice like rough gravel.
“Wesley.”
I’d been dreaming about this moment all day, but his name was all I could get out.
He stopped in front of the counter, those golden eyes scanning the pastry case like he was sizing up a threat.
“Coffee,” he said, voice low and gravelly.
I nodded quickly and grabbed a cup, feeling his gaze on me the whole time. My hands shook just enough that I almost dropped the lid, but I managed to snap it on without incident. When I slid the cup across the counter to him, I blurted, “You should get a cookie, too.”
Wesley quirked a brow.
“On the house,” I added hastily, feeling my cheeks heat. “You know…for helping out with our security system.”
“You wanna pick one out for me, I’ll eat it.”
I scrambled to grab a wax paper bag and dropped a double chocolate chip cookie inside. It was still warm from the oven because Marcy had just made another batch since they’d turned out to be a bestseller.
Wesley handed me a crumpled five-dollar bill, his big fingers brushing mine in the exchange. The brief contact sent a jolt up my arm, and I dropped the cash.
Proving he was as observant as I thought—and had incredible reflexes—he caught the money and pressed it back into my hand.
“Thanks.”
His gaze lingered on my face for a beat, and then he nodded once before turning to go.
He paused when the bell over the door jingled, and Austin strolled inside, his gaze immediately searching me out. Hunter faced away from me so I couldn’t see his expression, but when Austin finally noticed him staring, he paled a little. After a second, Hunter’s head twisted around, and his eyes were filled with heat, making goose bumps break out over my skin. Then he looked at Austin one more time before moving toward the exit again.
I watched him walk out, the bell over the door jingling softly behind him.
Only after he disappeared down the street did I realize I was still standing there, clutching the five-dollar bill like a lifeline. And grinning like a lovesick fool.
I worked on autopilot when Austin ordered a muffin and barely processed his attempts to start a conversation. When he left, I pulled the bill from where I’d stuffed it in my pocket and stared at it dreamily.
Thank goodness Marcy was also an amateur matchmaker because, after watching the entire interaction, she didn’t chastise me for being such a hot mess around Wesley. Instead, she shot me a triumphant grin and singsonged, “Told you so.”
Not even her boast could pop my bubble. I floated through the rest of the afternoon in a haze of happiness, replaying every second of Wesley’s visit in my head. By the time the clock hit closing, I practically hummed as I stacked the chairs. Marcy was counting out the register, humming along to the oldies station we always kept playing low in the background.
“I’ll check the mailbox before I head out,” I called, grabbing my bag from the office.
“Thanks, hon!” Marcy replied, not looking up.
The small metal box was mounted on the wall just outside the front door. I twisted the knob and pulled it open, expecting nothing more exciting than a flyer or two. Instead, a folded sheet of paper sat inside.
My brows drew together when I lifted it out and noticed nothing was written on the outside.
Even though the street was empty, I glanced around before I flipped it open.
Stay away from them.
That was it. I had no idea what the message meant. Or who wrote it since there wasn’t a signature at the bottom.
My heart started to pound, hard and fast.
I read the words again as if they might rearrange themselves into something less scary, but it didn’t help. I still didn’t know who “them” was. Although, if I had to guess, they were probably referring to the Iron Rogues since I hadn’t really met anyone else recently who could be described in the plural like that.
I twisted the paper in my hands, torn between running back inside to Marcy and pulling out my phone to text Wesley.
He’d already done so much, and Country Crust was her baby. Plus, she was my boss.
My fingers hovered over my phone, uncertainty rooting me to the sidewalk. Then it buzzed in my hand.
A new text lit up the screen.
Wesley
Checking in.
I had no explanation for how he’d known the perfect time to send me a message. But Marcy didn’t seem the least bit surprised when she came out to see what was taking me so long with the mail.
Marcy’s eyes dropped to the phone still clutched in my hand, then the note dangling from my other fingers. She didn’t even blink.
“I told you Hunter would watch out for you.” Her voice teased, but her eyes were serious. “Hiring you was the best decision I’ve made since opening the bakery, and not just because you’re amazing.”
“You don’t think he somehow knows about this already, do you?” I glanced at the screen of my phone again. “It has to be a coincidence, right?”
“I recommend going with whichever theory makes you feel better.” She patted me on the shoulder. “But also, get ready to see him again soon. I’d be willing to bet my ownership in the bakery that he’s on his way here now.”
I hoped she was right because I already knew I would be safe with Wesley here.