Chapter 11
11
SADIE
I f someone had told me a week ago that I’d be showing up to work with a six-foot-something, leather-wearing biker shadowing my every move, I probably would’ve laughed. But I couldn’t be happier about it.
Wesley held the door to the bakery open for me, his hand settling on the small of my back as I stepped inside. I couldn’t help teasing him as we walked through the front of the shop. “You know, this might be a record for the grumpiest bodyguard in bakery history.”
A grunt came from behind me. “Not your bodyguard.”
“No?” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Because you’ve been doing a pretty good impression.”
“Being mine comes with perks.”
“Perks, huh?” I turned to grin up at him. “Like the kind you gave me last night…and again this morning even though we had to be up super early?”
His eyes dropped to my mouth. “Plenty more where those came from, sunshine.”
My knees nearly buckled on the spot, but I managed to play it off by grabbing an apron off the hook. Wesley settled onto one of the stools near the prep counter, crossing his arms and scanning the room like he expected an ambush to come out of the muffin trays.
Marcy walked in from her office with her usual bouncy energy and came to a full stop.
Her eyes flicked to Wesley. Then to me. Then back to Wesley.
“Well,” she said, drawing out the word. “I’m not one to brag when I’m right, but….”
I straightened quickly as she trailed off. “Good morning!”
“Good morning, indeed.” Her eyes sparkled as she moved past Wesley, who gave her a silent nod of acknowledgment. “Is this the part where I pretend not to notice the glowering biker watching your every move like a lion guarding a cupcake?”
I choked on a laugh. “He’s just…umm…making sure everything’s safe.”
“Uh-huh.” She arched a brow. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
I ducked my head and tried to focus on frosting a batch of cupcakes, my face burning.
“Back in a second,” Wesley murmured before striding out of the kitchen.
“So…” Marcy drawled, voice low and knowing. “You gonna tell me what it’s like to have an Iron Rogue look at you like he’s two seconds away from carrying you off over his shoulder, or do I have to keep guessing?”
My eyes widened. “What? No, it’s not…he was just being?—”
Marcy laughed, holding up a hand. “Relax, I’m not judging. Just making an observation. A very accurate one.”
I bit my lip and looked down, my cheeks growing hotter.
“Oh my god,” Marcy breathed. “You like it.”
I let out a small, helpless laugh. “I don’t know! He’s just so…intense.”
“Uh-huh.” Marcy smirked. “That man came in here with a predator stare, installed four cameras when I only approved one, and looked like he was one wrong answer away from ripping Austin in half the other day.”
“I know,” I sighed. “There must be something wrong with me because it all makes me weak in the knees.”
She grinned at me. “If you pass out, I’ll catch you. But if he catches you first, I’m not interfering. Hunter has clearly claimed someone in that sexy head of his.”
My brows drew together. “Claimed?”
Marcy gestured toward the door with a nod. “That man is not thinking casual thoughts about you, honey. That’s Iron Rogue-level interest. Which means it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.”
My mouth opened, then closed again since I had no clue how to respond.
“You’re doomed. But like…in a good way.” Marcy grabbed her apron. “Tell your cupcake lion that we’ve got a fresh pot of coffee brewing when he comes back, which I’m sure will be any second now. Might as well caffeinate the muscle.”
“He’s not—” I started, then sighed. “Okay, fine. He is.”
“Damn right I am,” Wesley muttered under his breath as he walked back into the kitchen and sat down on a stool only a few feet away from me.
Marcy chuckled and headed into the walk-in fridge, and I let out a long breath. Wesley might’ve been quiet, but his presence was loud. Especially with how he took every bit of our surroundings in even though it was just us and Marcy in the bakery until we opened.
I wouldn’t complain if he wanted to watch over me like some overprotective, brooding biker shadow.
I was halfway through smoothing the buttercream on the last tray of cupcakes when I heard a thunk behind me. The sound wasn’t loud, but it made me freeze mid-frost.
“Did something just—” I turned toward the noise and saw the prep table wobbling slightly to one side. One of the legs had slipped, the bolt connecting it clearly working its way loose. “Oh no.”
Marcy peeked out of the walk-in with a raised brow. “Something else broke?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I’ll text Austin to swing by later and?—”
“No,” Wesley cut in, sharp and immediate.
Both Marcy and I looked at him. He was already on his feet, moving toward the table with a quiet intensity that made my breath catch. He knelt to inspect the loose bolt, then glanced up at me.
“You’re not calling anyone.” His voice was low and final. “I’ll fix it.”
I blinked. “Do you know how?”
He gave me a look that told me how foolish my question was. Then he pulled a multitool from his back pocket like he’d been waiting for an excuse to use it. “I can handle a loose bolt.”
Marcy ducked back into the walk-in, smirking to herself, and I bit my lip.
“Well, I mean…if you’re going to start fixing things around here,” I murmured, trying to sound casual even as I felt my cheeks heating again, “I should probably get you a tool belt. You can wear it without a shirt.”
Wesley’s head tilted, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
I held up my hands quickly. “Actually, no. Scratch that. Too many people come through this bakery, and no one needs to see that but me.”
His eyes darkened as he straightened to his full height, the multitool clicking shut in his palm. “That right?”
I nodded fast, trying not to squirm under the heat in his gaze. “Definitely.”
He stepped closer and murmured, “You want me shirtless in a tool belt, you’ll get it. But only for you, sunshine.”
I could’ve melted into a puddle on the floor right then and there. Instead, I managed to squeak, “Good. Great. Love that plan.”
His smirk went full-blown as he stepped around me, brushing a kiss to the top of my head as though he hadn’t just made my panties spontaneously combust.
I was still trying to cool off from the mental image of Wesley in nothing but jeans and a tool belt when my phone buzzed in the pocket of my apron. I pulled it out and smiled at the screen.
“It’s my parents,” I told him.
His brows lifted just slightly. “You gonna answer?”
I hesitated for a second, suddenly shy. “They’re video calling. If I’m not driving, they like to see my face when they talk since they’re going to be gone for so long.”
“Can’t fault them for that. Go ahead and answer.”
I tapped to accept, and my parents’ faces filled the screen—Dad in a ball cap and hoodie, Mom with windblown hair and a huge smile.
“There she is!” Mom beamed. “Hi, honey!”
“Hey,” I said, suddenly feeling sixteen again instead of nineteen.
“Sorry to bother you at work, but at least we caught you before the bakery opens.” Her eyes narrowed as she leaned toward the camera. “Wait a second…why do you look like you’ve just been necking with someone?”
“Mom!”
“Just saying,” she laughed. “You’ve got that look that I’ve seen on my own face after your dad has given me a big smooch.”
I shook my head. “Did you really have to go there?”
Dad’s gaze darted over my shoulder, and he cleared his throat pointedly. “Who are you?”
“Hunter,” Wesley replied before I could answer.
I startled slightly but didn’t pull the phone away as he moved to stand next to me.
My mom blinked. “Oh, my. You’re very…tall.”
Wesley’s mouth twitched. “Yes, ma’am.”
Dad gave a slow nod, his voice calm but firm. “So how exactly do you know our daughter?”
Wesley didn’t miss a beat. “I met her a few days ago. She started working at the bakery in our territory. Someone left her a threatening note. I handled it.”
“You handled it,” Dad repeated, not quite a question.
“Yes, sir.”
There was a long pause before Dad finally said, “And are you planning to keep handling it?”
Wesley’s gaze didn’t waver. “I don’t plan to leave her side.”
Dad studied him for another second, then gave a slow nod. “Alright. I appreciate you looking out for her.”
“Always will,” Wesley said quietly.
My eyes widened when my dad’s attention switched back to me. “I’d ask why this is the first I’m hearing about the note, but I’m pretty damn sure the answer won’t make me much happier.”
I gulped. “Um…”
“Well.” Mom clapped her hands, saving me from needing to respond. “Sounds like we won’t need to cut the RV trip short since Hunter has things well in hand.”
“Unless we need to meet him in person,” Dad muttered.
“Maybe once you’re back on this side of the country,” I said quickly, cheeks blazing. “And I’ll make chess pie.”
That earned a smile from both of them.
“Be good, sweetie,” Mom said. “And call again tomorrow.”
“Love you,” I whispered.
“Love you too,” they said in unison before the call ended.
I lowered the phone slowly, heaving a relieved sigh over how well that went, considering.
Wesley didn’t say anything. He just reached out and brushed his knuckles down my cheek.
Somehow, introducing him to my parents made everything feel more real.