Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The thank-you party was in full force. The aroma of cinnamon and vanilla from the freshly baked pastries mingled with the sweet scent of basil from the savory tarts. Soft jazz played in the background.
Sunday night was perfect for a party since the bakery wasn’t open on Monday. Lilypad Confections was filled with Emelia’s friends and well-developed muscular men. Surprisingly, they didn’t look out of place in her rather whimsical bakery but added a hint of masculinity and, if she dared think about it, danger. Was it possible that so many men liked to have their backs to the wall and eyes that were constantly searching? What were they looking for, and what did they think was going to happen? That someone would steal the cream puffs on their watch? She giggled to herself.
Despite their support, Emelia felt guilty for burdening them with her troubles. Their kindness touched her heart as they came to help her.
Emelia could tell that they were protectors—always on. She noticed that with Titus the other night. Before Wyatt’s betrayal, Patty’s theft, the threatening notes and the graffiti incident, Emelia had no prior experience with such things.
“I can’t get enough of these ham and gruyere tarts,” exclaimed Isabelle. She had several on a plate. “I have to have the recipe.” She thought for a moment. “No, I don’t. I’ll just order them from you.”
Emelia laughed. “Anytime.”
“I’m glad the guys could clean the graffiti off your windows.” Isabelle looked thoughtful for a moment. “Any idea who did it?”
Emelia sighed. “No. The police saw someone dressed all in black spray-painting, but he disappeared down an alley and they lost track of him.”
“Dang,” Isabelle replied.
Felicia, who was hovering nearby, chimed in. “I’m so glad you’re safe. I heard Titus stayed the night.”
“Yes, he did.”
Isabelle and Felicia smirked. “Sooo, anything you’d like to share?” asked Isabelle.
“No.” Emelia sure wasn’t telling them she was mistaken about Titus. He wasn’t the jerk she thought him to be. He’d been a comfort to her that night.
Emelia glanced around and watched as Titus helped Dani with a plate. Titus worked the room, shaking hands, laughing, slapping guys on the back. Not only that, but he’d also spent a good amount of time helping her in the kitchen. They’d laughed as they worked, and the time passed quickly. She couldn’t deny that she loved when he hugged her the other night. Actually, she’d been having sweet dreams about him hugging her and doing more, much more.
Titus got her a discount on security cameras for the bakery. They were inexpensive, far less expensive than she thought.
Although she had a feeling that he had paid the bulk of the cost, even though he denied it. As far as she could tell, the cameras were much more sophisticated than what she could buy at her local hardware store.
His friend Zach installed them earlier in the day.
Zach was a real cutie with black hair and gray eyes. Initially reserved, Zach’s demeanor changed after she plied him with her famous chocolate cupcakes filled with peanut butter and topped with a whipped peanut butter frosting with caramel dripped over it. Then he was like a puppy with a bone.
Actually, all the guys had a sweet tooth, judging from the empty trays she kept refilling.
Zach was here as part of the Brotherhood Alliance but spent all his time hovering over Melissa, who Emelia learned was the director of Paws for Caring. Emelia could tell the man was sweet on Melissa by the sly-eyed, wanting glances he gave Melissa when he thought she and everyone else weren’t looking.
She heard Melissa loved unusual clothing combinations, and tonight she didn’t disappoint. The redhead had on a pink and orange floral maxi dress with espadrilles. The dress featured a V-neck and green accents. It looked adorable on her, although Emelia knew she could never pull off such a bold print.
The evening passed quickly.
The guys were most appreciative of her sweets. Emelia hoped they wouldn’t camp out on her doorstep as Titus predicted, but it was all in fun.
She met several women who were married to the men who worked with Titus. Dani was someone she hadn’t met before. She had a young son, worked at Spiritual Bliss with Mallory, and was married to Ryker. They were a cute couple. Naomi had mentioned Ryker was a talented woodworker. Emelia wondered if he could hand-turn wood into bowls. She was in awe of anyone who could do that.
Titus introduced her to Finn and Ford. Finn was a talker. Emelia felt immediately at ease with him, even though he was physically intimidating. In truth, all the guys were intimidating, if not physically, then just by their attitude. She wondered if that was their military background coming out.
She wasn’t sure about Ford, though. He was quiet, even quieter than Zach, and kept to himself, answering only if someone asked him a question, kinda like the strong, silent type. Emelia wondered what his story was. Was he always like this or just tonight? Maybe he was shy and didn’t know the men well since Titus mentioned Ford was new to the Brotherhood. She shrugged. It didn’t matter to her since she wasn’t working with him.
Titus had been talking with some of the guys but had gravitated back to her, pulling her into the corner. They talked about the party for a minute, then he surprised her by asking, “Who has access to your apartment?”
“Just me,” she replied. Her apartment’s door was inside the bakery’s side entrance, requiring access through the bakery door.
“Is the door locked during the day?”
“Yes. Why?”
“At some point, you might want to get an upstairs camera,” he advised.
“Won’t the cameras down here catch anyone going upstairs?”
He looked around. “Yeah. I guess they would. I just want you to feel safe.”
“Thank you for getting the cameras. I feel safer already.”
Titus nodded. Will and Isabelle interrupted them. “Hate to leave, but Will has to get up at the crack of dawn. You know, to feed the sheep and chickens,” said Isabelle, winking. She patted her stomach. “I think I gained five pounds.”
As if—Isabelle was a petite, slender woman with a healthy appetite. If Emelia consumed as many calories as Isabelle, she wouldn’t fit into any of her clothes.
“However, everything was delicious, and I know the guys appreciate you doing this,” Isabelle said as she stuffed another small pastry into her mouth.
Emelia leaned over, hugged her and then Will. “Will, I can’t thank you enough for coming out in the middle of the night to clean the windows.”
He smiled. “Glad to help.”
Isabelle’s departure served as a subtle signal for the rest of the group to leave.
Most had to get up early. She was grateful they stayed as long as they did and was equally glad they were leaving.
Naomi, Chase, Dani and Ryker, as well as Titus, stayed behind.
“We’re here to help clean up,” said Naomi.
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Emelia replied. “It won’t take me long.”
Titus laughed. “If you think we’re not going to help, forget it.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You keep forgetting, you’re not alone. You have friends who want to help. Let them.”
Titus was right. She had been doing things alone for a while. It was nice to have people who cared.
“Fine.”
Thanks to everyone’s assistance, it took only a short time to tidy up and put things away. Emelia filled to-go boxes with leftovers and gave one each to Dani and Naomi for later.
As the couples left, Titus lingered behind, helping her push chairs under tables.
“I think that went well, don’t you?” she asked.
Titus nodded and smiled. “Having a party to thank the guys was a great idea.” He looked around the bakery. “There’s nothing for you to do.”
“Hopefully, there won’t be any more incidents,” Emelia replied.
However, after saying that, she knew at her core that this wasn’t the end of the harassment. She still hadn’t mentioned Wyatt’s name to Titus and hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite her. His betrayal was still too embarrassing. Her only hope was to find the person who was harassing her before it went too far. But how to do that? And what was too far? If it happened again, she’d have to have that discussion with Titus.
Titus moved closer to her and took her hands in his. “Emelia, I have to confess, I’ve really enjoyed talking to you these past couple of weeks and getting to know you better. In fact—” He paused. “I’d like to explore a relationship with you.”
Emelia gasped.
“I know it’s way too soon, but I’d hate to let a good thing go by.” He gave her a hopeful smile. “That is, unless I’m reading all the signs wrong.”
Emelia’s heart skipped a beat.
Had he read her mind?
Her initial perception of Titus was that he didn’t like her. Not true—she knew he didn’t like her. Although she had thought the same about him.
But after the other night, Emelia discovered they had more in common than she thought.
Titus was interesting, and she enjoyed talking to him. When he volunteered to stay overnight with her and then called his friends to clean up the graffiti, she realized he was someone she could trust and wanted to continue getting to know him.
Her heart fluttered.
“No, you’re not reading anything wrong. I’ve felt the same way.”
He smiled and leaned in to hug her.
Emelia was thrilled. She had a promising new relationship with a man and a life outside the bakery with girlfriends.
Hopefully, nothing else would go wrong.