Harper
I gather my hair into a high ponytail and tie the black apron around my waist. I'm so excited to get to work. To spend the entire day with my friends and create some delicious pastries and desserts.
“I’ll be back for you at four. I don’t want you leaving here alone, got it?” Jackson grips my chin softly and lifts it until I'm forced to meet his gaze.
“I got it.” I smile up at him. I love how protective he is of me and how he doesn’t try to hide his love. He’s told me how scared he is of something happening to me and how he doesn’t trust Evan.
“I love you,” he whispers as he leans down to press his lips to mine.
“I love you too.” I wrap my arms around his neck and get lost in our kiss. He makes me feel so special. Like he has all the time in the world for me, even though I know he’s going to be late for work if he doesn’t leave soon.
“Don’t forget, if you need anything, Mason, Peck, and your dad are right next door. You can call me and I’ll be here as soon as I can,” he murmurs, staring down at me. I can tell he’s having a hard time leaving me and I get it. I’ve barely left his side since he came to Pittsburgh.
“Alright, Romeo. We get it. You love each other and you don’t want to leave.” Emma grips Jackson’s arm and tries to pull him away from me. “Jeez, these biceps are crazy. How do you get these from swinging a bat?”
“Why don’t you ask Leo?” Jackson rolls his eyes.
“Making an enemy with me won't do you any favors,” Emma singsongs, tugging a little harder on Jackson’s arm.
“Don’t forget about the secret door. If anything happens, I want you to go through it right away.”
“Oh my gosh, Jackson! We’ll keep her safe! Get out!” Emma forces him out the door with a huff. “Man, he might be worse than Peck.”
“I don’t think so,” Sophia giggles.
I glance over my shoulder to find Peck standing behind her with his hands resting on her large stomach. He’s whispering something in her ear and swaying back and forth with her. They’re absolutely perfect. I hope Jackson and I are just as grossly adorable together.
“Seriously, Peck?” Emma groans, scrubbing a hand down her face. She leaves a little streak of flour, but I'm not telling her. I don’t want her to get even more angry with me.
“What? You know I own this bakery too, right? Like we’re married and both of our names are filed as owners of the business.” He frowns at Emma.
“That doesn’t mean you need to be here all the time and rub in how cute the two of you are together in our faces! Bella and I are still single, remember?” She huffs, folding her arms across her chest.
“You’re single because you’re stubborn,” Peck fires back, his brows tugging together in a scowl.
“Peck,” Sophia says softly, spinning around in his arms to put her hand on his chest.
“Fine. But it’s true.” He stares down at Sophia and his features soften.
“You’ll only make it worse,” she whispers, barely loud enough for me to hear her.
Peck nods his head and gives Sophia another quick kiss, then he’s disappearing through the secret door, leaving us all in silence.
No one speaks as we move around the kitchen and begin prepping dough for tomorrow. Bella was in here early, cooking the things we needed for the morning rush. She’s a rock star when it comes to arriving early and getting everything ready. I truly don’t know what Sophia would do without her.
Since Bella handles all of that, when Sophia, Emma, and I come in, we work on making sure the display is stocked and start on custom orders and prepping other things for later in the week.
Mulberry Lane Bakery is the busiest bakery in the area. It gets so much attention, especially with the stadiums selling their items at games. I think we’ll only get busier within the next few months as well.
Sophia definitely took this area by storm when she opened the bakery. She was able to bring new flavors and ideas into an area just waiting for something different.
I keep thinking about my future and trying to decide what I want to do.
I know Sophia will happily let me work here for as long as I’d like, but I'm not sure if that’s what I want.
Law school is never far from my mind. I'm really happy Jackson’s supportive of the idea, enough that he spoke to Hunter about it.
I really need to call Hunter and thank him.
Maybe even get his opinion on which school he thinks would be the best. Anything to help me make my decisions a little easier.
“Do you guys mind if I take my break? I need to make a phone call.” Bella pops her head into the kitchen a little while later. She’s been running the front counter all morning.
“I can cover the counter,” I volunteer. I don’t mind dealing with the customers and it’s a nice way to break up the day.
We tend to all take turns up front. Sophia’s staying in the kitchen a little more each week.
I think it’s easier for her to sit and decorate cakes than stand behind the counter and bend over to box up sweets for customers.
I'm sure the further she gets in her pregnancy, the more she’ll want to be in the kitchen or maybe not working at all.
I wonder what it’s going to be like when she has the babies. I'm sure Peck’s going to insist she stays home for a few months, and I don’t blame him. She needs to fully recover and enjoy her babies before she comes back and worries about this place.
“Thanks, Harper.” Sophia smiles at me before returning her attention to the wedding cake she’s working on.
I take my place behind the counter right as a woman and her daughter come into the bakery.
“Good morning! Welcome to Mulberry Lane Bakery! Take a look around and let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help you when you’re ready.” I smile at the little girl who already has her face practically pressed against the display case.
She’s intently staring at the treats with wide eyes. Her mom giggles and shakes her head.
I glance out the window to the shop and my brows furrow. Is that… Evan? I stare at the man as he glances around like he’s looking for something. I'm about to run into the back of the bakery when the woman breaks my focus.
“I think we need half a dozen cupcakes and a half a dozen cookies. Sweetie, do you want to pick out which ones?” She asks her daughter.
“Yes!”
I peek over at the street again, but the man is gone. I blow out a long breath and shake my head. He isn’t here. If he was, he wouldn’t hesitate to approach me. I'm just imagining things… right?
As soon as the woman and her daughter are gone, I head back into the kitchen and ask Emma to take over out front.
“Are you ok?” Sophia asks softly.
“I… I don’t know. I swear I saw Evan on the street, but when I looked again, he was gone.” I shake my head, still not understanding if my mind was seeing things or if it was really Evan.
“Follow me.” Sophia leads me through the secret door and into Bennett Bradley Security.
“What’s up, mama?” Peck smiles, but as soon as he sees my face, his lips fall into a straight line. “What happened?” Gone is the flirty husband and in his place is the serious protector Peck is to everyone else.
“Tell him, Harp.” Sophia places a hand on my lower back and nudges me forward slightly.
“I might be wrong, but I swear I saw Evan outside a few minutes ago.” I wrap my arms around my stomach and hug myself.
“Let’s take a look…” Peck trails off as his full focus is turned towards the computer. He pulls up several different video feeds onto the large screen on the wall.
“What’s going on?” Mason walks over with his arms folded across his chest.
“There might’ve been an Evan sighting. We’re checking the cameras now.”
I watch the feed intently and when I spot Evan, I gasp and my hand covers my mouth as tears fill my eyes. He’s staring into the bakery for several long minutes before he turns away, scanning the area.
“This is when I saw him.” I point at the screen.
“He knows you’re here. I guarantee he knows where you’re staying and is following you now,” Dad says softly. He comes up behind me and wraps me in a hug.
“What do I do now?”
“Now, we place men on him and follow him around,” Mason growls. “And you need to stay in the kitchen at the bakery.”