Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Cade
I pulled up to the bakery just as the last of the daylight faded. The firetruck was blocking the back parking lot but the police hadn’t arrived yet.
Sweet Expectations looked wrong before I even opened my truck door. The back door was ajar, as if someone had kicked it in. Several firemen stood outside talking. I didn’t stop to chat with them and burst through the back door.
“Missy?” I called out, scanning the room.
The smell hit me first. Burned sugar, smoke, something metallic.
Then the sight of it all slammed into me at once.
There were cakes smashed across the floor.
Cupcakes crushed under footprints. Frosting smeared up the stainless-steel counters like a crime scene.
Her mixer, her pride and joy, lay on its side, dented and silent.
And then I saw her.
She was sitting on a stool, her back against the cabinet.
The fire extinguisher was lying at her feet and her phone was still in her hand.
White powder dusted her jeans and black soot covered the sleeves of her sweater.
She had frosting and cake all over her clothes, like she’d slid in the mess on her hands and knees.
Her hair had come loose from its tie, and strands fell around her face.
She looked lost but, to my surprise, wasn’t crying.
She looked… furious.
Her eyes lifted to mine when she heard my voice. They were sharp and blazing with anger, and something primal twisted in my gut.
“Hey,” I said softly as I crossed the room in three long strides and knelt in front of her. I didn’t touch her yet, just looked. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head once. “No. I’m okay. I… I got back just in time. The place could have been gone.” Her jaw clenched.
I swallowed hard and glanced at the oven. The scorched towel was still half hanging out of it. If she hadn’t walked in when she did…
She was right. The entire building would have burned down.
I didn’t know how long it took for the firemen to get here, but something tells me it wouldn’t have been quick enough.
“You saved the place,” I agreed softly.
Her lips pressed together, emotion flickering for half a second before anger took over again. “He wanted to burn it down. To ruin me.” Her eyes moved up to mine, and I smiled at the anger.
I didn’t pretend that I didn’t understand who she was talking about. It was too obvious.
“He lost.” I kissed her.
Someone coughed and we both looked over to see the fireman standing there. “I’ll deal with this. Sit.” I stood to talk to the man.
The police arrived minutes later. I stood beside her while she explained everything to them.
We filled out a report of what was broken, everything that was destroyed.
She estimated the cost of not only materials but time spent.
Her voice stayed steady the whole time, even when one of the fireman told the officers how close it had been.
Too close.
After they finished taking our statements and getting photos of the disaster, they promised to investigate if Levi was in town. I made sure to give them the make and model of the Jaguar he drove and where he liked to stay in town.
When they were all gone, Missy sagged just a little against me. I wrapped my arms around her and just held on.
“I’m not closing,” she said suddenly.
I blinked. “Tonight?”
“Ever,” she clarified, lifting her chin. “Not because of this. Not because of him.”
I smiled despite the knot in my chest. “I didn’t think you would,” I agreed, then asked, “where’s your broom?”
I saw her chin rise slightly and then she rolled up her sleeves. “I’ll get them.”
We started cleaning but not before I sent a few text messages out.
Max was the first to show up, Cora was right behind him. He took one look at the wreckage and swore under his breath, then crossed the room and pulled Missy into a tight hug. Cora grabbed trash bags and gloves like she’d done this a hundred times.
Then Meredith came rushing in, eyes wide. After she hugged Missy, she tied on an apron and got to work remaking everything that had been destroyed. Brit and Ashley followed, Ashley gasping softly when she saw the mess but immediately grabbing a broom.
Crystal and Rory arrived next, their arms full of cleaning supplies. Crystal moved through the chaos like she belonged there. Then came Cal and Bella. Adam and Lilly. Someone brought coffee. Someone else brought pizza.
The bakery filled with voices, movement, life.
It took some time to fix the fallen mixer, rolling it upright and opening the casing that had been smashed. “She didn’t deserve this,” I muttered to myself as I worked to bang out the dents.
The damage looked worse than it was. A bent bracket. A wire that had been knocked loose. I tightened, rewired, and tested. When I flipped the switch and the mixer whirred back to life, the room erupted in cheers.
Missy rushed over and hugged me. “Thank you for fixing it.”
I looked up at her. “It’s what I do. I fix things,” I joked.
I’d always known Missy had a way of pulling people together, but watching it happen in real time, after someone had tried to burn her livelihood to the ground, was something else entirely.
The bakery no longer smelled like smoke and panic. Now it smelled like sugar, butter, and determination.
The ovens hummed steadily, a sound that had gone from terrifying to comforting in under an hour. Trays slid in and out like clockwork. Timers beeped, mixers whirred, and frosting bags piled up like colorful weapons of mass happiness.
Missy stood at the center of it all with her sleeves rolled up and her hair twisted into a messy knot. Once more there was flour streaked across her apron like war paint.
Angry Missy was apparently productive Missy.
Max leaned against the stainless-steel prep table with his arms crossed as he watched Meredith work. “You know,” he said casually, “I’m pretty sure you run a tighter kitchen than the army does.”
Meredith didn’t even look up as she measured sugar. “That’s because the army doesn’t have to bake cupcakes under pressure.”
Max’s lips twitched. “Fair point.”
Brit, who had clearly decided chaos was the best coping mechanism, nudged Ashley with her elbow. “I dare you,” she whispered much too loudly, “to balance three cupcakes on your head.”
She held up a handful of the ruined cupcakes they were about to toss out.
Ashley glanced at Missy, who was too busy piping frosting with military precision to notice. “Five seconds,” Ashley said. “If I drop one, you’re cleaning the walk-in for a week.”
“Deal.”
I turned just in time to see Ashley stack the ruined cupcakes on her head like she was auditioning for a circus act. Rory paused mid-conversation, squinted at her, then shook his head. “I don’t even want to ask.”
Crystal drifted past me holding a small bundle that was smoking. “I’m lighting this for positive energy,” she said serenely. “It’s just sage. We have to cleanse the space of all that bad juju.”
Rory snorted. “Can you also light one for the twenty pounds of flour that died a noble death tonight? I’m trying to figure out how much was wasted so Missy can file a report with her insurance company.”
Crystal smiled sweetly. “Everything happens for a reason.”
“Yeah,” Rory muttered. “Usually because someone’s a jerk.” He glanced over at Missy, who obviously hadn’t heard.
“You wouldn’t be far off there,” I mumbled.
As frosting-filled bowls and cakes lined the cooling racks, the night turned almost… normal.
Once more, I swirled frosting on cupcakes. I was getting really good at it.
There were too many people in the space. Music was playing softly from someone’s phone, and the laughter was bouncing off the walls.
I looked around at the crowded room and realized something important.
Every single person here was invaluable. They were more family than any we’d ever had before this.
Levi thought that he could break Missy. Obviously, he didn’t know her very well.
And he sure as hell didn’t know us.
I leaned closer to her and murmured, “You know, most people would’ve lost it by now.”
She didn’t stop working on piping more colorful flowers on cupcakes as she glanced over at me. “I already cried once in my life over him,” she said quietly. “I’m not doing it again.”
I smiled to myself.
Yeah. Angry Missy was terrifying.
And I loved her for it.
We stayed busy. Missy moved from station to station, totally focused and fierce. Every now and then, I caught her looking around the room like she couldn’t quite believe everyone was there for her.
When I had a moment, I wrapped my arms around her and murmured, “You’re not alone. Ever.”
She glanced up at me with her eyes shining. “I know.”
Right there I made myself a quiet promise.
Whatever happened next, I was going to make sure Levi paid. One way or another.
By the time we finally locked up the bakery, it was nearly one in the morning.
Missy leaned against the counter, exhaustion finally catching up to her now that the adrenaline had burned off. Flour dusted her jeans, frosting smudged her shirt, and there was a stubborn streak of pink icing on her cheek that I hadn’t had the heart to wipe away yet.
I should’ve felt drained. Instead, I felt wired.
Angry.
Protective as hell.
I made one last sweep of the place while she grabbed her bag. I’d wager the place was cleaner than it had been earlier that day.
I had taken a break from frosting and fixed the back door.
Max and I had also installed two brand-new security cameras.
Both of them blinked quietly from their new spots, one over the back door that angled across the kitchen and prep area, the other in the front of the building behind the cash register.
It appeared that Levi hadn’t even gone into the front room, no doubt out of fear of being seen by someone through the large windows.
I should have installed cameras here sooner.
The thought gnawed at me as I locked the door behind us. I’d been so careful at Harbor Ridge, setting up cameras after the first sign of trouble, but here? I’d assumed she was safe. Assumed he’d leave her alone. After all, I was the one he hated.
That was on me.
“I’m adding cameras at the house tomorrow,” I muttered as we walked to our cars.
Missy glanced over. “You don’t have to—”
“I do,” I cut in gently, opening the door for her. “Everywhere that matters gets protected. No exceptions.”
She studied my face for a second, then nodded. “Okay.”
The drive home was quiet but not heavy. She rested her head against the window and had her fingers laced with mine across the console. For the first time since I’d walked into that trashed bakery, I felt like maybe I could breathe again.
The next morning, I was up early, too early. Since we’d left her car at the bakery, I wanted to drive her into work. Which meant I was up at baker’s hours.
I’d barely slept anyway. My mind had been stuck on a loop, replaying the damage, the fire, the way Missy had been sitting when I’d arrived.
When we pulled into the parking lot at a quarter to five, I smiled seeing that Brit and Meredith were already there.
Routine mattered. Showing up mattered. Letting Levi know the place wasn’t closing, that she wasn’t scared off, mattered most of all.
I grabbed my usual coffee and slid into one of the booths while Brit rang up a couple locals. Everything looked and felt normal.
I had just finished my second cinnamon roll when I felt it.
The shift.
The air tightening.
I looked up.
Levi stood just inside the door.
He looked pissed.
Not smug. Not charming.
Just raw-edged and angry. His eyes scanned the bakery like he expected it to be shuttered and dark. Like he’d wanted proof that he’d won.
No doubt he’d come in this morning hoping to swoop in and save Missy from her broken life. One that he had no doubt created.
My jaw locked.
Why hadn’t the police picked him up? He was in town, which meant he was suspect number one.
Levi took a step farther into the room, his hands clenched by his sides.
Missy stood behind the counter and when she noticed him, she froze in place. I could see it in her shoulders, the way she stilled without turning around.
I stood up slowly and walked over to Levi without him noticing me.
“Problem?” I asked calmly in a low tone.
Levi’s gaze snapped to me and his mouth twisted. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
Missy walked around the countertop slowly, her face unreadable. I was afraid she’d slap him or worse. Instead, she jutted her chin up and asked, “What do you want, Levi?”
He laughed, sharp and humorless. “I came here to give you one last chance.”
“I don’t need a last chance.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I think it’s time you moved on. I know I have.”
Levi’s eyes darkened as he glared at me.
“That’s right,” I said, taking a step closer to Missy. “I think it’s about time you left town for good.”
His eyes flicked between us, calculating. “So you’ve finally gone there.” he said quietly, a taunt. Then he turned to Missy. “You’ll pay for this.”
“You mean like what you did last night?” Missy’s eyes narrowed.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I jumped in. “As you can see, we’re not going anywhere.” I leaned in just enough that only he could hear me. “I think it’s time you went crawling back home.”
Something dark flashed across his face before he straightened. “You’d better be careful,” he said, voice loud again. “Places like this? Lawsuits are bound to happen.”
Missy moved then, coming to my side. Her hand slid into mine, steady and warm. “Get out,” she said calmly. “You’re not welcome here.”
For a moment, I thought he might push it.
Instead, he smirked. “We’ll see.”
Then he turned and walked out, the bell over the door jangling far too cheerfully behind him.
Silence followed.
I exhaled slowly and looked down at Missy. “Are you okay?”
She nodded once. “I am now. God, I can’t believe I dated that man.”
I smiled. “I did try and warn you about him.”
She playfully slapped my shoulder. I took her hand and pulled her close.
Cameras or no cameras, proof or no proof, it had been Levi last night. He’d crossed a line.
And I wasn’t done protecting what was mine.