Chapter 17
17
DULCE
A fter Danny calls the general investigations unit, Katie and I prepare our statements. It has been a madhouse so far.
People are wondering what happened when they show up to find the bakery closed. Katie called the customers, canceled their orders, and issued refunds. I called Mary, and she told me my grandmother is okay and has already had lunch. I told her someone broke in but didn’t take anything. I didn’t tell her about the rat. I’m sure she’ll find out soon enough. Nothing in this town is kept under wraps unless they want it to be.
Katie walks up while I stare at my phone. “The cleaning crew is here,” she announces.
When there is a rat inside a food prep area, I have to call a company that cleans and sanitizes the entire bakery so OSHA and city regulations don't breathe down my neck when I resume operation. It’s not like I would bake in there anyway or serve anyone. Rats are known to carry diseases. Whoever did it knew this would set me back and jeopardize my business.
“Perfect,” I say, getting up. “The faster this gets done, the faster we can open back up.”
“I’m sorry, Dulce. I know this is a setback you can’t afford.”
“You know what they say when it rains.”
“It fucking pours,” she finishes for me. She covers her mouth like a child who says a bad word in front of her parents. “Sorry.”
I shake my head. “Under the circumstances, it’s appropriate.”
I watch as people file in wearing protective gear. “Could you take me to see about getting a new prep table?”
“Sure.”
I’m not preparing anything on that table. When the cleaning crew finished, I instructed Katie to dispose of it.
I hear the bell at the door. I look up and see Ford. A calming sense spreads through me. My breath catches in my throat at how good he looks in a simple T-shirt and jeans. His arms bulge when he pushes his sunglasses on top of his head.
“Hey…”
“You heard?” I ask worriedly, causing sweat to slide down my spine. Making me aware of every movement I take.
"You know, people in this town talk about how when a store closes. It looks like you have an alien inside with all the people walking in and out wearing protective suits."
Karie scoffs. “Aliens?”
"It was a joke," he explains with a slight smile, causing my heart to skip a beat.
“Ha, ha,” she says sarcastically.
He raises his brows and slides his hand into the front pocket of his jeans, looking around. “So…rats, huh?”
“Yep,” I quip. “I’m about to head out, so...”
“Oh…um. You need a ride?”
“I think you’ve given me enough rides,” I tell him, not sure if I should trust Ford to give me anything.
Katie snorts.
I glare at her.
“What?” She plays it off. “It sounded funny.”
I sigh. “I need to get going,” I tell him.
“I'll go with you. That's the reason I stopped by.”
“Why?”
“About your van. I figured you wouldn’t want Trent to stop by or call, so I thought I would.”
"What's wrong with it, and how much will it cost me? I ask, ignoring his comment, even though he’s right that Trent is the last person I want to see. But right now, I’m only concerned with figuring out if I have enough on my credit card to pay for the repair.
“Um, to be honest,” he says gently, licking his bottom lip, “it’s best if you get a new one.”
I laugh sarcastically. “Yeah, no. How much is it to get it to run and not leave me on the side of the road?”
“More than it’s worth,” he says convincingly.
“I can’t…”
“I know,” he says. “But I can fix that.”
Katie looks back and forth between us with a grin on her face.
“I don’t want you to fix anything.”
“Fix what?” Danny says, walking from the back and standing behind Ford.
“We’re talking about my van,” I tell him.
Danny looks at Ford as if he wants to bag him along with the rat. “What about it, Ford?”
“I think Ford wants to buy Dulce a new van,” Katie chimes in.
“She can use my truck,” Danny offers like I’m not standing right here. Maybe he realizes he sounded rude because he gives me a quick, apologetic look. “You could use my truck, Dulce. It’s no trouble. As long as you need it.”
“I…”
“That’s not going to work,” Ford says.
“Why not?” Danny challenges.
“For how long?” Ford says. “In the end, she will still need a new van. Fixing the one she has isn't worth the trouble. It’s not reliable anymore.” He turns to me. “I can buy you a new one.”
“I don’t want to owe you money,” I tell him firmly.
Ford shakes his head. "You won't owe me anything because it was a gift.” I open my mouth to protest, and he cuts me off. “I can afford it, Dulce. Easily.”
Danny scoffs. “You have balls, man. You think you can throw your money around, and that solves everything.”
Katie ignores Danny and stands in front of me with raised brows and wide eyes. “We accept,” she says. I turn to her and say, “Excuse me.”
I shake my head, telling her she is out of her mind.
She nods slowly as if I’m stupid for not accepting his help, but Katie doesn’t understand.
“Good,” Ford says, satisfied. “The last thing she needs is to find herself stranded again. She has a business to run.”
“What a hero,” Danny says sarcastically.
“Can you two stop?” I interrupt, and Katie and Danny look at me like toddlers caught in a fight. With a sigh, I ask, “Why can’t you get along?”
While I'm listening to them, anxiety causes my pulse to race. I hate to say it, but Ford is right. If I spend money to fix the stupid piece of shit van, there is a high probability of it leaving me stranded again. I shudder at the thought of finding myself on the side of the road.
“We can’t get along,” Danny says.
“Why not?” I ask.
“Because I’m trying to protect you. I’m…”
“He’s trying to fuck you,” Ford interjects. “Literally.”
My eyes cut to Danny, and he glances at me with a warm expression. “It’s obvious I like you, Dulce. Very much. I’m…”
"The last time I checked, you were still fucking the server at the restaurant. So that means, if I’m as good at math as I am at driving, you had an epiphany about a week ago when it came to Dulce.”
“You son of a bitch,” Danny growls, lunging at Ford.
I step between them, placing my hand on Danny’s chest. “Danny, stop.” I can feel Ford step close behind me.
“I should arrest you,” Danny says angrily. The blatant hate for Ford in his eyes.
“For what?” Ford laughs sarcastically. "Go ahead, fuck with me, and after I’m done with you, you'll be lucky if you have a job as a security officer at a grocery store," Ford warns.
I whirl around and catch Ford’s blue gaze. “Please stop?”
His eyes hold me for a second. “Come with me. Let’s go get what you need for the shop,” he says. “Katie can stay. I promise to have you back before it’s time to close.”
I shake my head. “I…” The back of his fingers caress my cheek, causing the words to die in my throat and my stomach to flutter.
“Please, Dulce. Let me do this for you.”
My eyes fall to his lips. The warmth of his skin on my cheek is easing my anxiety. There is no way Ford is responsible for the break-in or what happened at prom. I can feel it in my gut. He could have easily left the same way he did before prom, and no one would question him.
“Okay,” I agree.
"You've got to be kidding me," Danny sneers as he walks around me, his gaze fixed on Ford. “You hurt her, and the only thing you’ll be driving is a go-kart.”
“Is that a threat, Officer Mays?” Ford says through clenched teeth.
“It’s a fucking promise, asshole.”
“Good,” Ford says, glaring at Danny. "She needs someone to watch over her, not fuck her.”
Danny bares his teeth. “Like that’s not on your mind whenever you look at her.”
Ignoring him, Ford simply walks around him and opens the front door, holding it for me to walk out first.
I guess we’re going car shopping.